Comments on: Book Review: The Little Book of Atheist Spirituality http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/10/the-little-book-of-atheist-spirituality.html NIGHTTIME IS FOR DREAMING. DAYLIGHT IS FOR ACTION. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:09:52 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Ebonmuse http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/10/the-little-book-of-atheist-spirituality.html#comment-64652 Ebonmuse Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:26:49 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=849#comment-64652 I approved the previous comment just for amusement, if anyone was wondering. I approved the previous comment just for amusement, if anyone was wondering.

]]> By: Vijay Kumar Jain http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/10/the-little-book-of-atheist-spirituality.html#comment-64632 Vijay Kumar Jain Thu, 24 Mar 2011 05:31:32 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=849#comment-64632 True... Spirituality is path travelling which human beings reached their true inner self... their soul atman... the spirit within! Realizing self... realizing god one finally reached stage of enlightenment (termed kaivalya jnana in Hinduism) and finally salvation (moksha)! God Almighty could only be reached via <a href="http://www.askvijay.com/Definition-of-Spirituality/" rel="nofollow">path of spirituality</a>... never religion... path of rituals! Path of spirituality was best travelled following teachings contained in sacred Bhagavad Gita of Hinduism... foremost of all sacred scriptures existing on mother earth! True... Spirituality is path travelling which human beings reached their true inner self... their soul atman... the spirit within! Realizing self... realizing god one finally reached stage of enlightenment (termed kaivalya jnana in Hinduism) and finally salvation (moksha)!

God Almighty could only be reached via path of spirituality... never religion... path of rituals! Path of spirituality was best travelled following teachings contained in sacred Bhagavad Gita of Hinduism... foremost of all sacred scriptures existing on mother earth!

]]> By: bbk http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/10/the-little-book-of-atheist-spirituality.html#comment-42693 bbk Sun, 21 Dec 2008 01:04:55 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=849#comment-42693 I'm just reading the book now, looking for a positive portrayal of spirituality, but I can't help getting a sense of sophistry here. There is just too much anecdote, argument towards authority, and otherwise unsubstantiated claims that string together much of Comte-Sponville's argument. Maybe I'm just not intelligent enough to figure out the deeper meaning of the author's point, but some of the sections seem entirely vapid. I'm just reading the book now, looking for a positive portrayal of spirituality, but I can't help getting a sense of sophistry here. There is just too much anecdote, argument towards authority, and otherwise unsubstantiated claims that string together much of Comte-Sponville's argument. Maybe I'm just not intelligent enough to figure out the deeper meaning of the author's point, but some of the sections seem entirely vapid.

]]> By: Polly http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/10/the-little-book-of-atheist-spirituality.html#comment-42181 Polly Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:11:47 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=849#comment-42181 Aw man, it screwed it up. It didn't look like that in the preview pane. Oh well. Suffice it to say, I never need to use <b>title</b>. Just <b>a href = http:\\blah\blah.htm</b> in angled brackets, and then a label and then open another angle bracket with <b>/a</b> and then close bracket. Aw man, it screwed it up. It didn't look like that in the preview pane.

Oh well. Suffice it to say, I never need to use title.

Just a href = http:\\blah\blah.htm in angled brackets, and then a label and then open another angle bracket with /a and then close bracket.

]]> By: Polly http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/10/the-little-book-of-atheist-spirituality.html#comment-42180 Polly Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:08:28 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=849#comment-42180 <b>@Matthew Wilder,</b> <blockquote>Also, can someone explain to my why I need to include [title=""] in my [a] tag in order for it not to cut out half my post and make the rest into a hyperlink?</blockquote> I'm not sure what you're trying to do. But, if it's a hyperlink, then I use some label" Ignore all the quotation marks> I just needed to add something so that my example wouldn't get posted as a hyperlink to Blah. HTH @Matthew Wilder,

Also, can someone explain to my why I need to include [title=""] in my [a] tag in order for it not to cut out half my post and make the rest into a hyperlink?

I'm not sure what you're trying to do. But, if it's a hyperlink, then I use

some label"

Ignore all the quotation marks> I just needed to add something so that my example wouldn't get posted as a hyperlink to Blah.

HTH

]]> By: OMGF http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/10/the-little-book-of-atheist-spirituality.html#comment-42167 OMGF Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:27:12 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=849#comment-42167 <blockquote>What many of my fellow atheists fail to see is that the non-existence of god does not mean that the position is vacant for a human to fill.</blockquote> Huh? Is there any evidence that any atheist here or elsewhere thinks they can will a truck to stop?

What many of my fellow atheists fail to see is that the non-existence of god does not mean that the position is vacant for a human to fill.

Huh? Is there any evidence that any atheist here or elsewhere thinks they can will a truck to stop?

]]> By: ddjango http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/10/the-little-book-of-atheist-spirituality.html#comment-42142 ddjango Tue, 09 Dec 2008 04:32:12 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=849#comment-42142 I am an atheist. And I think that anyone who needs to say "fuck god" or "fuck religion" or "fuck spirituality" may be in a great deal of pain. Rage and rigidity only drive people away, as religion has driven me away. "Spiritual", like "liberal" or "progressive" or "terrorism", has become another battered word with a thousand interpretations. What many of my fellow atheists fail to see is that the non-existence of god does not mean that the position is vacant for a human to fill. If anyone doubts that, I suggest going down to the interstate, stepping in front of a speeding 18-wheeler, and will it to stop. Tell me how it works for you. I loved Comte-Sponville's book. I am an atheist. And I think that anyone who needs to say "fuck god" or "fuck religion" or "fuck spirituality" may be in a great deal of pain. Rage and rigidity only drive people away, as religion has driven me away.

"Spiritual", like "liberal" or "progressive" or "terrorism", has become another battered word with a thousand interpretations.

What many of my fellow atheists fail to see is that the non-existence of god does not mean that the position is vacant for a human to fill. If anyone doubts that, I suggest going down to the interstate, stepping in front of a speeding 18-wheeler, and will it to stop. Tell me how it works for you.

I loved Comte-Sponville's book.

]]> By: BJ http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/10/the-little-book-of-atheist-spirituality.html#comment-39554 BJ Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:36:55 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=849#comment-39554 I don't think the word "spirituality" is meaningful or useful outside the context of religious practices. Awe and wonder work just fine for me. Would I not have to buy into the idea of "spirit" to be spiritual? I can be gobsmacked and get an endorphin rush by contemplating the wonders of the universe but I don't think that makes me spiritual. I don't think the word "spirituality" is meaningful or useful outside the context of religious practices. Awe and wonder work just fine for me. Would I not have to buy into the idea of "spirit" to be spiritual? I can be gobsmacked and get an endorphin rush by contemplating the wonders of the universe but I don't think that makes me spiritual.

]]> By: SouthernFriedSkeptic http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/10/the-little-book-of-atheist-spirituality.html#comment-39551 SouthernFriedSkeptic Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:44:44 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=849#comment-39551 The feelings of awe and wonder, oneness with the universe, etc...Sagan often just referred to them as numinous feelings. Numinous is often given as a synonym for spiritual, but can also refer to aesthetic sense and feelings of awe or wonder. I don't think spiritual or numinous are words that should be conceded to the religious. These feelings do exist. I hope everyone here has at some point had that sense, whether gazing at the stars and considering the scale of the universe and one's own relative size by comparison, or wrapping one's mind for the first time around the concept of DNA and it's implications that all life on Earth share just a few molecules as their basis despite its apparent diversity. Even watching a special about stars or or our sun and getting caught up in amazement both at the frightening power and mesmerizing beauty of those burning giants. What better example of mysterium tremendum et fascinas can there be? It is usually a term describing moments of religious experience but boils down to a sense of awe and wonder combined with a sense of fearsome power or overwhelming magnificence. Many religious people consider these experiences as evidence for a divine presence. I am not willing to concede that to them, but cannot deny that feelings like this are sometimes generated in the mind in the presence of psychological triggers. When we have these experiences through secular stimuli, we should not deny the feelings, nor attempt to rename them, but should confront the argument for a divine presence with examples of the same experience without any appeal to the divine. The feelings of awe and wonder, oneness with the universe, etc...Sagan often just referred to them as numinous feelings. Numinous is often given as a synonym for spiritual, but can also refer to aesthetic sense and feelings of awe or wonder. I don't think spiritual or numinous are words that should be conceded to the religious. These feelings do exist. I hope everyone here has at some point had that sense, whether gazing at the stars and considering the scale of the universe and one's own relative size by comparison, or wrapping one's mind for the first time around the concept of DNA and it's implications that all life on Earth share just a few molecules as their basis despite its apparent diversity. Even watching a special about stars or or our sun and getting caught up in amazement both at the frightening power and mesmerizing beauty of those burning giants. What better example of mysterium tremendum et fascinas can there be? It is usually a term describing moments of religious experience but boils down to a sense of awe and wonder combined with a sense of fearsome power or overwhelming magnificence. Many religious people consider these experiences as evidence for a divine presence. I am not willing to concede that to them, but cannot deny that feelings like this are sometimes generated in the mind in the presence of psychological triggers. When we have these experiences through secular stimuli, we should not deny the feelings, nor attempt to rename them, but should confront the argument for a divine presence with examples of the same experience without any appeal to the divine.

]]> By: Virginia http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/10/the-little-book-of-atheist-spirituality.html#comment-39463 Virginia Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:20:27 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=849#comment-39463 I don't quite agree that spirituality is really that undesirable -- if in a way we can topple the monopoly of the word by theist / Christians, it is a kind of success -- that we atheist can experiece awe, joy, transcending experience, wonder etc. -- equal or exceed that of theist/Christians but minus the bigotry God part. I don't quite agree that spirituality is really that undesirable -- if in a way we can topple the monopoly of the word by theist / Christians, it is a kind of success -- that we atheist can experiece awe, joy, transcending experience, wonder etc. -- equal or exceed that of theist/Christians but minus the bigotry God part.

]]> By: Christopher http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/10/the-little-book-of-atheist-spirituality.html#comment-39452 Christopher Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:23:32 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=849#comment-39452 Mathew Wilder, <blockquote>On wishing god existed: I agree with Mikhail Bakunin, "The first revolt is against the supreme tyranny of theology, of the phantom of God. As long as we have a master in heaven, we will be slaves on earth." I can't remember where he wrote it, but Camus has similar sentiments, writing in effect, if there is a god, he has made a mess of things, and we humans must tear him from his throne.</blockquote> Damn straight! Mathew Wilder,

On wishing god existed: I agree with Mikhail Bakunin, "The first revolt is against the supreme tyranny of theology, of the phantom of God. As long as we have a master in heaven, we will be slaves on earth." I can't remember where he wrote it, but Camus has similar sentiments, writing in effect, if there is a god, he has made a mess of things, and we humans must tear him from his throne.

Damn straight!

]]> By: Mathew Wilder http://www.daylightatheism.org/2008/10/the-little-book-of-atheist-spirituality.html#comment-39415 Mathew Wilder Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:45:23 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=849#comment-39415 On wishing god existed: I agree with Mikhail Bakunin, "The first revolt is against the supreme tyranny of theology, of the phantom of God. As long as we have a master in heaven, we will be slaves on earth." I can't remember where he wrote it, but Camus has similar sentiments, writing in effect, if there is a god, he has made a mess of things, and we humans must tear him from his throne. I do not wish there to be a god (if that word, 'god' even means anything, which I really don't think it does. Even believers have no idea what they mean when they say 'god' or 'god exists'). God claims all seem to entail belief in an aferlife, and it seems to me - and not <a href="http://secweb.infidels.org/?kiosk=articles&id=333" title="" rel="nofollow">just to me</a> - that any sort of other life, especially "eternal life" devalues this life. To quote Camus, (who was almost single-handedly responsible for my deconversion, because of his book <i>The Plague</i>, which crystallized the Problem of Evil for me - which is why I reference him so frequently): "If there is sin against life, it consists in hoping for another life and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this life." On atheist sprituality: I don't like the word 'spirituality' because it has too many overtones of religion and the supernatural. Can atheists (or perhaps one should say, naturalists or humanists, since there are certainly non-theistic supernatural beliefs) experience beauty, love, awe? Of course. I think we should use those words, though, and not 'spirituality', which is somewhat loaded. I also agree that it makes atheists seem like they wish for a church, or religion, or "faith-community" in which to belong. Also, can someone explain to my why I need to include [title=""] in my [a] tag in order for it not to cut out half my post and make the rest into a hyperlink? On wishing god existed: I agree with Mikhail Bakunin, "The first revolt is against the supreme tyranny of theology, of the phantom of God. As long as we have a master in heaven, we will be slaves on earth." I can't remember where he wrote it, but Camus has similar sentiments, writing in effect, if there is a god, he has made a mess of things, and we humans must tear him from his throne.

I do not wish there to be a god (if that word, 'god' even means anything, which I really don't think it does. Even believers have no idea what they mean when they say 'god' or 'god exists'). God claims all seem to entail belief in an aferlife, and it seems to me - and not just to me - that any sort of other life, especially "eternal life" devalues this life. To quote Camus, (who was almost single-handedly responsible for my deconversion, because of his book The Plague, which crystallized the Problem of Evil for me - which is why I reference him so frequently): "If there is sin against life, it consists in hoping for another life and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this life."

On atheist sprituality: I don't like the word 'spirituality' because it has too many overtones of religion and the supernatural. Can atheists (or perhaps one should say, naturalists or humanists, since there are certainly non-theistic supernatural beliefs) experience beauty, love, awe? Of course. I think we should use those words, though, and not 'spirituality', which is somewhat loaded. I also agree that it makes atheists seem like they wish for a church, or religion, or "faith-community" in which to belong.

Also, can someone explain to my why I need to include [title=""] in my [a] tag in order for it not to cut out half my post and make the rest into a hyperlink?

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