I don't believe in spirituality. In fact I dislike the word. The word spirit is in most intents and purposes synonymous with the word "soul".



To me the idea of "the soul" or "the spirit" is the cause of religion. A precursor to religion. All of the major four religions and most others are based on the idea of "passing on to another life". The afterlife. That's what they're selling.



The idea of the soul is the core of this. The fact that man fears most which he doesn't…

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While currently going through a period of low motivation, I'm wishing that some magical power would just pop into my head and push buttons or zap something. When I was a teen, once or twice I think I tried to make a deal with God, something like "Help me with this, and I'll reconsider You!". Never answered, of course.

Meanwhile, science has proven a few times the power of the placebo. Just believe, and things get better right? Is there a way to make this happen, but without…

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 In my short time as an Atheist - less than a year now - I've heard lots of people talking about spirituality and how Atheists have none. This isn't just coming from believers either. Atheists, on several occasions, have contested it. I wasn't sure why, really. I consider myself a spiritual Atheist. I'll explain why later, but let's look at the word "spirit" and how it's used so that I can better define what I'm talking about here.



  The word "spirit" comes from…

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Okay. So. I'm currently in my Anthropology of Religion class. The teacher (someone who I'm convinced was an acid-dropping hippy when she was younger... she's rather... erm... "ethereal") brought her Yoga instructors to talk to the class.

First, they talk about spiritual nonsense as if it's fact: "we all know that humans are just spirits experiencing the human condition" and "we know that there are higher realms of understandings". This stuff was proven? Did I miss a memo? Is…

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I had a heated debate with my more intelligent other this weekend about our respective beliefs. She's about as non-religious as anyone I know, but declines to believe that death is the beginning of one's non-existence. "If so, then what purpose does life have if this is all there is?" she asks. 

I, for one, believe that because life is indeed so short, we need to take responsibility for it and try to leave the world a little better than it was when you got here. But for her, the…

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good to see you all once again for another Sunday! thanks for counting on me to find you some good stuff to read for your Sunday and the week ahead.

 

but first...

do check out the list of past and upcoming guests of the Think Atheist Radio Show. you'll find links to the episodes featuring each guest as well as a short description of the episode.

if you checked the list last week you'll notice…

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I've been thinking lately about spirituality. No, I'm not suggesting I am about to join a cult, take up tantric meditation or go on a vision quest. What I have been wondering is, is there any basis or evidence for a spiritual or metaphysical part of human existence?



Firstly, I think we need to define what it is we mean by "spirituality". If it means we are all inhabited by everlasting souls, that our existence on earth is a stepping-stone to the afterlife, or that our personalities… Continue

welcome back everyone! thanks as always for stopping in to see what i've gathered together for your Sunday (and into the new week) reading pleasure.

 

first of all, if you haven't already, you simply must get entered into the contest we're currently running to…

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The "I'll Pray for You" is the ultimate conversation ender, or useless phrase thrown in which can be used in a variety of variations: goodbye, you're a fool, oh you're sick that's so sad but I'm not going to do anything of value, (while struggling with demon inside the collar of your shirt) you're... threatening... me... with reason... and I need... a way... out, you're going to war and i'm your honey. It pisses me off. They use it for everything and then what is a normal non-believer…

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In 2003 I started looking at the science of emotion in order to determine if it would be useful for robots.  When I had to do an English paper that year (middler year writing @ Northeastern University) I decided it would be something about emotions, but I wasn't sure at first what the specific theme would be.  One question I had was, why do people often associate emotion with spirituality (or do they)?



Is it simply that some people never bothered to consider how emotion works, so it…

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Spiritual Super Powers

Have you ever wished you could fly?

Move at super speed?

Save people with super strength?       



I must admit to not knowing…

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In no particular order of preference, here is part one of the most harmful spiritual beliefs and why.



1. Karma, hell and punishment systems.

These are designed to create fear and control people through the belief that they will pay in some way for their thoughts, feelings and behaviours here on earth. As no-one is a master of their own minds then why would they be punished for not being in full control.  This expectation just creates guilt and stress as people try to… Continue

One thing I didn't realise when I moved away from traditional Christianity was that I was moving away from one punishment and reward system to another one which is actually even worse despite how it's cunningly disguised.





Spiritualist have mixed views of hell, some say it exists, some day it doesn't and others say we are here already. Even the ones who say it doesn't exist still have rewards and punishments filtered in their belief systems, sometimes they just don't realise… Continue

From my blog Atheist Climber



I've been reading Stephen Pinker's book "The Blank Slate" slowly over the past few months, and it's a fantastic read. The main premise is that the idea of the mind when formed as a "blank slate" is an antiquated and incorrect supposition. He goes on to show how the brain's neural network actually has a… Continue

As people of religion encounter those of us that have no god, the inevitable question comes up, "What is the meaning of life?" The heated discussion recently here on TA and another question about Nihilism on another site made me think that I can only answer that question visually. I made a collage of some of the photos that make me happy that are from my life, mostly in the last five years. In it you'll find photos of me at work, play, travelling, with the two most important beings in my life,… Continue

Arguably the most nonreligious region in the world, Western Europe has been known for its large population of the self-described "none" when it comes to religion. The 2005 Eurobarometer Poll puts the number of atheists in the EU at 18% and the borderline spiritualists at 27% while only 52% said they believed in a god. According to a study done by USA Today back in early 2009 that compares religiosity in America at the present and in 1990, all religious denominations have seen a decline in… Continue

The link between spirituality and happiness is pretty well-established for teens and adults. More spirituality brings more happiness.



Now a study has reached into the younger set, finding the same link in "tweens" and in kids in middle childhood.



Specifically, the study shows that children who feel that their lives have meaning and value and who develop deep, quality relationships — both measures of spirituality, the researchers claim — are… Continue

Due to accusations of trolling let me say this first. I am not trolling, I am honestly trying to figure something out here.



The problem I am facing right now is that I have had compelling experiences that point to spirits existing.

However I see that it is also possible that I have figured things out on my own and just projected on something imaginary. I am not sure which.



The experiences that I have had in the past are as follows.

1. When I was 16 I learned in a… Continue