Do atheists believe in spirituality?

I would like to hear people's views on the topic of spirituality. Some starting viewpoints to discuss and develop further. The first question I would ask is: is it possible to be an atheist and believe in some form of spirituality, however defined?

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Comment by Doug Reardon on November 3, 2013 at 8:53pm: Yes, of course it's possible! As for myself, no!

Comment by Steve Fraser on November 3, 2013 at 9:49pm: If you don't believe in this: "the existence of a god or gods, specifically of a creator who intervenes in the universe.", then you are an atheist. You can believe in spirits, who are not god(s), and be an atheist.

Comment by MikeLong on November 3, 2013 at 10:58pm: Once again I see this as another exercise in definition flipping. I might admit to some of my spiritual friends that "laying on of hands" (for instance) is, in fact an efficacious treatment in many cases. They, of course, see me as one of those strange atheists who are also spiritual. I'm not, but I don't argue against them too vehemently.

To me an atheist spiritualist like me knows, in his heart (pun intended), that way down deep, well out of sight, there is a rational explanation for these spiritual phenomena, but it's easier and more friendly to just say, "yeah, spiritualism".

Comment by jb2013 on November 3, 2013 at 11:17pm: This is an interesting subject to me because it came up when speaking with my sister. I always thought she was an athiest and then when my mother died she said that she knows Mom is with her or watching her or something to that effect. I had to speak up and said, "but how can that be? I thought you did not believe in God??" She said," that's right but I believe we have a spirit"

Hmmmm! Ok Hey I'm agnostic and can go either way on this but I have trouble going in both directions at the same time.

On the other hand I loved Edgar Casey's There is a River. He talks about some sort of energy stream out there where your energy goes after life and you become part of some sort of pool that can then come back in other forms.

That is comforting.......... I'm still agnostic but spirit is a fun topic. If there were a God I really dont't think he would mind us tossing these ideas around. He might be listening even as we speak... shhhh..... hey I was just messing with you .....

Comment by MikeLong on November 3, 2013 at 11:25pm: "some sort of energy stream out there where your energy goes after life and you become part of some sort of pool that can then come back in other forms"

Blah, blah, blah. You die then you're worm food. So what.

Comment by Cameron on November 4, 2013 at 1:34am: I'm on a journey. A journey to find a better word that represents what many people call spiritual or numinous without having to tie it to or fight to disenthrall it from religion or superstition

Comment by Guntis Brazma on November 4, 2013 at 1:45am: It's sometimes hard not to believe in soul or something like that, because of psychology. Our brains makes us vulnerable to believe, that's why religions is that strong. Is anything of that true? It is, if you can find any objective connection between reality and the particular belief.

Comment by MikeLong on November 4, 2013 at 3:53am: Nice, Guntis. Maybe just slightly more eloquent than my comment.

Comment by Ron Humphrey on November 4, 2013 at 4:48am: You can define spirituality in any manner you wish. Does feeling a oneness with the earth and its inhabitants, both human and other make me spiritual. I don't think of it this way, but who knows.