Comments on: Can humanists be “spiritual”? The no camp. http://www.humanistlife.org.uk/2010/01/can-humanists-be-spiritual-the-no-camp/ Humanist perspectives on the here and now Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:47:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Edwin Salter http://www.humanistlife.org.uk/2010/01/can-humanists-be-spiritual-the-no-camp/comment-page-1/#comment-115 Edwin Salter Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:08:14 +0000 http://www.humanistlife.org.uk/?p=562#comment-115 Yes the connotations of 'spirituality' are a real problems. In psychotherapy I often work with 'altered states', some at the quiet end (meditation) others exciting (up time). The many examples spread on a continuum including Kant's sublime and Maslow's peak experiences, with prayer become a focussed hoping. The stereotype is perhaps the ascetic remote but we use the same root for 'in high spirits' and 'a spirited performance'; and who would want to be spiritless or mean-spirited. Neither dictionary nor Roget help much. Has anyone any suggestions (to acknowledge in an article I'm doing)? If not, since we all agree such phenomena are real, perhaps we do just have to assert the word's wider application (and thereby confuse the godly and capture hearts and minds not won over by our usual chilly image) so reclaiming fine territory for all. Yes the connotations of ‘spirituality’ are a real problems. In psychotherapy I often work with ‘altered states’, some at the quiet end (meditation) others exciting (up time). The many examples spread on a continuum including Kant’s sublime and Maslow’s peak experiences, with prayer become a focussed hoping. The stereotype is perhaps the ascetic remote but we use the same root for ‘in high spirits’ and ‘a spirited performance’; and who would want to be spiritless or mean-spirited.
Neither dictionary nor Roget help much. Has anyone any suggestions (to acknowledge in an article I’m doing)? If not, since we all agree such phenomena are real, perhaps we do just have to assert the word’s wider application (and thereby confuse the godly and capture hearts and minds not won over by our usual chilly image) so reclaiming fine territory for all.

]]> By: Malcolm Peltu http://www.humanistlife.org.uk/2010/01/can-humanists-be-spiritual-the-no-camp/comment-page-1/#comment-89 Malcolm Peltu Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:50:53 +0000 http://www.humanistlife.org.uk/?p=562#comment-89 I agree wholeheartedly with Marilyn's clearly expressed comment. I can't see (as Jermey Rodell in his companion piece seems to suggest) that we can ignore the origins and implicit meanings which are associated with the term 'spirituality'. It is this intrinsic baggage that give religious believers the platform for their insulting claims that humanists and atheists can't appreciate anything beyond physical sensations - and I think those who adopt this attitude should be challenged whenever possible. I have heard it suggested, for example, that only those with some belief in God can appreciate works of creativity (like Bach). However, Keats wrote 'I am certain of nothing but of the holiness of the Heart's affections and the Truth of Imagination' - and a Sonnet (Written in Disgust of Vulgar Superstition) that refers to the 'church bells 'hearkening the sermon's horrid sound' and looking to a time to when their tolling will die 'like an outburnt lamp' when 'fresh flowers will grow'. And Shelley wrote one of the first Atheist pamphlets. God doesn't have exclusive copyright on the creative arts. Like Marilyn, I would never describe my beliefs as 'spiritual' because that comes with too much baggage that has nothing to do with my own feelings. And I would prefer that the term is explained before agreeing to a specific context. But in everyday conversation if something I appreciate is referred to as 'spiritual' I wouldn't get hung about it and just say I also like it. But if the terms is used in a way that seeks to belittle the feelings of 'non-believers' I would make a point of explaining why - like Marilyn - my appreciation of the creative genius of humans and the awe-inspiring beauty of some of the natural world doesn't depend on believeing in any kind of supernatural 'spiritual' dimension. I agree wholeheartedly with Marilyn’s clearly expressed comment. I can’t see (as Jermey Rodell in his companion piece seems to suggest) that we can ignore the origins and implicit meanings which are associated with the term ‘spirituality’. It is this intrinsic baggage that give religious believers the platform for their insulting claims that humanists and atheists can’t appreciate anything beyond physical sensations – and I think those who adopt this attitude should be challenged whenever possible. I have heard it suggested, for example, that only those with some belief in God can appreciate works of creativity (like Bach). However, Keats wrote ‘I am certain of nothing but of the holiness of the Heart’s affections and the Truth of Imagination’ – and a Sonnet (Written in Disgust of Vulgar Superstition) that refers to the ‘church bells ‘hearkening the sermon’s horrid sound’ and looking to a time to when their tolling will die ‘like an outburnt lamp’ when ‘fresh flowers will grow’. And Shelley wrote one of the first Atheist pamphlets. God doesn’t have exclusive copyright on the creative arts.

Like Marilyn, I would never describe my beliefs as ‘spiritual’ because that comes with too much baggage that has nothing to do with my own feelings. And I would prefer that the term is explained before agreeing to a specific context. But in everyday conversation if something I appreciate is referred to as ‘spiritual’ I wouldn’t get hung about it and just say I also like it. But if the terms is used in a way that seeks to belittle the feelings of ‘non-believers’ I would make a point of explaining why – like Marilyn – my appreciation of the creative genius of humans and the awe-inspiring beauty of some of the natural world doesn’t depend on believeing in any kind of supernatural ‘spiritual’ dimension.

]]> By: Margaret Nelson http://www.humanistlife.org.uk/2010/01/can-humanists-be-spiritual-the-no-camp/comment-page-1/#comment-76 Margaret Nelson Sun, 10 Jan 2010 21:44:58 +0000 http://www.humanistlife.org.uk/?p=562#comment-76 Agree 100%. Agree 100%.

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