What is 'spirituality'?

[helga]

Recently I've become involved into the discussion 'Autism and religion'. There were very interesting contributions, debates and ideas, but very soon a problem arose - we talked about spirituality in autism, but when asked what spirituality meant, no one could clearly define it.

Any ideas?

[veinglory]

I would go with 'beliefs relating to spiritual entities'. Which would be all things not part of the natural world.

[oscuridad]

try: a belief, or even a hope, that there is more to existence and reality than just physical, tangible phenomena.

[dadburnett]

What is spirituality? For me it revolves around a sense of being a believer without having to believe in or subscribe to a particular church or religious organization. For me, it’s a personal belief in God (Spirit/Creator/First Cause) not prescribed or dictated by this or that church or religion. (Been there, done that.) Spirituality provides the freedom of believing, of living a life of faith without having to be Mormon, Baptist, Catholic, Christian or … There is a great freedom of not having to subscribe to the conflicting (we are right, you are wrong mentality) religion/church based constraints of theology, doctrine and dogma. That’s probably not a “by the book” definition of spirituality, but it works for me … I like the simplicity of it.

[Melisande]

Spirituality to me means to reflect, to give this life a thought, to question our being here, to seek an answer, to contemplate life itself.

Hence; Spirituality does NOT mean; having found a belief, a religion. Neither does it mean that you don't even give life itself a second thought, or care to wonder about it.

The way I think about it, spirituality is something everyone feels as soon as they first think; Why?

[dadburnett]

Spirituality to me means to reflect, to give this life a thought, to question our being here, to seek an answer, to contemplate life itself.

Hence; Spirituality does NOT mean; having found a belief, a religion. Neither does it mean that you don't even give life itself a second thought, or care to wonder about it.

The way I think about it, spirituality is something everyone feels as soon as they first think; Why?

Interesting thought ... but I'm a little slow tonight ... what do you mean, "as soon as they first think?"

[Melisande]

Interesting thought ... but I'm a little slow tonight ... what do you mean, "as soon as they first think?"

I mean when a person starts to ask him/herself the fundamental questions of life and our origin and begin to seek answers; When he/she asks 'Why?".

[dadburnett]

I mean when a person starts to ask him/herself the fundamental questions of life and our origin and begin to seek answers; When he/she asks 'Why?".

Thanks :-)
I'm wondering - is a spiritual person one that asks the fundamental questions of life? And, can an atheist be spiritual?

By the way, I like your hat! Merry Christmas

[Angelinity]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirituality

my personal belief is that true spirituality has nothing to do with religion necessarily -- spirituality is a state of mind and can be encountered across cultures regardless of religion, the degree of education or intelligence.

although it can be furthered through practice or instruction, i believe the seed of spirituality is (or is not) innate in a person -- some have it and others do not.

[Unique]

What is 'spirituality'?

That's an interesting question. I would call it 'communion with the divine'.

What one considers 'divine' is very personal and not open to interpretation by others. It must be defined from within.

As always -
YMMV

[benbradley]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirituality
I often like to read the talk pages on Wikipedia, where many Wikipedia contributors discuss what they feel the article should and should not have, and what they have added to, changed, or taken out of an article, and why. Especially with a topic as nebulous as spirituality, this can be quite informative:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Spirituality

[Melisande]

Thanks :-)
I'm wondering - is a spiritual person one that asks the fundamental questions of life? And, can an atheist be spiritual?



Angelinity expressed it very well;


my personal belief is that true spirituality has nothing to do with religion necessarily -- spirituality is a state of mind and can be encountered across cultures regardless of religion, the degree of education or intelligence.

although it can be furthered through practice or instruction, i believe the seed of spirituality is (or is not) innate in a person -- some have it and others do not.

Though I would like to argue that a person can be spiritual without committing to any dogma. To me, I see no reason why an atheist could not be spiritual.

And Merry Christmas to you too.