I was wondering for atheists if they can be spiritual?
I know some are Buddhist, which coincides well because God is an irrelevant topic for Buddhists because they do not believe in a personal God. However, some atheists I have spoken to, felt being in awe with the universe was spiritual, though they do not believe in God. But is it possible for an atheist to be spiritual, or on a spiritual path at all? Or is it not much of a concern? Thanks.
A spiritual "path"?
Hmmm. This concept would entail the notion that some "path" existed.
But let's be fair...at least in one idea...that "spirituality" at least acknowledges that "existence" is a personal matter. Not just for ourselves mind you, but that anything and everything (whether cognizant or self-aware in and of themselves) is indeed "finite".
Trees, insects, even bacteria...by any and all available facts gleaned today...are both finite and ultimately cease to "exist". Even comets, stars, solar systems, galaxies.
One day, sooner or later, *poof*.
Unless you have some new and extraordinary evidences to suggest that "existence" itself follows a "path" or manifestly ordained/directed course of events/circumstances to either be met or followed.. again, from what can be observed/recorded..."existence" just "IS".
At least we retain the concurrent capacities of reason and experiment to wonder upon the essence or "path" of non-existence.
For more than 14 billion years, you were, in matter of fact, non-existent.
Did it hurt?
Did you feel deprived?
Unfairly treated?
By what, or whom, for getting such a late start on things?
I am "spiritual" in the sense that I am self-aware of the concepts of non-existence, and I am not bored with "existence" just yet
Inevitability does not preclude one's own claimed sense of purpose within current existence. Nor are any promises of an alternative outcome offered by any means of mysticism, religion, or life-time magazine subscriptions.
The cosmos will end, many billions of years from now, and you are gonna miss out on the last edition.
Figure it out.