vaguelyhumanoid
Active Member
No? Magic has been practiced in a lot of cultures and religions that don't have a monistic view of the cosmos.
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What is the relationship between morality and spirituality?
- Thread starter Gambit
- Start date
No? Magic has been practiced in a lot of cultures and religions that don't have a monistic view of the cosmos.
Gambit
Well-Known Member
I would argue that all magic presupposes some kind of animistic worldview. (Animism and magic is ubiquitous in tribal cultures.)
Sapiens
Polymathematician
Well, since there is no evidence of any gods, yet love still seem to exist, you have to rethink that line inquiry.
vaguelyhumanoid
Active Member
Animism does not mean "universal consciousness" tho. It means a plurality of spirits.
Gambit
Well-Known Member
Perhaps, I should have employed the term panpsychism or pantheism.
vaguelyhumanoid
Active Member
Panpsychism is "everything has a mind", it's almost the same as animism. My point is that there are a lot of pluralist (as opposed to monist) religions/cultural worldviews that involve magic.
Gambit
Well-Known Member
You're really missing the point. The point is that he said atheists do not believe in anything spiritual, and yet he (as an atheist) believes in magic.
vaguelyhumanoid
Active Member
As for that, I agree. I was just pointing out that it's not accurate to say that magic always indicates a monistic view.
Spirituality doesn't factor into morality for me. My morality is based on the application of normative ethics, particularly consequentialist utilitarianism. I believe the highest moral behavior is to maximize happiness and minimize suffering based on tangible, observable consequences of actions. So any form of traditionalism, including spiritual traditionalism, would be subjected to the same scrutiny as me. If spiritual tradition requires me to do something I believe will harm more people than help, then I would discard that option.