Current Events > Atheists who don't have any spirituality

(+) Yeah! (+)

Why?

I'm not saying you should follow a particular religion or philosophy, but ones like Buddhism and Taoism offer very interesting and probably beneficial ways of going about life.
---

Actually, Buddhism is incredibly theistic. There isn't really any traditional branches that don't include a ton of deities and supernatural phenomenon.

Taoism/Daoism could fit the bill, if you only follow philosophical Daoism, basically just Lao Zi's writings. Otherwise, you have a metric ton of systems of magic and folklore that come with the tradition commonly referred to as Magical Daoism.

Either way, just because you don't follow a religion, doesn't mean you don't have a code of ethics or beliefs. It just means those beliefs don't revolve around deities or a system of divine blessings and punishment.

Dash_Harber posted...

Either way, just because you don't follow a religion, doesn't mean you don't have a code of ethics or beliefs. It just means those beliefs don't revolve around deities or a system of divine blessings and punishment.

This. I try to be a decent human being not because I'm worried about eternal torment, but because it makes sense and generally tends to make my life and the lives of those I care about better. I don't murder because that's going to ruin my life and cause all kinds of pain to the people I love. I don't steal because that's risking the same. I help others because generally speaking, when someone thinks you're a good person they're more likely to help you out in return when you need it. And everyone eventually needs it. I don't see any reason for a god to be involved.
---

The great thing about life being meaningless is that you're free to create your own meanings. You can't do that if someone else has already "figured it out" for you.
---

SpiralDrift posted...

The great thing about life being meaningless is that you're free to create your own meanings. You can't do that if someone else has already "figured it out" for you.

Wrong.

Even if nothing else, applying religion to modern day living will offer new and unique experiences.
---

Damn_Underscore posted...

SpiralDrift posted...

The great thing about life being meaningless is that you're free to create your own meanings. You can't do that if someone else has already "figured it out" for you.

Wrong.

Even if nothing else, applying religion to modern day living will offer new and unique experiences.

That would be great but IRL it's just going to limit your experiences.
---

No thanks buddy, I don't pick out religion on the basis of what looks fun or will entertain me. I don't lie to myself so absolutely none of them will work.
---

Damn_Underscore posted...

Why?

I'm not saying you should follow a particular religion or philosophy, but ones like Buddhism and Taoism offer very interesting and probably beneficial ways of going about life.

Realizing there's nothing between you and everything else is the ultimate feeling of freedom
---

Aristoph posted...

Dash_Harber posted...

Either way, just because you don't follow a religion, doesn't mean you don't have a code of ethics or beliefs. It just means those beliefs don't revolve around deities or a system of divine blessings and punishment.

This. I try to be a decent human being not because I'm worried about eternal torment, but because it makes sense and generally tends to make my life and the lives of those I care about better. I don't murder because that's going to ruin my life and cause all kinds of pain to the people I love. I don't steal because that's risking the same. I help others because generally speaking, when someone thinks you're a good person they're more likely to help you out in return when you need it. And everyone eventually needs it. I don't see any reason for a god to be involved.

Even more pragmatically, we are hardwired to build communities. Communities are undermined by rabid and arbitrary rape and murder. The fact that we all agree to a set of rules and that we cooperate means that we can thrive and specialize, and further increase our standard of living.