Spiritual Guidance for Atheists

[BridgeTheGap]

Where do atheists, agnostics, and non-religious people turn for spiritual guidance? At Tufts University, non-religious students think they should have their own “humanist chaplain,” the same way that schools enlist Jewish, Christian, or Muslim teachers for their students.

“The current chaplaincies just don’t address the needs of ,” Xavier Malina, president of the Tufts Freethought Society, told Inside Higher Education. “A lot of students might want spiritual guidance but don’t feel comfortable going to the available chaplains on campus, might not satisfy their spiritual needs.”

Harvard University, Rutgers University, and Adelphi University all currently retain humanist chaplains, according to Inside Higher Education, though some people take issue with the entire idea. Don Brewington, president of the National Association of College and University Chaplains, told the magazine that providing non-religious students with guidance seemed valid. But describing humanist guidance as “spiritual,” according to Brewington, “seems to be somewhat contradictory.”

http://www.utne.com/Spirituality/Spiritual-Guidance-for-Atheists-5788.aspx?utm_content=11.17.09+Spirituality&utm_campaign=Spirituality&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email

[sinkingfeeling]

1. I don't want nor need spiritual guidance.

[BridgeTheGap]

7. I don't want or need water

until I'm thirsty.

[MineralMan]

20. Oooh...clever stuff.

Did a flannel board story come with that one?

[darkstar3]

29. Gag me with a spoon. n/t

[Goblinmonger]

43. WIll someone please fill the god-shaped hole in my heart.

:puke:

[onager]

51. Bwa-ha-ha! Have you ever noticed...

Everyone claiming we have a "god-shaped hole in our heart" always happens to have EXACTLY the right-shaped Spiritual Product to fill that hole?

Cash and all major credit cards accepted. No checks, please.

I have a (presumably) non-god shaped hole in my anatomy. All spiritual hucksters and supernatural con-jobbers can kiss it.

[Name removed]

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[abluelady]

5. Excuse Me, I Have Lots of Spirit

You should see me cheer and shout! My guidance comes from people with more brains than I have--not with people who believe their spirit is the source of wisdom.

[Name removed]

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[abluelady]

14. Thank you!

:)

[drm604]

6. They're talking about moral, ethical, and emotional guidance.

Atheists, agnostics, etc. have as many questions and problems in those areas as any other young inexperienced people who are away from home for the first time.

[Name removed]

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[drm604]

13. This is just arguing semantics.

They want the moral, ethical, and emotional guidance without the religious trappings. Regardless of whether or not this is referred to as "spiritual", they see it as a real need and quibbling over semantics doesn't add anything useful to the discussion.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

15. sure. continue to descreate the language even more. all will soon be

gibberish anyway...c u l8tr hoo needs ya :smoke:

[drm604]

19. What it should be called is a completely separate argument.

Arguing over what something should be called derails the discussion away from what may be a real need. It's a favorite tactic of obstructionists. (I don't believe you're an obstructionist, just pointing out that this tactic is often used by those who are.)

We can worry about the language if we want, but let's not let that distract us from discussing real world needs. How about they just call it "guidance" and move on to discussing the real issues?

[Tuesday Afternoon]

21. works for me

and truly defines what is needed. Carry on :patriot:

[MineralMan]

22. Well, that's a good idea, since the word "spiritual" is based on

the concept of supernatural "spirits." It's a common mistake among the religious to forget that little bit of information.

Guidance and advice are always good things, particularly for college-age folks. I'm sure there are many people on the campuses who are already serving that role. I had a Philosophy prof who was very good at advice giving. Now, his advice wasn't always that good, but he gave it freely.

[drm604]

24. Trained people are needed.

As you say, the philosophy prof didn't give very good advice. Since this position will probably only serve a minority of the students then perhaps one or a few philosophy or psych professors could receive some training and do this part time, or maybe a willing chaplain could learn how to give this kind of counseling without the religious trappings to those who need it.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

30. One could suggest that Atheists do indeed have spirits

of the supernatural realm. It is only that they refuse to acknowledge the existence of them :shrug: :smoke:

[MineralMan]

31. What on earth are you talking about?

What you are saying is just another one of those things where Christians try to dictate what atheism is. How silly. You can suggest anything you want, but atheists don't believe such things as supernatural spirits exist.

Believe what you want. But don't attempt to tell me that I must believe it also. There are no spirits in my system of knowledge. Now, if you'd like to show some to me, we can talk. Otherwise, you're just being foolish in trying to interpret atheism according to your own beliefs.

[Name removed]

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[MineralMan]

35. Oh, dear. Sarcasm based on a lack of knowledge rarely works.

Of course we cannot see the atom with the naked eye, any more than you can. However, using instruments we have designed, we can now see them quite nicely, thanks. In fact, we can see subatomic particles, or at least the tracks they make.

Here's an image of some individual atoms between two gold crystals:



You can read about this actual image at:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/dbnl-dot012208.php

You'll find some more actual images of atoms at:

http://www.emat.ua.ac.be/ResProgr.%20a.html

Have you religious folks come up with instruments for seeing supernatural entities yet? Just let me know when you get them working, OK?

Atheists are in no way superior to anyone. We are simply human beings who don't believe that any supernatural entities exist. I really can't see how that makes us either superior or inferior.

Your sarcasm is misplaced and silly.

[Name removed]

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[MineralMan]

38. How can a person be a religion?

You wrote: "wherever did you get the idea that I am any kind of religion whatsoever?"

You're not making sense.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

54. sorry. left out a word

I meant to type that I am not "of any kind of religion."

[trotsky]

56. God of the gaps!

How Kindergarten!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

58. personally I find the premise of the thread

to be kindegarten. and I am sorry I posted in it.

[Naturyl]

3. Jesus, Buddha, Lao-Tzu, and many more.

There is nothing about atheism or agnosticism that precludes a broader spirituality, and nothing that prevents one from seeking guidance in the words of the great thinkers of history. In fact, some of the most Christian people I know are atheists and agnostics, if "Christian" is defined as "valuing the message of Jesus."

[brooklynite]

4. I think "spiritual" is frequently a placeholder for "emotional"

Counselors in this area help people with personal crises, but I suspect they rarely resort to religious guidance.

[rurallib]

8. maybe they could use those guys that turn gays straight?

That's working out pretty well.

[ensho]

26. lol

nt

[Christa]

9. I don't have a spirit

Why would I need guidance for something I don't have?

We are all just flesh, blood and bones.

[MineralMan]

18. You can find many fine spirits during a short visit to

your off-sale liquor shop. I have a whole bar full of spirits.

[MineralMan]

12. Spiritual? What would atheists have to do with spirits.

Atheists don't believe that deities and other supernatural entities, like spirits, even exist. How would they want "spiritual" advice.

Logical thinking seems to be adequate, thanks...

[Silent3]

27. As a tangential thought... I wonder how many atheists believe in spirits?

It can't be many, because atheism is usually part of a generalized skepticism about all forms of supernatural entities. There are a lot of different beliefs and philosophies out there in the world, however, so I imagine there have to be a few people who don't believe in "big" supernatural entities, but who do believe in personal spirits.

[MineralMan]

32. I can only describe my atheism.

There are no "spirits" involved. I believe that is true for the vast majority of atheists.

There are, indeed, many belief systems and philosophies out there. Most have names and well-defined principles. Atheism is pretty much defined to rule out any sort of supernatural stuff, including whatever a "spirit" might be.

[Silent3]

46. Strictly speaking, atheism is simply a lack of belief in deities.

Not believing in spirits and ghosts and demons is, of course, strongly correlated with atheism, but it's not by definition part of atheism.

I can imagine a person whose lack of belief in deities is largely emotional (anger/sadness due to personal tragedies or about the condition of life in the world in general), rather than based on rational skepticism, who doesn't believe in any gods but who still engages in a fair amount of magical thinking.

I haven't personally met one of these people yet, but I'd guess there are a few out there.

[MineralMan]

48. I rarely speak strictly, except to children who venture upon

my lawn. Then, I say, very strictly, "YOU KIDS GET OFF MY LAWN!" :bounce:

[golddigger]

16. My spirit-ual Guidance is....

Jack Daniels!:evilgrin: :silly:

[MineralMan]

17. Well, I advise you to seek your spirit-ual advice from

Mr. Bushmills or Mr. Jameson. You'll thank me later.

[Name removed]

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[MineralMan]

39. Huh? The man named his favorite spirits, and

I countered with a couple of my own. No sarcasm there.

[golddigger]

41. Lol...I knew what you meant.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

55. again I apologize.

mea culpa.

[HereSince1628]

23. There are people somewhere who had nothing to read today

and folks here are looking for a semantic food fight
while innocents are starving from their ignorance.

I can imagine mom saying something like that...really, I can, vivid imagination, etc, etc

[ensho]

25. lol - sounds like some religionists are trying to backdoor atheists

into becoming religious

[MineralMan]

34. Of course they are. They can't even conceive of someone who

has no beliefs similar to theirs about the supposed supernatural world. If they could conceive of it, they'd have to actually think about their beliefs, and that just won't do.

[Meshuga]

50. If you guys read the article...

...and the link provided in the article, you will see that this seems to be a movement started by non-religious students requesting such services. I don't think it is a religious group trying to establish spiritual services for atheists.

And I don't think the word "spirituality" necessarily requires a supernatural spirit to be spirituality. The word is also used in describing how to deal with the essential in life not really attached to supernatural beings.

[MineralMan]

52. The word is wrongly used in that way.

It should not be so used. Words mean things.

[Meshuga]

53. Language evolves and words take on new meanings

And that is necessary in order to explain ideas and concepts. It doesn't mean that it replaces other common meaning of the word. "Essence" being used to explain "spirit" (as opposed to a spooky ghost) is common knowledge. But that doesn't take away the supernatural connotation of spirit when used in its proper context.

[rurallib]

40. or religilous.

[MineralMan]

49. I don't want no backdoor gods, thanks very much.

[TlalocW]

28. That reminds me of Skippy's List

Skippy’s List: The 213 things Skippy is no longer allowed to do in the U.S. Army - http://skippyslist.com/list/

Apparently, "Skippy" was an interesting soldier. I remember his being told that he couldn't be the Atheist Chaplain as one of them.

TlalocW

[struggle4progress]

42. Colleges and universities usually offer psychological counseling services to students who need them

[ZombieHorde]

44. Seems to me "psychological counseling services" would be adequate for most atheists.

Atheists (and most everyone else) with actual disorders, such as depression, would benefit from an actual psychiatrist.

[struggle4progress]

45. College and university counseling services usually aren't just for disorders

[ZombieHorde]

47. Yes, I was trying to communicate this with my subject line, but I obviously communicated poorly.

I was trying to say university counselors were good for most atheists (as well as others), except for those who required special psychological care.

[Odin2005]

57. I belong to a Unitarian Universalist congregation.