i noticed that you deleted your part of a little controversy we had on your question. just to let you know what i think of this kind of control or censorship, for want of a better term: weird

I am not going to try to ‘define’ spiritual, but only try to explain what it means to me. We are all different after all, and I walk my own path, as you do yours.

I think of it as a way to describe my feelings of connectedness to every living thing, and I like to imagine we become again a part of that life force upon death, possibly dispersing as pure energy to be used again and again. Also as a way to describe any possible connection to those who’ve gone before us, who may or may not be hanging around still or that might influence us in our lives, guiding or warning us of impending danger. Guardians, ancestors and such.

I’ve had, and have heard others describe incidents that make you feel like something/someone connected with you that you cannot explain. It has happened recently. I feel that by acknowledging something extraordinary happening, and being open to it in the future as well, I might have a stronger connection to it than some.

I do not know how to name it, other than calling it ‘spritual’ in nature. It just defies explanation, usually. Maybe by saying I’m spiritual is simply saying I am keeping a channel open for guidance, no matter where it is actually coming from. My own spirit/soul/consciousness being actively receptive, and trying to listen.

This came across my Fbook feed yesterday, and aligns pretty well with how I personally feel.

I don't want to be 'spiritual'. Because it's meaningless & also used by religious people as a 'get out clause' when they're embarrassed that you're not religious - "Oh dear - but are you a spiritual person then?". No, I am not. I'm a human who feels emotion. End of.

I claim it to have the belief system that we are all one. What I do affects you in one way or another so I try to be kind and understanding. Non-judgmental and open minded. Tolerant and patient. Believing that there is no purpose in living in fear other than to justify atrocities and division from one another.
That is just my belief difference when it comes to being spiritual versus believing in dogma.

i will have an answer once you rephrase your post into something resembling impartiality.

we often use the word spiritual/spirit to refer to: greater than self/integrity

As I've said before, ask ten people to define "spiritual" and you'll get 12 definitions.

There's nothing wrong with an atheist thinking about meaning and purpose and ethics and morality and figuring out how they want to live and how to make sense of those questions. Some would call this a "spiritual" concern but I would not use that word. Most people can't separate it from the supernatural and the religious.

Then again ... it's possible, technically, for a person to not believe in any god(s) and yet to think they have a spirit and are immortal and all sorts of other things. It's not logically consistent, but then, humans don't have a good reputation for that.

There IS a book out by Andre Compte-Sponville titled "The Little Book of Atheist Spirituality" which to my recollection talks mostly about the so-called Great Virtues and why one would aspire to them -- and other ways to derive a moral code and find purpose and meaning apart from religion. I don't recall that the book (which I read many years ago) used the term "spirituality" ironically. I think it was aimed at people who want to salvage some kind of idealism / transcendence from the ruins of their unbelief. I just think its wrong to call that "spirituality". But on the other hand I don't know of an alternative word that is widely understood and used, either. Humanism, perhaps?

Woo. They wish to believe that there is some "other" power to tap into, for advice, comfort etc. Imaginary friends die hard.

I'll second that. I too have no idea what people mean when they talk about spritual.