To me I identify as agnostic because many atheists get annoyed when I say I just don't know what's out there .
Atheism, to many, means a militant disbelief but truth be known we just don't know. I choose to not be attacked for legitimate ignorance. I don't know what (if any) role consciousness plays in reality as we know it.
I've had too many unexplainable things happen in my life. I don't know what they are I just know I can't explain them scientifically. Just because something can't be measured YET doesn't mean it isn't there. Once upon a time humans had no idea that there were bacteria on our skin that is necessary for life.
With that said to ask me to believe in magic tricks, a zombie Jesus, a celestial virgin or a talking snake out of faith is just plain stupid.

@strgazr63 All Atheists are Agnostic as well, why should they be annoyed at you for being the same?
Perhaps they're annoyed because you haven't made up your mind as to whether you're a believer or a non believer, which has nothing directly to do with Agnosticism which is about knowledge, not beliefs.

@zblaze I am open to a belief in something that has not yet been scientifically proven yet - I just don't know what. It might just be my cat. I have been literally screamed at because I won't say that this life is all there is and nothing else. I don't know that. Militant atheists can be an angry lot. I simply refuse to partake in any form of organized religion.

@strgazr63

It's a fair and logical position to say you don't know. I agree. How can we know? We can just believe or not believe based on the evidence. To say "I am an atheist" is simply denying the proposition that there is in fact a god, not stating there isn't one. That would take on the burden of proof, having to provide evidence for non existence.
Spiritual is a word I don't like because it's really wishy washy. It means something different to everyone who uses it, ranging from human consciousness to artistic creativity to "universal power."

@strgazr63 I guess for some people, religious or spiritual, whether a proposition is true or not has no influence on their decision to believe it or not believe it.

I sure couldn't live like that.

,@Athena Very nicely said.

It is a cop out if you're using a position of lack of knowledge as a middle ground in the question of belief or non belief.

What does 'spiritual' infer to you? Spirits or ghosts?

@zblaze
I disagree that by not knowing something you are considered a cop out regardless of wether or not someone uses it as a position.

Spiritualness I consider my traditions, values, experiences, and morals by which I live.

@darthfaja You've confused me!!!

"Technically you could argue the term agnostic is a cop out as well."....next comment...."I disagree that by not knowing something you are considered a cop out regardless of wether or not someone uses it as a position."

That makes no sense to me.

@zblaze
Yes, I can see how that is confusing.
I’m splitting hairs too much in this argument.
My apologies, strictness of labels I have difficulty with sometimes.

I don’t feel that agnostics choose their position as a lack of knowledge, although perhaps some do.
I never did. I just didn’t care one way or the other wether or not god did or didn’t exist.

I don’t put a lot of thought into wether I’m atheist or agnostic. This is partly because I hate being labeled and partially because of my statement above.

Probably best I clarify my stance more clearly in the future.

The term spiritualism has different more modern meaning now. It’s not always about religion but it certainly has in the past.

@darthfaja
You are correct. It's used differently now, but in many cases it is just a mask for another religion. The belief of a higher power is disguised (but not so well) as a modern god; one that each person decides is right for him or her. Fate, karma, crystals, "the universe" is all about the "greater powers that be."

People are welcome to call themselves "spiritual" but based on some of the descriptions of "spiritual" here, I also reserve the right to think of them as "theists.".

@Athena
I’m consider myself spiritual as a mother fucker and I certainly don’t believe in any higher being

@darthfaja

JUST as spiritual as a motherfucker? That is REALLY spiritual.

@darthfaja What do you mean by spiritual? There are five definitions of spiritual in my dictionary and they all refer to deitie, god or religion. Maybe there vis a better word to describe what you mean.

@Casey07 possibly, but I’m good with this one.
I’m not worried about how others feel about me. I’m very comfortable.

@darthfaja Are you a believer or non believer?

@zblaze could always read my profile if you want to know

Why is being deeply aware of the magnificence, mystery and beauty of reality and the inexplicable enigma of consciousness considered "spiritual"??? What does it have to do with 'spirits'?

To me spirit is breath, or to breathe. If you breathe you are spiritual. Everyone alive is spiritual in that sense.

All other descriptions of spirit or spiritual are tied in with religious beliefs like souls, metaphorical hearts, ghosts, and after lives.

I agree, it's a cop out.

@zblaze I don’t agree with your limited meaning for “spirit”. Spirit has many meanings besides ghosts or religious connotations.

But even if you are correct, words are just labels or symbols. Call it whatever you like. And even if spirituality is a sort of religion, what of it? Where’s the cop-out? You are basically trying to psychoanalyze spiritual people. It’s not a good argument IMO.

Sir Arthur Eddington:

The universe is of the nature of a thought or sensation in a universal Mind... To put the conclusion crudely — the stuff of the world is mind-stuff.

We are no longer tempted to condemn the spiritual aspects of our nature as illusory because of their lack of concreteness.

The scientific answer is relevant so far as concerns the sense-impressions... For the rest the human spirit must turn to the unseen world to which it itself belongs.

@WilliamFleming It is a cop out because of the holier than attitude that adherents inevitably adapt.

"being deeply aware of the magnificence, mystery and beauty of reality and the inexplicable enigma of consciousness" is just one example.

The "universal Mind" is complete bullshit, and I would ask you to define 'human spirit' if you would.
I think it's a lot of 'Hot Air".

@zblaze Eddington was a very astute physicist, and most of his colleagues expressed similar opinions. They were not talking about magic or supernatural stuff, but we’re going where logic led them.

Through contemplation anyone can develop awareness of the staggering implications of existence. It’s a simple choice of opening your eyes or continuing to wear a blindfold.

Excellent.

Interesting point of view.
I believe to say "I don't know" is a responsible position sometimes. Making up stories about possibilities and believing them is wishy washy.
I identify as an atheist which answers the question of belief; "do you believe a God exists?"
Agnosticism is about knowing. "Do you know whether or not a God exists?"

I don't believe a God exists but I'm not asserting a God does not exist.

That’s not true about being agnostic
Some of us just don’t give a shit if there is or is not

@darthfaja I'm glad you said "some" because over my many years of life I've met more 'fence-sitting' Agnostics that I care to mention.

@Triphid - my ex called himself agnostic, as he did not believe that there was a god, but he really did not care one way or the other. He was firmly a fence sitter, but now that his number two wife (can't help the double entendre) is religious, he has apparently changed his tune. I will continue to maintain that he is going into early-onset dementia, and this further supports my allegations (actually based upon fact, but this really sounds too good to give it a pass!)...

I agree that it's much better than the dogma which has ruined so much and so many.

I do get his point about people being on the fence and not dismissing the idea of a God, as religions created him (in the form of their personal preference too).

@Athena Yes it can be a bit wishy washy and meaningless. a bit too "new age" for me.

Then they are neither atheist or agnostic. They are "believers".

@Casey07

I agree. I believe the article has been misinterpreted by some. Also, I'm surprised at how many people describe themselves as spiritual here, in the context of a higher power existing in a non denominational form.
Spiritual is, as Sam Harris would agree, not a great word to use to describe a human path of consciousness, but the best word we have so far.
His reluctance to use it has to do with its connection to a higher power. For me, anything having to do with a spirit is a concept I don't understand.

@Casey07
@Allamanda

Allamanda described a concept of spiritualism I'm very comfortable with.

"This rather leaves out those who don't and possibly never have, believed in a higher power or a god, but do think that however you express it (the collective unconscious, the soul/spirit, that which makes us human...) can be worked on/with (by practicing meditation, by living a good life, or otherwise) to effect a higher level of (reason, resonance, humanity, enlightenment). Usually without the involvement of other people, or the need to talk about it!"

@Casey07 Are people who love and also practice science "believers" because some of them also believe energy is "God", and not in the traditional sense of the term. Context matters. I think they're in another category.

@Piece2YourPuzzle - Yes, but "believers" is so much more succinct than saying "believers in a god, and all the trappings, and lies, and stories that go with all that the powers (of the churches) have told you in order to bring order to their religious doctrines"....

Maybe they could be considered "new age' or "'"new thought" but more likely they are copping out when using the term. There just are not that many "new agers" out there.