I've been an atheist since age 13, when I realized the Bible is just a book of stories written by men.

Hiking is a transcendent, uplifting and spiritual experience. The mountains are my sanctuary.

Since 2006, I have volunteered as a college mentor at the high school. I help low income, first generation students write essays to apply for college and scholarships. This is the most rewarding volunteer work I have ever done.

A Christian psychologist from Portland, Oregon's first message to me:

"I really like your playful, creative, giving being. You're more "spiritual" than most religious people. I'm curious how an "atheist" can live that way."

Christians who don't know me often ask, "How can you be a good, moral person without believing in God and going to church?"

These questions from Christians are rude and tiresome. Being a kind, thoughtful person is a series of daily choices.

Ask one hundred people to define spiritual, and you'll probably get one hundred answers.

I know what spiritual means to me, however it's hard to define to other people. Besides, when I do, I usually get people arguing with me about my definition.

Some people believe it means connected to something other than yourself. As in nature and feeling grounded and at peace when out in the wild. Or the moment you have a child and they lay the baby on you for skin to skin contact. Lots of different interpretations and I never worry about them. It does not have to mean godly or a deity.

"Spiritual" is a pretty arbitrary term when looking for a specific definition.

To me, as an atheist who doesn't believe in the supernatural, I think of it as a state of mind where one reaches a feeling of well being, peace and contentment. Ironically that definition could also work for many "believers" as well... although they might want to add in some nonsense about "souls" an d"spirits".

I've always struggled with this too. But if it means anything supernatural, I'm not into it.

Some people like being clearly understood, and will avoid using the word "spiritual."

Others are so attached to its own unique meaning (to them) that they 1) don't care that you won't understand it; 2) enjoy that you'll have to ask for clarity, so they can go on for an hour about what it means (again, to just them), or 3) are completely confused themselves about what they mean or believe so they use "spiritual" to sound cool, while also clarifying that spiritual is a flaky word..

And so are they.

Because "spiritual" requires other words to define what the user means, why not use those words in the first place and save everyone some time?

I'm not surprised at your confusion. We have a culture, and a language, that only allow for "science," everything that's measurable, and "religion" for everything else. But, if you don't buy religious dogmas and are not limited by materialist reductionism, then you're pretty much left with vague terms like "metaphysics" and "spirituality," both, basically, just catch-alls for experiences "outside the asylum." Don't get hung up on terms, that's dogma territory. Good luck.

People who identify as spiritual but not religious usually have separated themselves from organized religion and religiosity, but they still purse individual spiritualism, such as mysticism.

[en.wikipedia.org]

I think of Buddhists and Taoists as spiritual but not believing in deities.

Has been hijacked by thesist but can be a matter of personal strength

I think when people say that they are spiritual, they are referring to feeling of having a soul. The concept of humans having a soul did not originate with Christianity or any of the other major religions. In fact, many Greek philosophers talked about the soul in their works. I think this concept came about because of the duality of the human mind. Thoughts do originate from within you at times without your conscious control, which leads to the belief that there is something inside of you called A SELF, which is synonymous with the concept of the soul. I think when a person says they are spiritual, they are saying that they feel connected to their sense of self or their soul.

Being spiritual means anything you want it to be. That's why I am not "spiritual."

To me, spiritual means attitudinal. I realize people envision it differently but if I translate it that way, conversations can proceed.

It means whatever you want it to mean

It's most often used by people who want to believe in an after life, but without the rules and restraints imposed by religion. I see it as, "I don't believe in god, but I can't accept my mortality."

The term 'spiritual' is a jello word. It will fit any person's subjective mould.

I'm with you.
I see no difference.
It's just as hokey as religion, to me.

Me too, it seems very weasel-y to me......

Spirit like, team spirit at a pep rally or sports game: it is that MOTIVATION, a force. Force of thoughts that moves and motivates to action.

To live a "spiritual" or life of "spirituality " , would be living in motivation modes or searching for motivation reasons.

I think spiritual involves some form of supernatural. If someone tells me they're spiritual I tend to think of them as I would if they told me they are religious or woo.

It's a term open-minded people use to annoy atheists.

It's a meaningless term.

I think that the Christianity rush is a lot like dope in a way. It certainly is a high of sorts that I can see. From what I have read I also think that a certain amount on dopamine is released when a inner thought is pinpointed in a way that you enjoy. Today, I think that has a lot to do with what is described as spirituality..I certainly get a high of sorst when I am really getting into what I am thinking or saying.

A bunch of us had this conversation, once again, a few days ago elsewhere on this site.
Mi argument is that there are too many definitions and so we should stick to the two dictionary definitions:

1. relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things. and
2. relating to religion or religious belief.
   If we just accept everyone coming up with their own definition, then there will be continuous confusion about the term, just like the one prevailing now.
   With this I am not closing the door to another definition, but I think that for a third definition to be added to the dictionary (or a fourth or a fifth, etc.), it should be a specific definition that a preponderant number of speakers (millions) agree to use and accept. It is a tall order but that is why only a few terms and definitions make it to the dictionary every year.
   And getting people that use the term to agree on a definition may prove to be like herding cats because this is mostly people that don’t want to be called atheists, but don’t want to be called religious either; roughly speaking.
   So, I propose the following general definitions: Spirituality: A feeling of being in awe and harmony with the universe, including all processes of nature and all manifestations lo life.
   Spiritual: One that exercises spirituality in one or more of its several meanings.