Secular Guide To Spirituality

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Atheism

  • Atheism As A Logical Conclusion
    DEFINITIONS Defining God and the Unfalsifiable Problem God is typically defined as an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent supernatural being who created and governs the universe. However, this definition presents a fundamental logical problem: unfalsifiability. Religious claims about God are structured in ways that make them impossible to disprove—any evidence against God’s existence can be explained […]
  • Defending Atheism
    Theism is the belief in a god or gods or the supernatural. Atheism is the lack of belief in a god or gods or the supernatural. Defining god. Before I can define atheism I need to define what I see as 3 types of gods. All 3 definitions of god share the “creator of the […]
  • Do All Atheists Think The Same?
    Atheistic worldviews are more uniform than religions because atheists draw from a single source of authority and information: Science and mother nature. This common source necessarily leads to relatively homogeneous conclusions. Religions on the other hand has much more variety because they draw from 4000 plus different sources of authority and information, each founded on […]
  • Do Atheists Worship The Devil?
    The devil is a super natural entity found in the bible. If you believe in super natural entities you are not an atheist. You’re a theist. Theists who believe in (some or all of) the bible are commonly known as Christians. Mainstream Christians and devil worshipers both believe in the Christian God and the devil. […]
  • How do “you” define atheism?
    How one defines atheism is typically a function of their existing belief system. Secular Religious The more religious you are the broader your definition of atheism will be. The less religious you are the narrower your definition of atheism will be. Related posts: Is atheism a religion? Do Atheists Worship The Devil? What Is Atheism? […]
  • Is atheism a religion #2
    I can offer two answers to the question “Is atheism is a religion?” That depends on how you define “religion”. No That depends on how you define religion Religions have historically been associated with the belief in a god or gods. But there is a political movement to label atheism as a religion so that […]
  • Is atheism a religion?
    Whether atheism is a religion or not depends primarily on how you define the word “religion”. In this article I would like to discuss the following three questions: Which definition of “religion” are you using? The most traditional definition of religion is aligned along the theism – (a)theism distinction. Theism and (a)theism have one and […]
  • Is atheism a religion? Two opposing Christian arguments.
    Here are two politically motivated but opposing Christian arguments about if atheism is a religion or not. The first argues that atheism is not a religion because it is not theistic. The purpose of this argument is to deny atheists any protection under the First Amendment. It is not uncommon for philosophers and social commentators […]
  • What do atheists believe?
    Children are born into an environment and adopt the world view present in that environment with few doubts or objections. At least for the first 10-15 years of their life. Whether they go on to question that world view or not largely depends on whether it’s an open system or a closed system. In a […]
  • What Is Atheism?
    What is atheism? Atheism is: The “lack of belief” in a god or gods or the supernatural is a (theoretically) neutral position that is narrowly balanced between the belief in a god and the belief that god does not exist. It is the most fundamental definition of atheism and the one that people sometimes take […]
  • Why Do Atheists Believe In Religious Freedom?
    Atheist believe that religions are, as a whole, harmful to society. But we promote the idea of religious freedom for two reasons. Human Rights It is unreasonable to punish people for things that are beyond there control. People are born into their religion and don’t have a choice about believing or not believing. It is […]
  • Why I Am An Atheist
    I’m an atheist because, after much effort, I have found that the evidence against the existence of a god is more convincing than the evidence in favor of the existence of a god. My overall conclusion is that gods and their corresponding religions are products of history, of early mankind’s primitive knowledge level, developed and […]
  • Why I Don’t Believe In God
    I rarely bother explaining why I don’t believe in a god anymore because one’s religion is typically a function of their birth environment rather than reason or choice. But I did come across this article that offers a nice argument in support of atheism. It’s titled “Why I don’t believe in God” and you can […]

General

  • An unusually honest and insightful Christian argument
    I found this unusually honest and insightful Christian argument about the difference between Christian and non-Christian thinkers. Here is a short quote to peak your interest. Creationists and evolutionists, Christians and non-Christians all have the same evidence – the same facts. Think about it: we all have the same earth, the same fossil layers, the […]
  • Autotelic Personality: Understanding the Drive for Flow
    Flow is a psychological state where a person becomes fully immersed in an activity, experiencing deep focus, enjoyment, and a sense of control. The concept of autotelic personality was introduced by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi to describe individuals who are naturally inclined to experience flow—a state of deep focus, intrinsic motivation, and enjoyment in an activity. […]
  • Existentialism and nihilism
    The naturalism theory/school of thought suggests another school of thought: Existentialism. Existentialism and nihilism are closely related and share the same underlying assumption about the inherent lack of pre-exsting meaning in life. But since I’m not well versed in their differences I turned to gptchat for the following article: Existentialism and nihilism are philosophical views […]
  • Fate and Destiny: A Secular Prospective
    In the history of human thought, few concepts hold as much mystery as fate and destiny. Rooted in ancient mythologies and religious traditions, these terms have long been associated with divine will, cosmic order, and preordained paths. But fate and destiny have a secular foundations that can be understood through a philosophical lens—one that recognizes […]
  • Fate vs. Destiny: Similarities and Differences
    This article explores the age-old debate between fate and destiny—two powerful concepts that have shaped human thought across cultures and centuries. While fate suggests an inescapable, predetermined path governed by cosmic forces, destiny implies a purposeful journey shaped by both divine design and personal choice. While often framed in religious or metaphysical terms, the concepts […]
  • Presuppositions, an Unseen Factor in Our Spiritual Quest
    In our secular spiritual quest, we seek to understand reality with open minds and clear eyes. We rely on reason, science, and personal experience to navigate the mysteries of existence. But beneath the surface of our rational inquiry lies a silent, invisible force: presuppositions. These are the unexamined assumptions we carry before we even begin […]
  • Secular thinkers can potentially learn a great deal from religious scholars
    On first blush secular thinkers might think that studying religions is a waste of time because they are all based on false Gods. But if you go one layer deeper and consider that these false Gods were created by their underlying societies, then you see them in a different light. Studying religions, especially their scholars, […]
  • Serendipity as a Tool: How to Create Luck on Purpose
    What Is Serendipity—and Can You Make It Happen? Serendipity means finding something valuable by chance. The term was coined in 1754 by English writer Horace Walpole, inspired by a fairy tale about three princes from Serendip (now Sri Lanka) who made discoveries not by design, but through luck and insight. But here’s the twist: you […]
  • The Concept of Agency
    Agency means the capacity to act intentionally, to make choices, and to influence the world. From the moment we begin to understand our actions as distinct from the world around us, we begin to form a sense of self as an agent. This concept is a central theme in psychology, religion, and philosophy. Each discipline […]
  • The elusive nature of reality
    Reality is what was, what is, and what will be. In reference to secular spirituality, “reality” is also referred to as the ultimate reality, or life, or the world at large. Sometimes as the big picture. Reality is what actually exists. Independent of our perceptions of it. Scientists try to discover reality. Philosophers speculate about […]
  • The Source And Measure Of Morality
    The source and measure of morality is human nature. Morality is a reflection of what each of us expects for ourselves. It is a function of human consciousness and our own self awareness. Without self awareness there would be no morality. Many arguments about morality are based on the false dilemma fallacy. Otherwise known as […]
  • Three Types Of Existential Crises
    An existential crisis is a profound psychological experience in which an individual confronts fundamental questions about the meaning, purpose, and value of their life. Often occurring during significant life transitions or periods of introspection, it can involve feelings of anxiety, confusion, or despair regarding one’s existence, choices, and place in the world. In the article […]
  • What Does It Mean That “God Is Unfalsifiable”?
    Unfalsifiable: Not able to be proven false, but not necessarily true. The concept of unfalsifiability is central to understanding the differences between science and metaphysics, and it plays a key role in debates about the existence of God. To expand on this idea, we can examine how unfalsifiability functions in both scientific and philosophical contexts, […]
  • What does it mean to be enlightened?
    “Enlightened” typically means to be free from ignorance and misinformation. It suggests a state of wisdom and understanding. According to ChatGPT: To be “enlightened” primarily involves the pursuit of intellectual growth and understanding. Enlightened individuals engage in critical thinking, rigorously question assumptions and analyze information to distinguish between fact and opinion. They embrace diversity of […]
  • What is a worldview?
    A worldview is …a set of beliefs about what exists, how reality is organized, and how we fit into it… it’s an overarching cognitive framework that helps to make sense of things, practically, ethically and existentially. https://naturalism.org/worldview-naturalism/encountering-naturalism-a-worldview-and-its-uses We all have a worldview. And it changes over time and with our life experiences. In our youth […]
  • What is existential freedom?
    I asked gpt chat to describe existential freedom and this was the reply: Existentialist freedom centers on the concept that individuals are solely responsible for creating their own meaning and purpose in a world devoid of inherent meaning or predetermined nature. This freedom, while liberating, necessitates confronting the weighty implications of choice and responsibility. Existentialist […]
  • What is human nature
    It is important to discuss and define the concept of human nature. Human nature it is central to secular thinking because secular thinking relies on the authority of mankind rather than the authority of a god or gods. Human nature can be defined as traits that are common to most human beings. Human nature has […]
  • What is naturalism?
    Naturalism is a school of thought about the nature of reality (that excludes any elements of the super natural). Naturalism… is a comprehensive worldview based in a scientific, empirical understanding of reality. . Naturalism, in essence, is simply the idea that human beings are completely included in the natural world: there’s nothing supernatural about us. […]

Religion

  • Can religions exist without a real, actual God?
    The bible doesn’t prove god exists. The bible only proves that Christianity exists. There’s a big difference. But you say “How can Christianity exist without a real, actual God?” As a Christian/Muslim/etc. you say your god is the one and only true god. Therefore, logically, all the other religions must be based on non existent […]
  • Does God exist?
    I think the answer to this question depends on how you define “god”. There are hundreds of gods that have existed throughout time. Maybe more. But most of them are extinct now. Or at least lost to history. The main surviving gods are typically exclusive and monotheistic as represented by the big 3 religions: Christianity, […]
  • Gods Of Our Own Making
    Throughout history, mankind has constructed gods to answer its deepest questions—about death, meaning, morality, and the unknown. But rather than discovering transcendent truths, we have shaped those deities in our own image. The gods of Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and countless other traditions are not revelations from a distant, objective reality, but reflections of human psychology, […]
  • If God doesn’t exist, then why are religions so persistent?
    Religions have survived the centuries because they satisfy the basic human need for answers about the world and our place in it. You see, religion is only possible in intelligent, thinking animals. Gods and religions are products of our own intelligence. Because our intelligence demands answers. And in the absence of science, that need was […]
  • Is it possible that God exists?
    God is usually defined as a transcendental being that exists outside of the laws of nature. But since science is limited by and to the laws of nature, then science can’t detect them or test for them. Just because we can’t scientifically prove that gods do or don’t exist does not necessarily mean they do […]
  • Is theism a religion?
    I ask this question in contrast to the “Is (a)theism a religion?” question to see if the same logic applies. Theism has one and only one belief. That a god or gods or super natural entities exist. Belief systems based on these assumptions are generally called religious world views, or religions. But is a single […]
  • Religions Are An Honest Mistake
    Religions are worldviews based on the authority of a supernatural entity (God or gods). They are the default worldview for most people in all societies throughout human history. From a secular prospective, religions are an honest mistake. They are an ancient tribes rules and collective memories rolled up into an all inclusive world view. It’s […]
  • Religions Don’t Have to Be True to Be Effective (Believed)
    Walk into a mosque in Istanbul, a temple in Bangkok, a church in São Paulo, or a synagogue in Jerusalem, and you’ll witness the same phenomenon: devoted believers, profound experiences, transformed lives, and unshakeable conviction. Yet these religions make fundamentally incompatible claims about reality. This observation leads to the unavoidable conclusion: religions don’t need to […]
  • Religions explained
    Religions are a fact of life. They are the default world view for most people in all societies throughout human history. Regardless of their credibility, religions impact us in so many ways. Much of their influence is back ground noise that we don’t even notice. Other times their influence is major and in our face. […]
  • The Fundamental Difference Between Atheism And Religion
    Religion can be defined as a worldview—a comprehensive framework for understanding the world, human purpose, and morality—that is built upon a core assumption which cannot be falsified. This unfalsifiable assumption serves as the foundational truth upon which all beliefs, rituals, and moral codes are constructed. This core assumption is the existence of a divine being […]
  • The nature of the gods
    It has been estimated that there have been over 4000 religions throughout history. And each one has one or more gods. There is no definitive definition of what a god is. But most if not all of these gods have these three things in common: They can’t be falsified Their existence and powers can’t be […]
  • What Does The Universal Nature Of Religions Prove?
    As I explained here, “How And Why Does Christianity Conflate Spirituality With Religion?“, Christianity conflates religion with spirituality in an effort to prove it’s existence. This article Religion is a fact of life that even atheists must accept on the Catholic website LifeSiteNews.com is an excellent example of this. First they establish the universal nature […]
  • Why Do Christians Fear Atheism More Than “False” Religions?
    (Long read, summary): Christian doctrine condemns both atheism and worship of “false gods” as serious sins—yet atheism consistently receives harsher criticism. Here’s the paradox: believing in the wrong god should theoretically be worse (it’s both rejection AND idolatry), while atheism is only rejection. So why do religious institutions focus their condemnation on the smaller group […]
  • Why Do Religions Survive?
    Why do religions continue to survive – and even thrive – in the face of the seemingly overwhelming evidence against them? Even if you don’t believe in a particular religion, or even religion in general, they still have a major effect on your life. Political elections and many laws are motivated by religious conviction. September […]

Spirituality

  • A Spiritual Event We Have All Experienced Actually Has A Scientific Name: Flow
    Flow: An optimal psychological state where individuals become completely absorbed in an activity. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s groundbreaking research on “flow”—those optimal psychological states where individuals become completely absorbed in an activity—reveals profound connections between creativity and spirituality that transcend conventional boundaries between secular psychology and religious experience. Core Characteristics of Flow Flow states emerge when several […]
  • Assorted Descriptions and Definitions of Spirituality
    Here is a collection of definitions and descriptions of spirituality. Spirituality: Mankind’s innate need to understand the world and his place in it. After working with the concept of spirituality for many years this definition just popped into my head one day. I have come to prefer it because it’s the most basic and clearly […]
  • How And Why Does Christianity Conflate Spirituality With Religion?
    Conflate: To fail to properly distinguish or keep separate (things); to treat (them) as equivalent. Why Does Christianity Claim Spirituality? Christianity conflates religion and spirituality in an effort to justify it’s existence by distracting secular thinkers from the fact that spirituality is a universal human capacity that doesn’t require belief in the supernatural. This confusion […]
  • How Spirituality Shaped Human Belief Systems
    Spirituality is a fundamental part of human nature that predates all religions. This article explore why spirituality evolved, how it shaped religion, and what this means for finding meaning. Spirituality and religion, while often used interchangeably, represent fundamentally different aspects of human experience. Spirituality is humanity’s innate need to understand the world and our place […]
  • List Of Secular Spiritual Activities
    I asked my favorite AI tool to create a list of secular spiritual activities (with descriptions) and here is what I got. Some ideas are pretty common and some are totally new to me. Reflective Practices Journaling Contemplation Self-inquiry Life review Mindfulness & Meditation Mindfulness meditation Breathwork Body scanning Walking meditation Loving-kindness meditation (metta) Physical […]
  • Our spiritual need is innate
    We are spiritual for three reasons: Mankind’s spiritual need is innate. It’s part of our human nature. “Humanity’s enduring fascination with the same set of existential questions—life after death, the human soul, morality, ethics and the nature of God—has compelled some anthropologists to describe us as Homo Religiosus, distinct as a species based not on […]
  • Some excellent Muslim insights into human nature
    I have often suggested that it’s useful to study religions (their scholars) because they cover spirituality better than we secular thinkers do. A great case in point is this article titled “Why Is Shirk the Greatest Sin of All?” located here: https://yaqeeninstitute.org/read/paper/why-is-shirk-the-greatest-sin-of-all. “Humanity’s enduring fascination with the same set of existential questions—life after death, the […]
  • Spirituality: The Quest for Meaning and Purpose
    Summary: The search for meaning is built into human nature—wired into our brains, shaped by culture, and essential to our well-being. This article explores spirituality not as a religious doctrine, but as a universal human drive to make sense of existence. It delves into the science behind spiritual experiences, the role of culture in shaping […]
  • The Fate Of The Average Man
    A chance of fate determines the society and culture we’re born into: our gender and race roles, our nationality, language, religion, social class, etc. Then the voices of socialization (custom, tradition and public opinion) so overwhelm us that by the time we reach the age of reason we accept them as fact and ride them […]
  • Three Avenues to Spiritual Fulfillment
    There are three general avenues to satisfy our spiritual needs: religion, mystical spirituality, and secular spirituality. 1. Religion: Structured Doctrine and Institutional Frameworks Religion is a system of belief centered on supernatural forces—such as deities, spirits, or divine beings—and is typically defined by formal doctrines, sacred texts, institutional hierarchies, and organized rituals. Major world religions—including […]
  • Understanding Religions: A Necessary Step in our Secular Spiritual Journey
    For those of us who identify as secular thinkers (atheists), it might seem counterintuitive to spend time studying and discussing religion. After all, if we’ve already concluded that religious frameworks don’t offer valid paths to understanding reality, why dedicate energy to analyzing them? The answer is this: we cannot truly free ourselves from something if […]
  • We are what we believe
    The secret to life is that: “we are what we believe”. Human beings are highly logical but we are limited by what we know (believe) and by the quality of that information. Most of us lack the opportunity, motivation, and resources to confirm our beliefs and unknowingly treat them as facts. Consequently our beliefs are […]
  • What is the meaning of life? 40 ideas…
    I just found this excellent article that suggests 40 possible ideas about the meaning of life. In reviewing these 40 ideas I think the most valid options are existential freedom and nihilism. Both of these philosophies suggest that man is alone in a meaningless universe with no predetermined meaning or purpose in life. They represent […]
  • When Spiritual Needs Go Unmet: Understanding the Consequences
    Summary (long read): You have everything you thought you wanted—a good job, comfortable home, supportive relationships—yet something feels fundamentally missing. It’s not depression exactly, but a persistent sense of emptiness, a nagging question about whether any of this really matters. You’re not alone. Millions experience this “existential vacuum,” a term coined by psychiatrist Viktor Frankl […]
  • Why a secular guide to spirituality?
    There is a need for a secular guide to spirituality because there are so few resources available on the subject. There are huge amounts of resources available about religious spirituality: Sacred texts (Bible, Koran, Torah) and plenty of experts (Priests, Fathers, Rabbis, Imams) to speak to and plenty of religious scholars to study. And religions […]

Uncategorized

  • Content curation
    I use content curation to presenting the ideas and works of others, with proper attribution of course, that support my ideas about secular spirituality. I typically use quotes from their articles to support my ideas, or to expand on them. And by visiting and reading the article you can gather more information on the subject. […]