Spirituality In General.

[Theland]

I don't have figures, but I am under the impression that spirituality generally is on the increase.
Apart from accepted religions, there seems to be such widespread belief in all things spiritual.
These range from tree huggers, Gaians, New Agism, Mother Earth thingys, yoga, meditation, astrology and horoscopes, diviners, yingies and yangies and they come in all sizes and flavours etc etc etc.
So, maybe not a belief in Santa Clause, tooth fairy, or the Easter Bunny, but you get my drift.
Do you agree with my impression, and if so, why do you think this is so?
Oh yes, forgot to mention ghosts, and the experiencing of our dear departed.

[Baldric]

I confess to finding it amusing that the only 'Related Question' (atm)
is about AB Badges, which is just another form of what the Spiritual among us seem to want to collect as they bluff their way through life?
How far up the List is a 'God Botherer' Badge anyway?

[Retrochic]

People now are questioning everything and certain 'religions' appeal as they do not indoctrinate or rely on stories told hundreds of years ago. New age and pagan faiths have many paths but the one thing in common is they follow the earths patterns, which are evident to everyone, no one God who gives or takes away anything, and no need to go to Church or 'sign up'. The one thing in common with all the faiths you have mentioned is that no-one has ever gone to war in the name of that faith,which speaks volumes

[Zacs-Master]

Designer religions for a designer age.

[Retrochic]

Paganism is hardly a 'designer' religion lol!

[Theland]

Man as God then?

[Baldric]

Why God anyway?

[Zacs-Master]

I,disagree retro. People like to be individuals and stand out from the crowd. Choosing a religion which fits with your desired perception is as designer as picking a pair of Jimmy choo's whether it's a year old or thousands of years old.

[Retrochic]

Man as God? not sure what yo mean theland. Paganism has many Gods mostly to do with ancient beliefs and not everyone worships Gods. Lots of Pagans worship following the seasons and its more 'being grateful' to 'Mother Earth' for all her bounties. Also in Pagan religions male and female are equal and if fact have to be both present in any rituals

[Hypognosis]

These are all "off the shelf" religions, so I don't see what is so "designer" about them. Trendy, maybe but then so were deeley boppers (sp?).

//Theland

Man as God then?//


Man is not god in most of the ones you listed. Could you point at one which you think is anthropocentric?

[Hypognosis]

There are hunter gatherer tribes who you might describe as animists (not sure that is the word) and go to the trouble of verbally apologising to the animals they kill: there is some spiritual element to this.

Abrahamic religions prefer to thank their god for what they kill and the bible even says that everything onthe planet is ours to exploit in whatever way we want (eg nearly fishing the seas to extinction, with whales, cod etc.).

Pagans seem to be a post-farming culture, given the emphasis (per Retrochic's post) on seasons, plus things like fertility rights as you become dependent on the productivity of the soil for food and the fertility of your tribe to have sufficient people to bring in the harvest and defend against raiders.

So, what and how we worship is rather shaped by our lifestyles. Where there is chance and uncertainty over the future, we turn to spirituality in the hope that offerings or incantations will make these chance events go in our favour.

The concept of capricious gods starts at that level of thinking.

[atalanta]

"Spirituality" is another term for "I don't understand it, so it's a mystery". It thus becomes an excuse for not thinking deeply about life's problems.
In fact, "spirituality" strikes me as a way of not facing up to death and the other realities of life, not standing on one's own two feet and accepting full responsibility for one's actions, not expecting to behave selfishly and then to get forgiveness when you say the right words in front of a priest.
Ghosts are often a combination of wishful thinking ("I wish I'd seen Granny one more time before she died") night-time, owls, and too much drink. And yes, I have read a load of stuff about ghosts. I used to have a great deal to do with the Harry Price Library. (q.v.)

[hc4361]

I have a conflict about seeing ghosts. As a Christian I should be very wary of ghosts but I grew up with a ghost in my childhood home and I'm currently sharing my home with a ghost.
I know who both were and they have never troubled me. It is not stretching a point to say a ghost saved my life when I was 4.

I think humankind has always had an instinctive leaning towards the spiritual, regardless of nationality, religion and culture and I believe those who strongly oppose those ideas are reactionary.

[Theland]

Man as god was the original sin in Eden as promised by the devil to Eve.

[Theland]

Ghosts in the home and you a Christian?
Scripture points out that the only spirit beings you will ever experience are angels and demons. Prayer will rid you of the demon posing as a ghost.

[Theland]

Study your Bible. Daily. Just believing in God is not enough, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is what is needed.
Even the demons believe in Him, and tremble.

[Hypognosis]

On the increase? Atheism is, according to this:-

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20141219-will-religion-ever-disappear

Theland will probably love the bit where a three-year-old is able to work out something I cannot, evidently without any churchly input.

Enjoy!

[mibn2cweus]

There is nothing that can be imagined that cannot be believed once objectivity no longer enters into the equation . . . and for many not even imagination is a prerequisite for belief. Some simply refuse to consider an alternative explanation for fear of discovering a cherished belief is no more than a preferred delusion.

Knowing what is real and the ability to differentiate between beliefs and knowledge begins with accumulating an understanding of the means and process by which knowledge is acquired and confirmed along with the development of an understanding of the process of reason which makes such an effort possible and productive.

'Spirituality' as it is widely pursued and practised by many of its promoters and adherents, is an attempt to bypass the process of applying reason to acquiring knowledge in an attempt to experience what those who have dedicated themselves to and undergone the process of learning to reason have realised, without the effort and dedication to reason the reward of experiencing a genuinely uplifting spiritual experience entails.

In spirituality, as in all matters, reality accepts no wooden nickels.

[Theland]

Nice one Mibs, but you sidestep the issues.
Species to species?
Origin of information in the cell?
Origin of the universe?
World events and Bible prophecy?

[mibn2cweus]

Climbing the rungs of a ladder mired in quicksand does not further ones progress along the path to greater understanding . . . nor does moving the goal post mid-inning encourage fair play.