In Reply to: Re: To long time exer posted by Skep on January 04, 2010 at 08:42:06:
I think Science and Spirituality have a lot in common. By nature, they are infinite, and questioning is inspirational rather than threatening. Science is all about questions and discovery. So is Spirituality.
I see Religion and dogma (whether in a scientific viewpoint, which science in general would be all about someone trying to prove or disprove or discover a new angle about any given subject) as being based in insecurity with a need to tack down and define everything and when something is unknown or doesn't make sense then the reaction is to say "it's not our business to know, it's the Lord's will" or "now we see through a glass darkly and when we die we'll know everything. No need to question."
I don't think a person has to be a Christian to have a good after life or a good life in this life.
Neither do I think it is inferior for a person to assign their faith to "Christianity" and to adopt doctrinal beliefs that are comforting to them and not destructive to them or to others.
What Christians call the fruits of the Spirit are not limited to Christians. People of no religion or any religion can have that.
Religions: Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, etc. Sub-types of each. (i.e: Protestant, Catholic, Methodist etc.)
Spirituality: more defined by characteristics, like the fruits of the Spirit.
Religion can complement Spirituality or stifle it.
I've met a number of very spiritual atheists. and Christians, too.