In Reply to: Re: atheists and agnostics posted by Observer on January 19, 2004 at 13:23:17:
Yes, that is what I mean. When a person is not religious, and is convinced there is no God, they are not living dead. They have spirit. That actualized self that feels deeply, cares deeply, hurts, loves, laughs, and has a sense of respect for themselves and those around them. That is what I mean by spiritual. I guess an atheists version of eternal life is how they live on after they are gone. As in the lives they have touched. Or some way in the world that their lives have made a difference however small it may seem to be.
Once I was working with a very hurt small child. Her outlook as far as what she would be living with was quite dismal. I remember talking to a therapist and saying how discouraging it was, not to be able to do anything more. The therapist asked me about someone who had been close to me in my life and I realized that sometimes even just someone that can show genuine care and empathy, just saying something to lift that person's spirit, can have a lasting effect on that persons life. That is true.
I remember watching the movie, 'Mr. Holland's Opus' and how he had this grand dream to become a famous composer, and he had the talent. But he was stuck in his job. Here was a fictional man with greatness of spirit. He helped so many people with the brief time that they were on a path with him in their lives. It wasn't until he retired that he realized how profoundly he had helped them and added to life in general. Adding to life in big ways or small ways. I guess that is spirituality to me.