Well.. thanks for all of the responses.. I?m even more confused.. lol. I guess it shows that this is one term that can have an endless amount of definitions.
Mini-
Who cares if one person feel "spirituality" and another doesn't?
It seems to be something helpful to them and makes them feel good. If I have this potential I?d like to know.
MegaDude-
To me spirituality is simply realizing that I am connected to everything.
That?s cool. I feel that way too, that I am connected to everything, but I don?t consider that spirituality. Everything we?ve found in nature is made up of basically the same things.. in that sense I feel connected.
Gumby-
it's a power that is at work in their lives and life itself.
What kind of power? Does it encroach on their free will?
Double Edge-
Did you ever have tear or two come to you over some music, or poetry, some scene in a movie, a wonderous sunrise or sunset, the birth of a baby, etc. -- remember those feelings? Something has touched more than your "physical" sense, they've touched your spirit -- IMO they are spiritual experiences.... they speak to our higher nature.
So if you feel emotions (which we all do all of the time), you are having spiritual experiences?
Xena-
sometimes I felt a bit cheated when I would read about other people's spiritual experiences and wonder why nothing like that happened to me....am I not worth as much as they are to God or whoever or whatever is out there? I think I'm a pretty good person.....
This is exactly how I feel. I believed in god hardcore for most of my life, I was open to most things regarding him/her/it; and yet I never had these socalled ?experiences?.
then I realized things like that do happen to me....I had just closed myself off from recognizing them, it's nothing major just little things that show me I'm hooked up at times
Another concept I can?t grasp.. ?hooked up??
A Paduan-
One of the hardest things, it seems, for jws to shake, or fundamentalists / western white folk for that matter, is the idea of "deserving".
Western ?white? folk.
God gives to both the good and bad (Jesus Christ) and so are we to do the same (if we are able, and don't judge) - nature teaches us, plainly, that the good and wicked both recieve from God - what they do with it is their own business, free will - but the wicked usually reject growth and accept the material stuff, and make off with other people's as well.
I?m not sure I understand this last part. It seems that God gives unequally. I know of atheists would?ve converted to Christianity because God supposedly came to them and gave them an obvious sign or vision. I say obvious, like he actually spoke to them or predicted something. So if God wanted everyone to believe, why not give everyone these obvious signs?
Little Witch-
How to feel comfortable in the world without losing your sense of self.
I feel certain you are aware of your spiritual side, but are insecure in recognizing it.
If being comfortable with yourself is spirituality, then I?ve achieved it. I just don?t think that?s what it is. If that is so, what are these ?spiritual experiences? people are having?
Gently Feral-
I believe that any time you are living especially vividly, you are having a spiritual experience.
That?s all it is? Even we agostics/atheists live vividly. I thought spirituality was supposed to be a feeling of being connected with some higher power. I just don?t get it.. lol.
Golf-
Spirituality would mean experiencing freedom.
Freedom from?
Heathen-
So your claim is that spirituality and Christianity are one in the same? So people that have traditionally Eastern religion cannot have spirituality?
Once again, thanks for all of the responses.
