(December 16, 2011 at 9:19 pm)Rhythm Wrote: Spirituality without spirits. Again, there are better words to describe this. You keep using them. "Self Reflection", "Personal Growth", both fine descriptions without invoking any "spirit". The trouble here is that these concepts only survive by their continued use. They needlessly complicate any position without adding any descriptive power whatsoever. If you were to say "I'm interested in spirituality" this is effectively meaningless. If you say "I'm interested in personal growth and self reflection" the message is conveyed as well as it can be.
If you can realize that our perception of these words is similar if not the same then I hope you can realize that our ideas and beliefs are similar if not the same. I use one word, you use another, simple as that (in some cases of my belief).
(December 16, 2011 at 9:19 pm)Rhythm Wrote: Spinoza's god, like any god, is an unsubstantiated entity. Adding only confusion, with no ability to describe or explain anything at all. The unity you feel is one which you have invented. I feel no unity with you and would gladly throw you under the bus for myself or mine. Similarly I feel no unity with the animal I'm about to eat. These are all fuzzy words and concepts, that's the point.
Perspective is a wonderful and awe inspiring thing. To you they are all fuzzy words and concepts, to me; however, they are a unity which no one can dismiss. Perhaps I did not verbalize my thoughts clearly or perhaps you flat out disagree with me, either is besides the point of personal belief. I respect that you assert there is no God, and I would hope that you respect that I believe that there is a universe in which all things are connected by the fact that we all exist in unity.
(December 16, 2011 at 9:19 pm)Rhythm Wrote: Whatever background you paint on the cosmos to help you deal with life is your own business obviously. Doesn't mean that any of it is actually there.
Correct. Thus it is my belief.
Brevity is the soul of wit.