Spirituality is an emotional, subjective thing. I don't begrudge anyone for feeling spiritual.
I spent many years in the tropics, an environment very different from the temperate NE continental US I grew up in. I experienced 'spiritual' feelings in Guam and Palau where I regularly saw double rainbows from one end to the other. I was similarly moved diving the incredible coral reefs of Palau. But the feeling was just an emotional response. I treasure the memories but I recognize them for what they are - My subjective experiences.
As a scientifically-minded person, I don't see any conflict between my own emotional reactions and understanding the physical differences between the tropical Pacific and New England. I recognize the difference though. A native of Palau might be 'spiritually' moved by the riot of color of the changing tree leaves of the New England Autumn. Being a summer person, I always found the changing leaf colors depressing, a sign of death. The never-ending summer of the tropics is more my speed.
The bottom line is that spirituality is subjective experience.
I spent many years in the tropics, an environment very different from the temperate NE continental US I grew up in. I experienced 'spiritual' feelings in Guam and Palau where I regularly saw double rainbows from one end to the other. I was similarly moved diving the incredible coral reefs of Palau. But the feeling was just an emotional response. I treasure the memories but I recognize them for what they are - My subjective experiences.
As a scientifically-minded person, I don't see any conflict between my own emotional reactions and understanding the physical differences between the tropical Pacific and New England. I recognize the difference though. A native of Palau might be 'spiritually' moved by the riot of color of the changing tree leaves of the New England Autumn. Being a summer person, I always found the changing leaf colors depressing, a sign of death. The never-ending summer of the tropics is more my speed.
The bottom line is that spirituality is subjective experience.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
