Philosophical Vegan Forum

myself wrote:I have never heard spiritual used in a way that is not a kin to bull shit

This line is one I have used numerous times in trying to find a definition to the term. It occurred to me that I have only addressed this to theist's. I'm aware of a movement from within the atheist community in favour of atheistic spirituality. Surely the word can be used to refer to some BS theory but I am interested in what's meant when not used in other ways.

Have you read (or watched) Sam Harris on the topic?

Unlike intercessionary prayer, spirituality has been shown to have positive benneficial effects. So if its an additional psychological/cognitive construct, even if its not necessarily worldly/rational but relies on make belief, it may have some benefits so in a utilitarian sense it may be beneficial to be spiritual.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritu ... c_research
Health and well-being
Various studies have reported a positive correlation between spirituality and mental well-being in both healthy people and those encountering a range of physical illnesses or psychological disorders.[124][125][126][127] Spiritual individuals tend to be optimistic, report greater social support,[128] and experience higher intrinsic meaning in life,[129] strength, and inner peace.[130]

When Sam Harris talks about spirituality as far as I know he generally talks about some sense of wonder of the universe, which I find hard to reconcile with what is actually meant traditionally by spirituality and it doesn't even serve the samne purpose that of - well being using unreal cognitive constructs, IMO he misses the point.

He talks about the spiritual experiences, e.g. of meditation. There are real measurable effects of those mental states.

Dawkins talks about wonder of the universe more.