I'd like to redefine a word.

[Kai]

If that's alright with you all. I know how some of you all really hate the mushy headed redefinition of words and think it transforms language into a bunch of meaningless garble, so I had to ask.


No, wait...fuck it. I'm co-opting this bitch.

I'm taking the word spiritual, and all of its modified versions.

You see, I'm a bit fed up with supernatural religion. I'm tired of being told IT DOESN'T COUNT unless it includes some sort of bullshit mythos. I don't need the supernatural for my worldview so I'm trashing it. And I'm fucking taking this word back.

Spirit. When I consider that word, I visualize an outpouring of purposeful directed energy. It, for me, is a metaphor for that telos in mind and body that the Japanese call iki gai, literally "the thing that gets you out of bed in the morning". Spirit is metaphor for the expression of purpose, and therefore meaning (because purpose comes from what is meaningful).

Therefore, spiritual co-opted pertains to that which is personally meaningful and purposeful in ones own understanding of the human experience, making spirituality a personal system through which one finds meaning and purpose.

I was thinking about this today while watching Sagan's Cosmos, and thinking back to this video of Neil DeGrasse Tyson speaking before a lecture hall filled with psychologists. I remember most what he said near the end of his talk. He said he feels that the same region of the brain that lights up when he considers the universe might be the same region that lights up when people have numinous experiences of god and whatnot, that he wants someone to test that, because then he could offer people the universe.

Way to go Tyson, you fucking nailed it. I don't need deities or celestial beings or fear of eternal punishment or rebirth or ANY of those things to derive SPIRIT in my life. I can commune with life, with the universe, I can consider what is understood about everything rather than taking someone elses assumptions and I can most definitely find meaning and purpose just as powerful and numinous and mystic as all those other fuckers with their robes and beards and holy writ. I am spiritual, I have a spirituality, and damn if I'm not full of spirit, MY spirit, my purpose and meaning, my interpretation of human existence, MY GODDAMN FUCKING RELIGION.


I'm taking that word, and you can pry it from my cold dead claws.

Also, fuck you.

~Kai

[Epimetheus]

I basically agree with you. I just wouldn't use the words spiritual and religion for getting across the meaning you mean to, but whatever.
I've heard that point about the religion/supernatural-free numinous said by Dawkins, Hitchens, Dennett and Harris and of course it's true.

edit: Rereading it and paying more attention, I totally agree with you.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Sounds a lot like the NA definition I grew up with: "Spirit" as somewhat synonymous with "essence".

[Epimetheus]

Sounds a lot like the NA definition I grew up with: "Spirit" as somewhat synonymous with "essence".

"Essence" meaning what? Either spirit or essence, I don't think either exists as I know the meaning of the words (here's my Buddhist influence coming through).

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Sounds a lot like the NA definition I grew up with: "Spirit" as somewhat synonymous with "essence".

"Essence" meaning what? Either spirit or essence, I don't think either exists as I know the meaning of the words (here's my Buddhist influence coming through).

Essential nature. Subject to interpretation, but consider how essence of rose is the distilled odor.

[Epimetheus]

Sounds a lot like the NA definition I grew up with: "Spirit" as somewhat synonymous with "essence".

"Essence" meaning what? Either spirit or essence, I don't think either exists as I know the meaning of the words (here's my Buddhist influence coming through).

Essential nature. Subject to interpretation, but consider how essence of rose is the distilled odor.

Okay. Fair enough. I don't want to argue but I don't believe in such things except as socio-linguistic conventions.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Sounds a lot like the NA definition I grew up with: "Spirit" as somewhat synonymous with "essence".

"Essence" meaning what? Either spirit or essence, I don't think either exists as I know the meaning of the words (here's my Buddhist influence coming through).

Essential nature. Subject to interpretation, but consider how essence of rose is the distilled odor.

Okay. Fair enough. I don't want to argue but I don't believe in such things except as socio-linguistic conventions.

Oh. Then shut up.

[Epimetheus]

Sheesh. 

[Bu🤠ns]

Way to go, Tyson!

But I think Kai nailed it this time.

[Eater of Clowns]

Sounds a lot like the NA definition I grew up with: "Spirit" as somewhat synonymous with "essence".

"Essence" meaning what? Either spirit or essence, I don't think either exists as I know the meaning of the words (here's my Buddhist influence coming through).

Essence meaning semen.  Not to jump on the bandwagon, but brotherhood negative data via fluctuating output of dynamite when obfuscating wretched smiling immigrant aristocrats.  Single tire workings over hard lamp holes instead of screw post hanging trivial glass mongers.  Whilst green.

Kai, I get the hesitation to reclaim words.  A friend of mine likes to joke that he resents homosexuals for using rainbows as their symbol because the "stole refracted light."  But spirituality needs to be taken back from the trying-too-hard-to-be-unique crowd.  I don't believe in anything, but I feel like there's something more than the tangible.  I can't say spiritual because it's too closely associated with those I wholeheartedly disagree with.

Or I'm drunk.  Fuck me Laphroaig cask strength is sneaky.

[Jasper]

This has some resonance with me.  I get a lot of flak from my parents for being a godless youth, and they think I have no sense of spirituality.  They assume a great deal.  At least a couple times a day I spontaneously sit still, feel the whole human organism, and mindfully experience my reality as fully as I can.  It's just a habit I have, because I think about consciousness and reality on a near constant basis, and it gives me a sense of connectedness and attunement with my world, and the larger world beyond it.  That is my spirituality, and it brings me great peace. 

[NotPublished]

I love the OP!!

[P3nT4gR4m]

Gotta say "Spiritual" has always meant that to me. The supernatural bullshit is just how retards interpret it but then they misinterpret pretty much every other word in the english language too. Leave them to it I say. Trying to get through to them is pointless.

[NotPublished]

I very much prefer the view of Spirituality that of being on physical life.

I make the journey to work.
I make scared Cash at work
I get my holy payment once a week
I spend holy payment to move around in large towers of holiness. (A.K.A the city)

But, I like the way Spirit has been defined as 'the driving force' (Unless I misread it) so therefore spirituality is the method of working that Driving Force.

Am I off mark again?

[Brotep]

I have come to hate the word "spiritual."  Please co-opt away.  Hopefully you will piss off some fluff bunnies in the process.