I apologize for not stemming off of anyone else; I just wanted to start wherever. Sano, I can definetely identify with your internal conflicts. If I have learned anything through my struggle, it is that one does not need to identify completely with one given religion in order to feel fulfilled; the worst thing we can do is to irrationally devote ourselves completely to one doctrine without reading the fine print. If you do, that is fantastic. I am simply saying that you can stick with a majority wothout following a religion word for word. I see this frequnetly as a Catholic: people blindly follow the various dogmas of Christianity without thinking for themselves, or worse, twist the bible into something of their own liking to get what they want. To fully feel fulfilled in life, you simply must find what you are looking for and believe it wholeheartedly and completely, and have no second thoughts about it. To me, I think that more means believing that something is out there, because contemplating an empty nothingness awaiting everyone is something that I have a hard time believing. I would hope that others would think so, because being an atheist must be terribly depressing, but I wouldn't make it my mission in life to discredit someone who was. If you do not see yourself identifying with a mainstream religion, may I recommend Buddhism or Taoism (in more of a spiritual sense, possibly)? They both have a lot of wisdom yet are simple enough to allow for further spiritual reflection.

...one does not need to identify completely with one given religion in order to feel fulfilled... I have been well aware of this for some time now. ...because being an atheist must be terribly depressing... Most of the self-proclaimed "atheists" I know are actually pretty happy people. If you do not see yourself identifying with a mainstream religion, may I recommend Buddhism or Taoism (in more of a spiritual sense, possibly)? They both have a lot of wisdom yet are simple enough to allow for further spiritual reflection. I have researched and studied these a great deal...from a western perspective they do tend to be very "spiritual" and do seem to be based on much wisdom, however, studying them as they were originally spread through the east shows that they were actually founded and spread with much mysticism, superstition, and "magic"...things that I do not recognize as rational.

I have been well aware of this for some time now. Sorry. Perhaps I should have read through the other posts? :D Most of the self-proclaimed "atheists" I know are actually pretty happy people. I guess it does depend on the person; a guy I know tends to be of the sort that loves to rip on others' personal beliefs and is generally very cynical when it comes to religion. I think there is a difference between one who is very "angry" or emotionally charged when talking about religion and one who just has come to believe that there is no higher power. I at least know that I would feel bitter and maybe that influences my thinking more than anything else. I have researched and studied these a great deal...from a western perspective they do tend to be very "spiritual" and do seem to be based on much wisdom, however, studying them as they were originally spread through the east shows that they were actually founded and spread with much mysticism, superstition, and "magic"...things that I do not recognize as rational. This may be true; however, there are many different variations of the two that don't look at it as a "mystical" religion. I think that there are a great number of people who look at it more as philosophical "semi-religion", who believe more in an achievable afterlife, accessed through a calm and orderly life. I personally see it in such a manner as well; to be certain there are numerous who interpret the teachings of the so to speak enlightened one and live a pious life in his name, but maybe even these two Eastern religions can be seen, as I explained earlier, in the same light as the larger monotheistic religions. How about the Baha'i religion? Have you researched that?

Baha'i is primarily based on the Abrahamic faiths, which I strongly oppose.

Hmm ... this is a tough one, but somewhat of my "specialty". I see that many have given you their takes upon the idea of something more ... that's what all of this comes down to. Sometimes - if not all the time - when I contemplate ANYthing beyond what science has credited to be true and superimposed upon the glory that is OUR subjective experience, it's hard for the neurons to connect. We all tend to believe what we are told, being fed the idea that we are alone and a random collection of "stuff" ... (and to anyone out there that even implies differently, why don't you look up the Wikipedia entry on "naturalism" and get educated.) I can't prove that there is anything else, but neither can science not. But, you know I had an epiphany today. Science is reason and reduction - solve'. And spirituality is unity - coagula. (Or, at least, should be.) It's up to you, Sano, what is true for you, but do attempt to understand that all is One, and one (thing, no matter how small) is All. Look up "fractals". -"Svasti"

Sorry for an inability to elaborate... :P
By my suggestion, I meant to elude that within the deepest "recesses" (us!) of the Absolute lies an exact replica of the whole. (Any fraction of the whole reflects the whole.) Spirituality is not supposed to be something hard to explain or hard to believe in OR, more importantly, hard to live. It's accepting everything as One and that your consciousness is a rare, shining outgrowth of the universe, and it is "eternal" - however you might be willing to see that...

I can't determine whether your talking about Spirituality or Spiritualism...

Spirituality - what's the difference, again?

Ok, fine...I guess I knew the difference. However, what I have been TRYing to say (please, don't mind the capitals - it's just emphasis) is that spirituality is about the Spirit. The absolute essence. The thing beyond matter. However you decide to find and recognize this fact is up to you...all that "matters" is that you try to do so. It's knowing yourself, you inner fire, your Will. When you come to this, you find your Soul! THAT is Spirituality. ;)

I'm finding it difficult to accept the notions of "spirit" and "soul". Again without having any evidence that these things are real I find them to be not much more than fanciful childhood dreams carried over into "spirituality" in some banal attempt to explain "difficult" questions.

Wow...
...you sound sorta like me... ...but ask yourself, do you believe, or think for a second, that consciousness is SIMPLY an illusion of the mind? Are you into comics, at all? If so, please read Promethea, by Alan Moore. It's about Alan's interpretations on magick and old-world spirituality. Spirituality is NOT about faith in the irrational, but rather about knowing that life is MORE (and that's the word) than a collection of atoms. To demonstrate something modern for you, quantum physics is taking spirituality into this new century by showing that there is something deeper than matter. ::sighs:: But, to understand any of this, you have to be willing to step OUT of yourself. Be well.

..but ask yourself, do you believe, or think for a second, that consciousness is SIMPLY an illusion of the mind? That greatly depends on how you define "consciousness". Are you into comics, at all? Nope. Not really. Spirituality is NOT about faith in the irrational, but rather about knowing that life is MORE (and that's the word) than a collection of atoms. This is debatable in the extreme. To demonstrate something modern for you, quantum physics is taking spirituality into this new century by showing that there is something deeper than matter. But they're doing it in a scientific way, right? Which sort of negates the "spirituality" angle, doesn't it. ...to understand any of this, you have to be willing to step OUT of yourself. If you could demonstrate this then perhaps I would understand what you mean, but I assume you can't, so I will likely never understand what you mean.

Alright... ...I concede. All I can say is that Spirit is not definable by conventional means. However you take that is up to you. I, for one, choose not to accept that this place, this time, is all that there is of life...