Spirituality Common use just is common use. I live near an old hippy town, there's a lot of vague spirituality around there, man. Be the change that you want to see in the world. Cleanse the toxins. Manage with NLP. These things aren't my scene, I'm too pedantic and particular to tolerate the vagueness of it, but people are going to use the words they're going to use. Is it contributing to some harm? Do you think it's somehow anti-intellectual? — mcdoodle
I'm really talking mostly about the range of use between a lowest common denominator and highly specific and technical use, which is a really big range, and I although I don't doubt that includes work done by respected philosophers, there isn't one I'm prepared to cite at the moment. If you think this equivocation doesn't occur within academic philosophy, then I can dig into it to find you some good examples (or discover none and prove myself wrong). It also encompasses the sorts of dialogue that occurs on sites like this, between people who have an interest in speaking and thinking clearly and coherently on a subject, but aren't used to, or aren't even interested in, the rigor associated with academia (or semi-academic, pseudo-academic, or peripherally academic discussion). This is where I personally find the most clear cases of this sort of equivocation, and would suggest it has occurred with at least three of the people I've discussed with on this thread.
Do I think it's anti-intellectual? I guess so. I'm not sure what implications that phrase has. I think it is a case of engaging in the practice if thinking, and doing it less than optimally. I also think that the world would be a better place if we could incrementally become better at the practice of thinking, so engaging with a subject like this has a few possible goals or benefits. If I am correct that the use of the term represents "thinking poorly", then I have at least offered those engaging in this dialogue, and those reading it, an opportunity to see the flaws in this way of thinking. If I am incorrect, then I have the same opportunity.
As I indicated in writing about changing funeral options, I've found a growing acceptance of non-religious spirituality a blessing in ways like that, because when it comes to funerals, I don't want to have to choose between the rigid alternatives of Christian and anti-religious humanist. — mcdoodle
I don't understand why those are rigid alternatives. It seems to me, from the point of view of cultural practices, even within christianity, there is a broad range of practices, and the secular world is wide open. Personally, I've asked that whatever funeral ceremony that occurs when I die has a portion that is in respect to my family's beliefs (they're the one's mourning, after all) and one in respect to mine. It doesn't have to be complicated if you don't want it to be.
You're sure you're not an anti-religious humanist who yearns for that lost clarity? — mcdoodle
I don't really understand this question. What clarity are you talking about? What qualifies as being "anti-religion"? The answer might be yes or no to either or both questions, but I'm pretty sure it isn't directly relevant to my posts here. For the record, I am not anti-religion if that means that I don't respect that people have the right to believe in whatever they want in their hearts and minds. As soon as their beliefs enter into public discourse, I am anti-religion to the degree that their discourse or behaviour does harm. To that standard, I am mildly anti-religion insofar as it lowers the bar on what is considered reasonable evidence to support a belief in general. I am significantly more anti-religion when religion is used as a justification of heinous acts. I think that's a reasonable and balanced approach for someone who sees no distinction between religion and mythology. I hope that clears that up, and we can stop trying to psychologize me. Fair?