[Thor]

Originally Posted by photon

Hehe, it's not so much I dislike the position of spirituality, I just don't like the word itself. Spiritual, pertaining to the spirit.. but the spirit isn't defined, so the word is nonsense to me. People use it to describe a state of mind, a feeling, a point of view, which to me is a natural thing (since it's in the brain), so the word spiritual is just.. goofy. I just can't think of a better word.

I agree with that, and I know thats why Harris has so much groaning against him within the Atheist community when he uses it, even though we understand the word and what 'he' means by it, its still so full of baggage at this point in our culture.

So when I try to comprehend the magnitude of the universe, try to imagine space and time being wrapped up together, to comprehend the ideas that describe our universe, it's a spiritual experience. When I appreciate where man has come from, and how we're all so interconnected, at the great beauty and terrible horror we've wrought, it's very spiritual.

Agree, and I think you would agree like Troutman's post that we all share the Carl Sagan spiritual view of the universe and the awe it has given us, especially for those of us who have a passion for science and understanding as much as we can.

EDIT: And from a practical point of view, it might be easier on family members to tell them I'm a deist or a pantheist than it would to say I'm an atheist or an agnostic. I would like my son to keep seeing his grandma... not that I think she'd cut off ties if she knew how I really thought, but it would definitely change things and I'm not sure I can accurately predict the outcome of such a revelation.

Just now on my way home, I was listening to am 1140, I'm guessing its a religious station as anytime I tune in its talk of religion, god, etc..

Anyhow there was a segment on this ministry looking for funds to help fight the war against Atheism and to help stop the extinction of Christianity in the west. This guy kept using the words, "we have to fight for truth, and for those who fight against truth we will never stop the fight."

I'm in the boat now fully with Sam Harris I think, its been nagging at me the last few years, but the more I hear the word Atheist the more I think we Atheists should stop using it.

Its had a long history of bad association, but more importantly its not the ideal descriptor I like for myself, I often find myself saying to people when they ask what I am: "I'm a rationalist, secular humanist, Atheist, Anti-Religionist, Socialist, Liberal."

Now theres no shortened word for me, but If I had to choose a word, rationalist or secular humanist fit and explain mostly what I am and what I think.

I just thought what if this guy on the radio said we had to fight the war against Secular Humanism, or fight the war against Rationalists. lol. Much harder to do

BTW here's the link to the guy on the radio:
http://www.equip.org/site/c.muI1LaMN...th_Matters.htm