Then start a thread about secular humanism.
Consider the statues of David or the Pietas, consider the painting–The Last Supper, the fact of colleges and universities deriving from monasteries, the depth of thought from Christian mystics and Eastern philosophers. Then, tell me no good has come from religions.
Shit and I thought this thread was about SPIRITUALITY, not the authoritarian and organised control of all spiritual thought.
Religion and spirituality are opposed.
Religion and spirituality do not have to be opposed. That’s a narrow view of either. Each can include the other.
There is a world of “IS” and a world of “ought”.
Religion is nothing without a rule. And when you impose a rule, you loose spirit.
The function of religion is to tame and control the human spirit. It not only controls in during life, but has the temerity to claim control over it after death.
You are confusing path (Tao) with rule (dogmatism). Only the fundies do this.
One liner - empty headed.
Insulting.
Not meant to be insulting. Your beef is with fundamentalists. You seem stuck there, having nothing to say further. It’s a tradition among some atheists here–blame all religion on its weakest adherents.
this thread has a problem…spirituality does not have to do with arguing about who is right…I was disappointed ier in the way you handled secular humanism…I think it fits right here with spirituality…
Will you explain how secular humanism is related to spirituality?
No, that would be religion. Even those within the same religious/religion inclinations argue about what is real what is fact what ought to be believed or not.
But evidently, people do also argue about what form of spirituality is better - we’re always trying to up (is that the expression) one another. There is not just one spiritual path, not just one-size-fits- all. If that were the case, we’d all be the borg. 
But I don’t think that organized religion and spirituality are exclusive. It just depends on the individual. - his/her human spirit, soul (for lack of a better word). One’s religion does not have to detract one from being spiritual - deeply spiritual - -it can enhance one’s way of thinking, being, worshipping, reaching out to his/her fellow man and woman.
hi little green thing. 
look up secular humanism
Why would I do that?
You said that it “fits right here with spirituality”. You are here. You know what your thoughts are about it. Now please explain what you mean.
Phyllo,
Do you believe that the only way to experience one’s own conscience and consciousness is through the belief in a god? That’s a silly myth, started by believers to set their selves apart from non-believers and to cause people to have guilt, self-doubt, crippled emotions. We’ve evolved into being human and humane, at least we are capable of it if we do things and allow things which expand our human spirits and consciousness in a positive way. That’s a strong force for good.
Do you believe that it is only with a belief in god that we are capable of being inspired to worshp, to sense beauty, to be moved by things of this world that we are capable of being moved by, which cause that beautiful human spirit and energy to rise up, capable of inspiring us to love and compassion, courage, and the willingness under certain grave circumstances especially, to work for the survival of the species and for one another?
Do you think that human evolution left that out - that it is only through a belief in God that we can be moral/ethical, that we can want to and need to see/sense/feel something far greater and important than ourselves?
For those who seem willing to know or believe in a god, I personally feel that that would certainly be an extremely petty god - one for whom there could be no beautiful human spirit without a belief in this Something called god.
There is the other side of that coin. One can be quite inhumane and without a positive transcendent surging spirit and still have a belief in god.
wow…omg…
No my blame is with ALL religions.
Their strongest adherents.
How the fuck is the RomanCC spiritualist? In what way does it not control?
You are the one that is stuck. Stuck in denial.
You do not get to understanding your spirit by tying yourself to dogma. Humanism has nothing whatever to do with the spirit and neither does any religion
If you want to engage your spirit, then paint a picture, listen to some music or go for a walk in the tree. Better still - do all three.
Religion will not help, it seeks to control.
lev what do you think of arcs last post
It’s not about ME. It’s about Turtle stating his thoughts about something. To do that - he has to say what '‘secular humanism’ means to him, what ‘spirituality’ means to him and what relationship he sees between the two.
Here is his opportunity and his obligation.
I do have an opportunity…not obligation…arc has said exactly what I believe…much better than I can do…that is why I said omg wow…I would also add …for me spirituality is not anything magical or mystical or supernatural…it would be closer to sensing what life is like for you…not religious at all…
Is she your mother? Does she need to speak for you?
You have been here for almost 5 years and you are still unable to speak for yourself?
what else would you like phyllo…be nice