Religion Panel - Do Atheists Lack "Spiritual Values?"

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/fora/showthread.php?t=940

A panel of religious experts debates the question of whether or not "spiritual values" can be said to be held by individuals who to not profess a belief in God. This excerpt is taken from a program titled "Religion in U.S. Culture and Society," and was hosted by the Commonwealth Club of California.

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Many studies show that Americans are more religious than people in other Western countries, but battles still rage in the United States over the role of religion in everyday public life.

This panel of religious thinkers comment on the role of faith in transcending individualism and selfishness in a commercial society, on addressing the variety of faiths in our spiritually diverse society, and on religion's role in education. -- The Commonwealth Club

Michael Maudlin is Editorial Director at Harper One San Francisco.

Stephen Prothero is the Chair of the Department of Religion at Boston University and the author of numerous books, most recently Religious Literacy: What Americans Need to Know (HarperSanFrancisco, 2007) and American Jesus: How the Son of God Became a National Icon (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2003).

Rabbi Michael Lerner is a political activist and the editor of Tikkun, a prominent progressive Jewish and interfaith magazine based in Berkeley, California.

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[DubRighteous]

wtf are "spiritual values"? and why should they matter to people that don't believe in spirits in the first place?

[nemirn]

Wow 8 minutes and seven seconds about absolutely nothing !!!

[SuperStrangeLoop]

^^ who's that first arrogant dumbass, "i could have made better arguments for atheism".

[jmgibbs53]

I love GOD of the Universe. I do not love religions--some religions have condoned the killing of people who were not religious and/or were not members of their particular religion. Being angry with religions is not the same as being angry with GOD. Religions are human creations--humans are to be blamed for the actions of religions--not GOD!

[jmgibbs53]

@mrgejwaites We are in agreement, my friend! No contradictions--all that exist (energy/matter) emerges from Quantum Mechanical Energy or whatever energy is the fundamental energy of the Universe--and I consider this energy to be GOD/Nature--it is all natural--not supernatural. I do not believe in the existence of a supernatural realm. I believe that all that exist is natural! The spiritual value mysticism is nonsense, in my opinion. The understanding of the Universe is plainly before our eyes.

[mrgejwaites]

@jmgibbs53 "The 'mystical guise' is waht makes life fun--that something there beyond our human reach--hidden behind the veil of GOD. " - Yet you do not believe in the supernatural?

You seem to be contradicting previous implications.

Regardless if your position is that you do not buy into this "spiritual value" b.s then we are in agreement.

[jmgibbs53]

@Flyborg Kitties love cat litter!

[jmgibbs53]

@mrgejwaites Yes--this whole thing is rather pointless. "Spiritual" implies, to me, something supernatural--I do not believe in the existence of the supernatural. Compassionate values are what people have when feeling the sorrow for the suffering of others--this is a physical reality--not a supernatural realm event. I hope that this clarifies my position and concept of this matter.

[mrgejwaites]

@jmgibbs53 I don't follow your logic. Your description of spiritual values is essentially the definition of compassionate values, but renamed. Strange, and somewhat pointless. Please point out the difference between your "spiritual values" and compassionate values.

[jmgibbs53]

@mrgejwaites It is very difficult to make sense when discussing spirituality when we do not have a common reference point for concepts of reality. Spirituality without a core of compassionate values is meaningless dribble to me. My concept of spirituality is of compassion for other humans and animals--their well being and happiness are what is important to me. Without this--spirituality is nothing but floating poltergeists and pixie dust. Without compassion is like love from concrete--nothing!

[mrgejwaites]

@jmgibbs53 I find the whole first half of your comment hard to read, it doesn't seem to make sense. You seem to agree with me, but then you say you still like your "spiritual values" then you mention love from concrete.

The mystical guise is what makes it fun? Yes perhaps in child psychology the mystery of santa claus fascinates kids but as adults we must not base our beliefs on what's fun. When things often go right or wrong people do attribute it to deities, but in reality it's just chance.

[jmgibbs53]

@evinado1 Yes--I thought that this title was hilarious also! The title is equivalent to "Do Atheists lack belief in the existence of GOD?" :)