Intelligent People Less Likely to be Religious

I use spiritual in this sense to mean transcendent experiences and practices which are, for whatever reason, not tied to an organized religion. Prayer, reflection, meditation, out of body, etc. However, it also applies to transcendent experiences and practices within churches, as in "Christian spiritual practices".

I've had some pretty spiritual experiences on mescaline.

Robear wrote:

I use spiritual in this sense to mean transcendent experiences and practices which are, for whatever reason, not tied to an organized religion. Prayer, reflection, meditation, out of body, etc. However, it also applies to transcendent experiences and practices within churches, as in "Christian spiritual practices".

What bothers me is when people use the word as means to both have and eat cake.

I get fearful when religion begins to approach the usefulness of controlled substances - that is, elevated mental experience with no social responsibility. Which pretty much perfectly describes "spiritual" as I've seen it used.

Seth wrote:

I get fearful when religion begins to approach the usefulness of controlled substances - that is, elevated mental experience with no social responsibility. Which pretty much perfectly describes "spiritual" as I've seen it used.

Ehh, given religion's input into many social issues in the past, I'm not sure it's a "new" problem.

Valmorian wrote:
Seth wrote:

I get fearful when religion begins to approach the usefulness of controlled substances - that is, elevated mental experience with no social responsibility. Which pretty much perfectly describes "spiritual" as I've seen it used.

Ehh, given religion's input into many social issues in the past, I'm not sure it's a "new" problem.

Fair call I do admit it's just not "spiritual" people that try to divorce religion's positive aspects (elevated mental state, community bonds, possible heaven) with the responsibilities typically required in the texts (giving alms, tithing, community support, possible asceticism).

So in this case, being spiritual is probably a far site better than that "prosperity gospel".

Speaking of, anyone want to know how to turn Wiccan prayer chips, a flour jar, and a diaper into a cigar humidor? I am the MacGuyver of vices.