Is spirituailty innate?

[the_antithesis]

What are your thoughts on belief in spirituality being innate?

Spirituality is just another name for emotion and emotion is indeed innate for human beings.

[PJS]

What William James called "melting moods" and Abraham Maslow called "peak experiences" could fit into a definition of spiritual. Nothing supernatural necessary and in all cultures people feel an uplifting emotion when encountering altruistic deeds, wonders of nature and so forth. We seem wired for such experiences.

[SGOS]

What William James called "melting moods" and Abraham Maslow called "peak experiences" could fit into a definition of spiritual. Nothing supernatural necessary and in all cultures people feel an uplifting emotion when encountering altruistic deeds, wonders of nature and so forth. We seem wired for such experiences.

This explains the experience of divine revelation to me, where people claim to "feel the presence of God" so to speak.  I can understand why it would seem so convincing for some people.

[SkyChief]

Spirituality is just another name for emotion and emotion is indeed innate for human beings.

Jealousy is an emotion.  But is it spiritual?

Anger is an emotion,    Is that spiritual?

Guilt is an emotion.  Can it be spiritual?

I think that's too broad a definition of spirituality.

Here's a better one:

The praxis and process of personal transformation, either in accordance with traditional religious ideals, or, increasingly, oriented on subjective experience and psychological growth independently of any specific religious context.

I agree that emotion is innate for human beings.  I just cant make any connection between spirituality and emotion. My wife is very emotional (at times), but she is never spiritual.  I would not have married her if she were.

[trdsf]

Music. It's capable of transcendence, or "spirituality." I find, most often it's music, including singing, that moves me to awe. Combine an inspired melody with lyrics of some profundity, and it can engage the higher thought processes, while at the same time elevating the emotions.

This.

If you want to see me break into tears because I'm overwhelmed with joy, awe, wonder, there are a couple particular performances of certain Bach pieces that are so completely perfect that I reduce to putty, and even a 'typical' performance will send a thrill up my spine.

Is it spiritual?  No, I don't think so.  I think it has more to do with the way my brain is wired and what fits it and what doesn't.  If it were spiritual -- that is, something from outside the physical body -- then we'd all be affected the same way by the same pieces.

[SGOS]

For something to be spiritual, I would think it has to be identified as such.  For those who have benefited from going through some type of counseling, it would be no surprise that identifying emotions is a tricky business.  Intense emotions, the good ones anyway, might be perceived as spiritual, especially if one wants to have a spiritual experience, whatever that person expects a spiritual experience to be.  It doesn't make any difference what the root cause of a particular emotion is.

There is nothing in science that accounts for something spiritual (as in some way related to the spirit world or the world of woo).  I'm talking about spiritual as related to the supernatural.  Spirituality has become just a word coined to fit a need or to tag some unknown experience.  Science would have to acknowledge that the definition of "spiritual" has a wide latitude for interpretation and describes so many things, it's supernatural meaning gets watered down.  Science would acknowledge claims for spirituality, but also understands that such claims amount to nothing more than personal testimony, and which are so highly suspect that such claims do not qualify as scientific evidence. 

So if you have a spiritual experience listening to Bach, or feeling the presence of a higher power, good for you.  We usually know what you are talking about.  You are putting a tag on something that moves you.  We all have experiences that move us but beyond that, it doesn't mean a whole Hell of a lot, no matter what meaningless word you attach to it or what claims you make for it's cause.  But we understand that you're having a good time.

[AllPurposeAtheist]

I got money for teeth which is exactly a million times more than I ever got from god..
Well maybe not a million times more..I think I got a dime last time..

[Solitary]

Children are taught there are Easter bunnies too, is that innate? Spiritual is defined as relating to spirit or sacred matter and being deeply religious. Spirit is defined as the life giving force, presence of God, Ghost, mood, vivacity or enthusiasm. How are these innate accept for mood an having enthusiasm? It's just another word give meaning to the unknown or ignorance. Actually, the tooth fairy can explain all that better without a God.  Solitary

[SGOS]

Children are taught there are Easter bunnies too, is that innate?

Excellent point.  Beliefs in both silly woo and really silly woo are learned.  Having said that, we could probably make a case for humans having an innate interest in fantasy.  Everyone loves a magician, a few who are openly unspiritual, by the way, but it's universally fun for everyone to be coaxed along by the fantasy they create. However, this doesn't help the argument for spiritual innateness much.  The argument is a tired old argument presented by theists who are trying to convince us that everyone knows there's a sky daddy up there.  Even if we lie about it to ourselves.

[Mike Cl]

Spirituality--a word used almost daily.  But the definitions are infinite.  What does that word mean to you?  To me, it means deep appreciation.  Throw in a little wonder and sprinkle in some awe, and there you have it.  I was reminded of my spirituality while watching one of my favorite cosmologists (even more so than Sagan--but I don't remember his name for some silly old reason--old being the key--) explaining how the elements that make up the universe are the same that make up a human body (minus the inert helium).  All stars are made of the same stuff and when they explode, they spread their stuff far and wide.  When enough of that stuff comes together, another star is formed.  We are make of that stuff.  That is awesome!  Many nights I've been outside, away from the lights of cities and just gazed at the stars.  At times, I get the spiritual feeling I described. It has nothing to do with god, the gods, or Jesus or anything divine.  It is the deep appreciation of our universe and that I am a part of it--I am literally one with it.  That is spiritual.  So, in a sense, it is an emotion in that it is not something concrete that can be looked at or examined while in hand.  It is a feeling and I think therefore, tied to emotions more than reasoning.  And it is deeply personal.  Which is why it is so difficult to accurately describe. 

[Unbeliever]

I wonder if anyone's ever done a study of the spirituality of feral children? I seem to recall hearing of something of the sort several years ago. If spirituality is a completely learned behavior, then ferals may very well show no signs of it.

[Givemeareason]

I don't think I would ever use the word spirituality as it sounds too religious for me.  If I were to express such it would be more like awe or wonder perhaps the profound.  Since I have no spirit I can not experience spirituality.

[Givemeareason]

I wonder if anyone's ever done a study of the spirituality of feral children? I seem to recall hearing of something of the sort several years ago. If spirituality is a completely learned behavior, then ferals may very well show no signs of it.

That is a difficult question.  My suspicion is they would not be advanced enough to question their own existence.  I think god can only be created when the mind advances enough to need an explanation of its own existence.

[GSOgymrat]

I don't think I would ever use the word spirituality as it sounds too religious for me.  If I were to express such it would be more like awe or wonder perhaps the profound.  Since I have no spirit I can not experience spirituality.

I understand your reluctance but I think most people are spiritual to at least some degree. Carl Sagan said, “Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality. When we recognize our place in an immensity of light years and in the passages of ages, when we grasp the intricacy, beauty, and subtly of life, then that soaring feeling, that sense of elation and humility combined, is surely spiritual.” I like atheist Richard Carrier’s description of spirituality as "a self-examined life of the mind, caring deeply about personal beliefs and ideals, focusing more about human happiness than material things, and experiencing awe, inner peace and enlightenment when fathoming human minds and the natural world." I would say philosophy examines the mind, beliefs, ideals and human happiness and spirituality adds the emotional components of awe, inner peace and enlightenment.

I am interested learning more about the psychology and neurologic basis of spiritual experiences. Feelings of transcendence, euphoria or universal love associated with spiritual experiences can be induced by taking specific drugs, experiencing steady rhythmic tones or even engaging repetitive movement. Certain religious practices these methods specifically to induce spiritual experiences. Also, people who have psychotic manic episodes often believe they suddenly understand how the universe works, that they are Jesus Christ, that number or symbols have special significance or they have special knowledge of demons or secret conspiracies. The fact that these sensations or perceptions can be chemically induced or the result of neurologic imbalances and that they are cross cultural seems to indicate sensations associated with spiritual experiences are an inherent part of our neurology. The human brain looks for patterns and tries to make sense of both internal and external stimuli. These sensation are given context through our personal experiences, e.g. Christians don't see Valkyries when they have near death experiences. I suspect individuals raised with a religious upbringing may tend to interpret sensations associated with spiritual experience in a religious context, reinforcing these religious beliefs, while non-believers interpret these sensations in a different context. I also suspect that continued association of these physical sensations and perceptions with religion keeps some people from abandoning religion because they don't see spirituality in any other context, spirituality and their religion being synonymous for them.

That spiritual experiences are created by our brains doesn’t minimize the significance of the experience; an orgasm with someone you love doesn’t become less pleasurable or meaningful after the physiology behind it is understood. Some atheists discount spirituality as something associated with religion or woo-woo, and using some definitions of spirituality that may be true, but I think reflecting on our place in the universe, our ideals, thoughts, perceptions and associated physical sensations are of value to anyone.

[SkyChief]

Spirituality is NOT innate.

I can prove it.

Well,  not actually prove it, but i can easily demonstrate that it is not likely.

Hypothetical:

An alien planet is terra-formed to provide a suitable habitat for humans. It has water, oxygen, organic vegetation; all the essentials.

A spacecraft from Earth is loaded to the gunnels with non-believers and are sent to colonize the New World.

All of man's scientific  knowledge is stored in the ship's database for reference by the colonists.  However, there are no religious texts or mention of spirits,  ghosts, gods or supernatural entities of any kind.  Not even a hint of one.

The Colonists can no longer communicate in any way with Earth.

Eventually, the Colonists begin to have babies.   They (newborn) are still human, but they are not 'Earthlings'.

Its rational to expect that this new generation of humans could not be spiritual if they had no references or history of supernatural gods.  They would have no need for it.  Because they would know where they came from.

Thats not to say that they would not gaze up at the nite sky with amazement and awe,  But that's not spirituality.