Atheism and the spirit of gratitude

Read Time:4 Minute, 59 Second
…”the universe is just here, a product of soulless deterministic forces — and if mindless chemistry gave us life, why should anyone feel thankful for a meaningless molecular coincidence?- Gregg Easterbrook

Can an atheist be spiritual, or does that feeling require belief in a creator, (or at the very least, a soul /spirit existing separate from the body)?  Certainly belief in a soul does not necessitate belief in a creator, or vice-versa. Many non-theists still believe in the existence of ghosts for example, though  I am not one of them.  I will resist the wholesale condemnation of such beliefs as silly, supernatural, magical thinking and concentrate instead on the feeling of spirituality as it exists outside the framework of religion.
The Atheist Revolution does a good job of positing the elusive components of what constitutes spirituality:  vitality, connectedness, transcendence, and meaningfulness. One of the most commonly described experiences of spirituality involves a sense of one’s interconnectedness to others and a dissolving of self-other boundaries.

I can feel connected to others despite time, place, and distance.

Spirituality is the general human impulse to reach out towards the greater whole.  Humans all share the ability to see and appreciate beauty, to be overwhelmed by emotion, to feel wonder and awe at the mysteries of life.

The  biggest difference between religion and spirituality is simply that most religions demand a specific set of beliefs and structures to help (or force) people to attune to their innate spirituality. Religion is a framework invented by man to help understand the unknowable. Religion prostitutes the mysteries to serve its own ends, and ultimately fails as it tries to squeeze something profound and infinite into a lidded box.

Gratitude for life does not require a recipient.

As a human, I share with others compassion for the sick, love for my children, reverence for the profound, and humility before the vastness of the universe.

I know there are chemicals and hormones that evolved to foster caretaking behaviors, which is why I find babies cute. I know that I am helpless before the oxytocin surging through my system that fills me with the feeling of love, enabling me to bond with a tiny and helpless creature, ensuring its survival. I don’t have to attribute this sublime feeling to a supernatural being in order to enjoy and appreciate it.

Even a preschool boy can’t help but feel the love for a tiny infant.

Just knowing how the process evolved- the mechanics of the biology underneath things like human interactions, bonding with children and humility- is not enough to “spoil the surprise” or detract from the experience and enjoyment of living. I can enjoy watching a movie laden with special effects though I know they are effects, and even how some of them were done.  Science has explained a lot, but not all of the mysteries of the universe. Enough still remains to keep people guessing.

Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain


Religion wants you to believe there is a man behind the curtain pulling the strings.

Imagine that we are all marionettes on a stage, with our strings extending up into the dark ceiling. We can’t see where they go, and we will never be able to. Religion claims they can see a puppetmaster holding all the strings. Even the ones who acknowledge they can’t actually see him have faith he is there.

What I envision is once the strings disappear into the dark, they all interconnect with other strings, which are in turn connected to other people and some of the sets on the stage. We can’t see the intricacies of the connections, but we can tell that sometimes jerking on one will cause another to move.  By experimenting with this we have found that certain strings when moved have certain predictable effects. (Thank you physics!)

The tree of life symbolizes the connectedness of humans with each other

Researcher Robert Emmons has demonstrated that grateful people  are more likely to acknowledge a belief in the interconnectedness of all life and a commitment to and responsibility to others. They report higher levels of positive emotions, life satisfaction, vitality, optimism and lower levels of depression and stress.  Grateful people are less materialistic and envious, and more empathetic and helpful. Emmons points out that spiritual people (religious and non-religious alike) are the ones most likely to be grateful.

Because religions have long embraced gratitude as an indispensable manifestation of virtue, there is a tendency to assume throughout history that God favors the grateful. Tribes that didn’t appreciate what God was doing for them got wiped out. Bad things happened to good people (who must not have been thankful enough.)  What does this teach me? Don’t take your blessings for granted.

Some people can’t understand that atheists can feel gratitude without having a specific person to thank. Atheists don’t “Thank God” for a football win, or that we didn’t get cancer- just like we don’t blame him when we have a flat tire or there is a flood in Pakistan.

Three things to be grateful for

When I am feeling thankful for being alive, I call my dad, or hug my kids. When I am enjoying what others might call a “blessing to America as a favored nation of God” such as running water,  I remember that most of the world still does not have access to enough clean fresh water to lead healthy lives.  Being able to have the freedoms I have as a woman makes me thankfully in debt to the great people who worked for those rights to exist.

I acknowledge that I am beholden to other people past and present, and to the sun, the earth, the animals and plants upon it. I am overwhelmed when I contemplate the limits of my existence, and the frailties of man. I am in awe of the greatness of life, and I am thankful for it.

About Post Author

Morgan Williams

Gardener, designer, mother, and activist, Morgan has taught many subjects from art to history; from religion to yoga. Life would be better for everyone if people had a better sense of humor and would just learn to share.
Happy
Happy
0 %
Sad
Sad
0 %
Excited
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
Angry
0 %
Surprise
Surprise
0 %
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of

6 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
13 years ago

I don’t think that I have ever read something that explains the meaning of spirituality so completely in such a short amount of words. Well thought out, excellent post!

And contrary to what may be thought, that is not me in the pictures. Although I have turned a few wheels and pulled a few levers, never have I hid behind a green curtain.

Reply to  Krell
13 years ago

I also might add that after reading these type of posts of spirituality and enlightenment, my posts seem to be really dark and depressing. Maybe it balances out?

Melissa
13 years ago

Perfect!

13 years ago

Tomorrow is the National Coming out” day for atheists. You are supposed to tell others who aren’t aware (like your parents maybe?), wear a t-shirt, or post something worthy. This is my early contribution, since I have been “out” of the atheist closet a long while.

13 years ago

It’s obvious you have given this subject some serious thought, it shows.

Many people would sooner die than think; In fact, they do so. – Bertrand Russell

osori
13 years ago

What a beautiful and thoughtful essay! I enjoy the way you incorporate your family and home in your posts. Particularly enlightening is your explanation of spirituality.

Previous post Viral video of the week – Cebu Pacific Airlines
Next post Wacky Sharron Angle tops “Wingnut Index”
6
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x