Atheists and Spirituality

Adapted from an earlier posting of mine at www.newageislam.com


I believe, it is healthy to understand one religion in the context of other religions; and so it is equally healthy to talk about religions in the context of atheism. This approach should not be regarded as means of rating these entities in terms of their superiority or inferiority.
Atheism for that reason should not be viewed an anti religious ideology to rob religion of it virtues. In fact atheism adds a new dimension to one’s faculty of critical thinking and reasoning – if one desires so.
Atheism is often regarded as devoid of spiritual values which are also not the case. There are no dogmas “Thou Shalt” or Thou Shalt Not” in atheism. Some do nurture spiritual values while some do not
Here is a recent article by the well known Atheist/Neuroscientist Sam Harris where his opening paragraphs starts by expressing his reverence to Jalaluddin Rumi
http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/on-spiritual-truths

Atheists on Spirituality (Sam’s talk)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLIKAyzeIw4&feature=relmfu

Also, since Ashok Sharma commented “what about sects and religions which do not believe in the concept of God?”
Yes that is a legitimate question and I asked that question to Richard Dawkins when he was here at the Silicon Valley, California.
Part 1 is Dawkin’s Talk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8oixIeCxdo

Part 2 is the Q/A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcUO4jL315s

In part 2 at the counter reading of 7:06 one can hear my voice asking him the question that Ashok raised. Toward the end counter reading 21:33 there was another comment from someone among the audience which was even more elaborate than what Dawkins gave.
I have added Part 1 of Dawkins talk since here he does allude to mystical experience, and ecstasy as reported by many Sufis and Mystics. Dawkins refers to them as Einsteinian religion with which many atheists and agnostics relate to.

Comments are always welcomed. SR