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

Thoroughness and Context regarding the Scripture

From Smiling Skeptic

Part 1 of 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM4Yqe0OUwE&feature=related

Part 2 of 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ0O_NdFbZs&feature=related

Part 3 of 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj-1swuv5-A&feature=related

Part 4 of 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzJLy8BdtZM&feature=related

Part 5 of 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmV2-RM33sA&feature=related

Religulous and More

Bill Maher's Religulous Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg8WlXZxAgQ&feature=related Bill Maher's Religulous Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmTE9Q_SkW8&feature=related Bill Maher's Religulous Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdZR4FQXiBQ&feature=related Bill Maher Religulous Part 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uerEEG1RDD4&feature=related Bill Maher's Religulous Part 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcNdteJNyO4&feature=related Bill Maher's Religulous Part 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm4IKpq-JbI&feature=related Bill Maher's Religulous Part 7 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnR0q-llZpw&feature=related Bill Maher's Religulous Part 8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dM7bP8yYDg&feature=related Bill Maher's Religulous Part 9 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxiE_ruu8Sg&feature=related Bill Maher's Religulous Part 10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsoMn-8YJlI&feature=related EXTRAs and DELETED scenes from film Last 5 Minutes of Bill Maher's Religulous http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jETVUulGwc&feature=youtu.be Bill Maher Part of a deleted scene from the movie RELIGULOUS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCj8GjUVCac&feature=related Religulous - Fun Scene involving trucker red necks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvpnSKCQ0gk&NR=1 Religulous Extras: new religions - full http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31Eee8-JmwE&feature=related Religulous extras: Vatican - Full http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPHxhgX_hT8&feature=related Religulous extras: Anne Frank house http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptlTCECyLc4&feature=related Religulous extras: Qumran http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbMaabbNCTo&feature=related Religulous extras: "space giant" - full http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLUO-oQfT5w&feature=fvwrel Religulous extras: The Big Promises http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T06gCQi4Tw&feature=related Religulous extras: muslim fashion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfF3gyJOtIU&feature=related Bill Maher vs. Anti-Muslim Woman http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcFoPkzYXog&feature=related FINIS

Religious beliefs

Everyone (almost everyone!) would agree that when it comes to religion, people will believe in most idiotic things as long as those are not about their own religion.

----Anonymous

Sharia Law - "She's buried chest high"

Sharia Law - "She's buried chest high"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOIbgd5qcrg&feature=related

Free Will and Predestination in Islam

Free Will and Predestination in Islam

http://proxytofacebook.com/browse.php?u=aHR0cDovL3dpa2lpc2xhbS5uZXQvd2lraS9GcmVlX1dpbGxfYW5kX1ByZWRlc3RpbmF0aW9uX2luX0lzbGFt&b=29

blasphemes: not only in Islam

Anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord must be put to death.

THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLE MUST STONE HIM.

Whether an alien or native-born, when he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death -

(The Bible @Leviticus 24:16)

Secularism-Not-a-Dirty-Word

Secularism-Not-a-Dirty-Word


http://www.chowk.com/Views/Politics/Secularism-Not-a-Dirty-Word?print=1&tmpl=component

Scripture and Skeptics

Bible
http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/index.htm

Quran
http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/quran/index.htm

Book of Mormons
http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/BOM/index.htm

Is God willing to prevent evil?

"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?

Then he is not omnipotent.

Is he able, but not willing?

Then he is malevolent.

Is he both able, and willing?

Then whence cometh evil?

Is he neither able nor willing?

Then why call him God."

- Epicurus

Is God willing to prevent evil?

"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able, and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing?
Then why call him God."

- Epicurus