spirituality?
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I'm only 3 semesters into my Philosophy and Religion concentration and I already lost most beliefs I had in anything, not that I had many to begin with. I'm not-so-slowly becoming a religious skeptic - at the very least an agnostic based on personal pragmatism. Spirituality is only relevent, I believe, in its pragmatic consequences*. Oh wait, veganism is a pragmatic consequence. Well, then...
Doesn't spirituality, as it is the essence of your spirit, neccessarily existed before veganism? Sure, the cognicent aspect of your spirituality may imply a different sense of being spiritual which can be precluded by moral choices such as veganism, but then where does the moral basis exist - how is it guided - if not in and by your spirituality?
* NOTE: Rather, "whether there exists spirituality in the sense that I am understanding it to be used in this discussion" is only relevent ... By using term, I am NOT implying that it does exist.
Doesn't spirituality, as it is the essence of your spirit, neccessarily existed before veganism? Sure, the cognicent aspect of your spirituality may imply a different sense of being spiritual which can be precluded by moral choices such as veganism, but then where does the moral basis exist - how is it guided - if not in and by your spirituality?
* NOTE: Rather, "whether there exists spirituality in the sense that I am understanding it to be used in this discussion" is only relevent ... By using term, I am NOT implying that it does exist.
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I find spiritual to be the wrong phrase because I don't believe in a supernatural "spirit". However certain relationships with the universe are extremely important to me and my shift to vegetarianism came as a result of a "revelation" that forced me to revaluate my relationship to animals.
FYI. There's some great conversation regarding spirituality here too..
http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/s...light=religion
http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/s...light=religion
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It should be said that most of the emotions, relationships and values attributed to spirituality are real, however they are shared by people who do not believe in a literal spirit.
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My spirituality is highly linked to my veg*anism.
I don't feel I have a right to dictate what or whom deserves to die and when. While I am a neopagan, I am also a bit of an animist, and I have trouble devaluing the spirit inside even the littlest things- I feel we are of equal value.
I also have trouble with the concept of devouring another, and it's kind of linked with a sense of spiritual clarity. In energy work I feel it counterproductive to have your energy muddled by that of another.
I guess that has to do with a sense of clean mind and body. I am not interested in introducing toxins into my system, neither physically nor spiritually.
I don't feel I have a right to dictate what or whom deserves to die and when. While I am a neopagan, I am also a bit of an animist, and I have trouble devaluing the spirit inside even the littlest things- I feel we are of equal value.
I also have trouble with the concept of devouring another, and it's kind of linked with a sense of spiritual clarity. In energy work I feel it counterproductive to have your energy muddled by that of another.
I guess that has to do with a sense of clean mind and body. I am not interested in introducing toxins into my system, neither physically nor spiritually.
i'm pretty drawn to buddhism. basicly everything i believe happens to fall in line with buddhism, and it also introduces new ways of thinking about things to me and provides me with answers and helps me to better myself.
it helps me to deal with stress alot, like when i'm at work and someone is bitching at me for something stupid and normally i'd feel bad i just put it in perspecitve, i do the best i can do and i don't sweat it. i try to look at how small and insignificant a thing it is and thus not worth stressing.
i believe in right speech
i believe in right action
i believe that the root of all suffering is selfish desire
it's not why i went vegan but it's a very large part of why i stay vegan.
it helps me to deal with stress alot, like when i'm at work and someone is bitching at me for something stupid and normally i'd feel bad i just put it in perspecitve, i do the best i can do and i don't sweat it. i try to look at how small and insignificant a thing it is and thus not worth stressing.
i believe in right speech
i believe in right action
i believe that the root of all suffering is selfish desire
it's not why i went vegan but it's a very large part of why i stay vegan.
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7,691 Posts
i guess you could call me a new-agist or something. i dunno, i tend to believe bits and pieces of a lot of different belief systems. but basically:
to harm others is to harm yourself.
all living things share the same energy, the same soul.
we're here (Earth) to learn life lessons and i feel a lot of us need
to learn to respect and care for our fellow beings before this
cycle will stop.
to harm others is to harm yourself.
all living things share the same energy, the same soul.
we're here (Earth) to learn life lessons and i feel a lot of us need
to learn to respect and care for our fellow beings before this
cycle will stop.
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15,684 Posts
Christianity and veg*nism became "real" for me at roughly the same time. I was deeply considering lots of issues, and I was becoming sensitive to the long term effects of my actions. If I had to set a "date of conversion" to vegetarianism, I'd put it in early April, 2000, and my "date of conversion" to Christianity at June 16th, 2000.
Im a vegan and an atheist, but I see how vegism could easily become an extension of someones spirituality via the kindness it bestows unto other animals.
It was interesting to see everyones spiritual leanings and how vegism was able to be incorporated into them all.
On a side note, the other day a person said to me I can see how you might think animals have rights if you dont believe in God. Im sure those of you who profess a religion other than Christianity may have heard something along the same lines. It gets to be annoying when people hide behind their spirituality, or lack thereof, which ever form they choose.
Thanks
It was interesting to see everyones spiritual leanings and how vegism was able to be incorporated into them all.
On a side note, the other day a person said to me I can see how you might think animals have rights if you dont believe in God. Im sure those of you who profess a religion other than Christianity may have heard something along the same lines. It gets to be annoying when people hide behind their spirituality, or lack thereof, which ever form they choose.
Thanks
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