Comments on: Because You Don’t Hate Your Job Nearly Enough…

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:34:00 +0000

That would make work all the more irritating. I sometimes get in customers who mention spiritual things (ie: “That was a terrible storm. I think someone is trying to tell us something.” Me: (thinks) yes, like that we shouldn’t get to have electricity or showers.) though no one has ever tried to convert me. I would rather they just increase their 401k contributions and spare me a chaplain.

For example, at my work we have Yoga classes and a massage therapist. I don’t care for either. But nobody comes around to my office and tries to rub my neck, so I don’t mind.

I would love this. Please send your massage therapist to rub my neck, and hurry!

By: ansuzmannaz

ansuzmannaz — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:57:16 +0000

spiritual (from Dictionary.com):

–adjective
1. of, pertaining to, or consisting of spirit; incorporeal.
2. of or pertaining to the spirit or soul, as distinguished from the physical nature: a spiritual approach to life.
3. closely akin in interests, attitude, outlook, etc.: the professor’s spiritual heir in linguistics.
4. of or pertaining to spirits or to spiritualists; supernatural or spiritualistic.
5. characterized by or suggesting predominance of the spirit; ethereal or delicately refined: She is more of a spiritual type than her rowdy brother.
6. of or pertaining to the spirit as the seat of the moral or religious nature.
7. of or pertaining to sacred things or matters; religious; devotional; sacred.
8. of or belonging to the church; ecclesiastical: lords spiritual and temporal.
9. of or relating to the mind or intellect. (emphasis mine)

The term “spiritual” is mired in a long heritage of superstition, but it has some application beyond that. Though an atheist, I consider myself something of a spiritual person, and by “spiritual” I mean that I try to live focused on the inner life of the psyche. Superstitions and spiritualism just get in the way of the search for inner knowledge, which is the purported purpose of many religious sects. (Gnosticism, Hinduism, and Buddhism to name a few.)

By: Graham

Graham — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:49:42 +0000

Christians are more than likely wrong and they are deceiving people into believing one of the biggest lies ever told. Lies fueled by lies fueled by a little bit of tingling in the stomach…probably indigestion.

By: Karen

Karen — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:40:40 +0000

Why do so many Christians think it is alright to lie for Jesus. Don’t the 10 commandments say though shall not lie?

It’s an ends-justify-the-means thing for evangelicals. The thinking is that telling a few “little” lies is okay if they save someone from eternal torture in hell. Also, they tend to soften the fact that they’re lying by finding acceptable terms for what they do and excusing it away.

The idea is that even those who’ve been deceived will forgive you if they become Christians eventually and have the “joy of the lord” etc.

By: Tim Mills

Tim Mills — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:26:38 +0000

I tend to think of “spiritual” as referring to those legitimate inspirational, uplifting feelings that we get when we experience something of the good life (as expressed nonreligiously, for example, by Epicurus). It doesn’t seem to me to be irrevocably yoked to religion.

But the tide of opinion seems to be against me here, and as a linguist I have to concede that meaning relies on consensus among speakers. So I guess you’re right: spirituality has become tied to religion in a way that excludes us non-religious people.

So what word do you use to describe those inspiring, uplifting feelings associated with the high points of human existence?

By: grazatt

grazatt — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:18:56 +0000

Why do so many Christians think it is alright to lie for Jesus. Don’t the 10 commandments say though shall not lie?

By: the Shaggy

the Shaggy — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:13:55 +0000

“Spiritual” really seems to be synonymous with “Open-minded.” That sense where you have “other knowledge” and some belief in somthing.

You use incense for a purpose other than the smell, you wear pendants you think make you feel better, and people believe you have some greater wisdom. All of it is bunk.

Spirituality : Philosophy :: The Secret : Positive Thinking. It’s all the frosted windows and scarves thrown over lamps that make you get it confused.

By: Theo Doersing

Theo Doersing — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:13:02 +0000

I see the term “spiritual” as an even more domesticated version of the word “religious”. It seems less offensive to claim you are spiritual than religious. There is too much baggage attached to a loaded word like “religion”. It is a classic example of an epistemological sleight of word to progress the same meme into a more resistant environment. Another good example would be believing in the “holy spirit” instead of the “holy ghost”. I can’t recall the last time I heard someone refer to the holy ghost. The word ghost is loaded with paranormal attachments and superstition.

By: Aquaria

Aquaria — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:20:29 +0000

Yikes! Thank goodness the USPS is too cheap to do this for the employees. We’re lucky to have a break room.

By: Samuel Skinner

Samuel Skinner — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:52:37 +0000

Spirituality is the feeling you get when you trip of drugs- the feeling of oneness with the universe or awe. It isn’t only drugs that do it, but given what religion does to your brain, the drugs may have fewer side effects. Feelings of awe are easy enough to get normally though- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bov9M2gEgcE
this is a good example.