Spirituality and Skepticism

I saw the cartoon below on Facebook. Take a look at it, and then I’ll share some thoughts on it.

It strikes me as ironic that the supposed skeptic is having a conversation with a fairy. But it seems to me that the supposed skeptic is being deliberately difficult. Lots of things are incorporeal – love and beauty, and not just ghosts. When people talk about energy they often mean something other than electricity. “Humanism” might not have received a negative response if it were not associated with this sort of obtuse attitude. And talking about the gaps in our knowledge encompasses philosophy and more, as well as science.

Of course, there is plenty of “spiritual” talk that pretends to be something other than metaphor and symbol, and which thus becomes nonsensical pseudoscience. Talk of a vital essence sounds like something that science has led us to set aside, and I wouldn’t like to see such phrases continue to be used even metaphorically. But since Tinkerbell is talking about awe and inspiration, it is clear that the language is non-literal, and thus responding with “electricity” is at best somewhat rude sarcasm, and at worst sad incomprehension.

What do you make of the cartoon? I know that I’ve had conversations in which people insist that I explain in detail what an ineffable transcendent reality is like, and the person I’m talking with may feel frustrated, but seems not to grasp that the feeling is mutual nor why it would be. Any thoughts on how the conversation could be improved on both sides?