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[itisnotlogical]

I'm atheist, but spirituality is an important part of my life and my worldview. I personally don't believe that there are any deities, but I believe in spirit, and nurturing the soul, and leading a spiritual life. I used to be able to satisfy myself spiritually, but to be honest... I feel like being a part of a greater community that feels the way I do.

So... what's a nontheistic philosophy/religion? I've looked at Buddhism and that didn't seem to fit me. I've also looked at Hinduism and Tao, but I don't really understand them yet.

[Teneb]

You are going to be a bit more specific about what you want. What exactly about Buddhism has put you off, for example?

[itisnotlogical]

The practices seem like something that would require a proper teacher, guidance, and the support of a community. There's no Buddhist communities that I know of in the entire state. Then again, if I choose a philosophy other than some denomination of Christianity, I'm likely to be in the same situation no matter what I choose. I think there might be a few Wiccans in my town, but I'm not positive.

I suppose I'm looking for a "free love" sort of philosophy. A path where everybody is equal and working towards a goal for the betterment of others.

[Detoxicated]

If you look at the monotheistic texts and take into account that the texts were written in ancient times you can take a lot of wisdom there, but getting in touch with buddhism and hinduism seem like great ideas. The study of religion is a spiritual act in itself, and looking for opportunities to find out more is key to go further. Try to meet people that have funded knowledge on religions (just any) that arent priests and begin building relationships with them.

[i2amroy]

To be honest buddhism, and a lot of the similar religions, do have a lot to do about community. It's something we actually seem to like to try to remove in the western versions, but the whole religions are often based directly on the idea of communal support of ideas. There's stuff you can do on your own, obviously, but the community is still a rather key part of the whole.

I think that from the sounds of it you might just need to tough things out until your situation changes such that you can reach out to the a larger global community. From what I've seen in my religions classes the vast majority of non theistic religions tend to focus a lot on that sense of community (possibly excepting things like Wicca, which more often then not just boils down to "make up your own religion that kinda sorta follows some of these very general guidelines").

Alternatively, you might just want to think about classifying yourself simply as "atheist, but spiritual", which is a totally viable definition (and one which encompasses something like 40-70% of atheists if my religions professor is to be believed ). Should you find that there isn't really a religion that has goals that align with yours then feel free to take what you think they are doing right and leave what you disagree with; I certainly know friends of mine that do things like borrow bits of this religion and bits of that to feed their spiritual aspects while leaving their overall listing as "atheist".

[Sheb]

I did find myself in a similar situation last summer, and I solved it by becoming a Catholic Atheist (Helgoland actually baptised me). I really dig it (I pretty much go to church every sunday now), both the feeling of community, the spirituality, the rhythm traditions give to one's life.

Of course, it does involve a degree of what some might describe as hypocrisy (I've not made my coming out as an atheist in my parish, for one thing), but I just consider that this whole god thing is just symbolic (I mean, standard catholic agree that 90% of the bible is symbolical anyway, I just take it a bit further).

It should be noted that in Belgium, atheism (Actually called "Organized Laicity") is one of seven officially recognized religion, and get state funding for "atheist priests" that organize ceremony, go in hospital as alternative to chaplain and so on. I guess I could have joined them, but Belgium (and my family) is traditionally Catholic, and I like the connection to my roots it offers.

[Orange Wizard]

I suppose I'm looking for a "free love" sort of philosophy. A path where everybody is equal and working towards a goal for the betterment of others.

Gnosticism!

You know the God of the Old Testament? He's a dick! We don't like him! Jesus is pretty cool though! He gave us wine! And told us to be nice to everyone! The world would be a nicer place if everyone was nice! Let's go get sushi later!

Disclaimer: I don't claim that this is an accurate representation of gnosticism but it sounds pretty cool so w/e

[TheBiggerFish]

I'm going to just sort of quietly PTW this.

[ChairmanPoo]

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[Bohandas]

How about a religion wih a large pantheon of gods that they don't actually believe in:

http://www.subgenius.com/pam1/pamphlet_p2.html
http://www.subgenius.com/pams/pam2p1.html
http://www.subgenius.com/

[MetalSlimeHunt]

(Helgoland actually baptised me).

You can't just throw that out there without expanding on it! The first inter-Bay 12 religious conversion story is a substantial event.

It should be noted that in Belgium, atheism (Actually called "Organized Laicity") is one of seven officially recognized religion, and get state funding for "atheist priests" that organize ceremony, go in hospital as alternative to chaplain and so on. I guess I could have joined them, but Belgium (and my family) is traditionally Catholic, and I like the connection to my roots it offers.

So that's where all these weird new "atheist congregations" in the US stem from. Knowledge obtained.

Anyway, OP, you may know me as MetalSlimeHunt, resident militant atheist extraordinaire. I'm trying to think of a decent answer for you, but as described by i2amroy noted, there are atheists, and then there are atheist. I'm the kind who find desires for "spirituality" to be kind of a black box. Could you describe what you're looking for in other words so that I can better answer you?

Otherwise, my basic line answer is to join a Unitarian Universalist church, since you can basically believe anything with them as long as you aren't a roaring cockgoblin.

[itisnotlogical]

I'm the kind who find desires for "spirituality" to be kind of a black box. Could you describe what you're looking for in other words so that I can better answer you?

Do you know that feeling when you're on a beach, and for whatever reason the beach is empty? You don't hear anything but the waves. You don't see any people for miles in any direction, or even any animals for that matter. You don't hear any cars, or screaming children, and you don't have any electronics on you. All you hear is the roar of the tides, and the sand shifting under your feet, and you feel utterly alone... but you're okay with it.

Or when you're standing alone, waiting for the bus stop. You're in an urban setting, with not a lot of wildlife... but then you see a deer gallop across the highway and vanish. You know there's probably a good, logical reason for it, but it's so unusual and momentous that you feel like there has to be a capital-m Meaning to it.

Or when you're at work early, maybe you're opening the store and it's a quiet morning. Everybody's busily cleaning, stocking, getting ready for the day before the first customers come in. It's the beginning of life breathing into the community. Everywhere, people all around the country are doing exactly the same thing as you. They're getting ready for the day, lighting up the fires of society and business so that everything just clicks in to place, and for a little bit, you feel oneness with other human beings.

Those are all experiences that I've had, the things that kicked off this search for "spirituality". I consider them spiritual experiences. I know, if you look at the big picture, they're not anywhere near as romantic as I make them sound. It's not what actually happened; it's how they made me feel. They put me in an unusual state of mind. I wasn't just idly happy or content; I felt expanded, in a metaphorical sense. I felt like some inaccessible part of me was enriched, and it felt good, like a missing part of the puzzle of my life was being filled in.

I want words to describe what I felt during those moments. I want to know how I can experience those feelings again, maybe even all the time, call them up at will. I want those experiences to make some kind of sense in some cosmic framework greater than myself.

I know I'm being very vague, but I'm using the best words I know.

[Harry Baldman]

You could just try and start your own congregation/denomination/religion. Find a place and a time in which spiritual experiences come to you more easily (everyday places that lend themselves to sights that you would not normally see, most likely) and find someone to enjoy them with. There's probably people who feel the same way you do, and rituals like these are as good a way to connect with them as any.

Though getting a holy text to lend your thoughts legitimacy is also quite helpful, of course. Ones that haven't been mentioned are Confucianism (which might be right up your alley if my sorely limited understanding of Confucianism is correct, all harmony and humanism and whatnot, though it doesn't have the equality bit in it) and atheistic Satanism. Might be worth looking into some Christian heresies as well like Catharism.

[Bohandas]

How about Discordianism or the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster?

[Arx]

Would you say you felt euphoric, although not because of some phony god's blessing?

Uncharitable jokes aside, I know we have at least one animist on the forums (Rolan). It's a sort of world-soul belief - spirits of nature (which is why you feel there's something special about the deer), and everyone being connected to Gaia - which is why you feel a oneness with humanity sometimes. As far as I know, he'd be better at explaining it - I don't want to put you off by couching it in terms of God, since you're a professed atheist.

Have you also thought about going with 'unaffiliated spiritualist'? There doesn't have to be a 'reason' for a walk on the beach/in the forest/wherever while the city sleeps to be magical, sometimes it's just good to let your soul expand to fill the available space (to paraphrase my father).

I don't think you need to associate with anything or a group to be spiritual - in fact, I'd say it can be cramping - just go looking for those moments. If you enjoy opening up the shop while everyone else is as well, make sure you do it often.

Good luck and Godspeed. This isn't exactly an easy thing, but it can be rewarding.