Hi everyone!

In this discussion, we will try to briefly discuss spiritualism (from afar), and place it in the modern world's context.

Some concrete questions are outlined below:

0. What notions do we associate with this word? We try to roughly define the word, using other words :p

1. How is spirituality different from religion?

2. Is spirituality in tension with a Scientific, deterministic worldview?

3. What is the nature of spiritual knowledge? Is it universal?

4. What are the methods for gaining spiritual knowledge or experiences?

5. Can there be spiritualism without having to invoke God?

Some helpful sources:
https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2022/11/28/spirituality-what-it-is-not-and-what-it-is/
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11841-024-01034-w

More sources to aid the discussion will be posted here later.

Strategies may help the discussion:

1. Please try to answer the question or ask a more fundamental one, rather than substitute with something else.
2. Please state your point first then support it by examples/explanations. We try to stick to the main topic, if you have many ideas/examples we can talk after the event :)
3. Please try to be open to new ideas and refrain from any public displays of judgement. We are all here to learn, discuss, grow and make new connections.

Please be careful that we will discuss in English :)

Random quote:
"To ask whether God exists is not to ask a theoretical question. If it is to mean anything at all, it is to wonder about praising and praying; it is to wonder whether there is anything in all that. This is why philosophy cannot answer the question “Does God exist?” with either an affirmative or a negative reply … “There is a God”, though it appears to be in the indicative mood, is an expression of faith.(Phillips 1976: 181; see also Phillips 1970: 16–17)"