Least and most religious nations

[Thorne]

The biological need for the spiritual itch to be scratched is a perplexing one, its as much a part of our hardware as any other component of human pycology according to the latest reaserch.

What do you mean by "spiritual itch"? In fact, what do you mean by spiritual anything? I hear, and see, people using that word all the time and it seems to mean just about anything the user wants it to mean.

What is spiritual? How do you measure it? How do you touch it? You mention a spiritual itch, and all I can think of is that annoying itch I sometimes get that seems to keep moving around whenever I try to scratch it. leo9 talks of a 'spiritual path', which conjures up images of hippies sitting around getting high while pretending to make some magical journey into Neverland or something.

As near as I can figure, spirituality is something like virtual reality, in that it seems to be real but isn't. It has the appearance of truth, but is all smoke and mirrors. There's nothing there to grab hold of, nothing to feel, nothing at all. It's like eating virtual food: looks good, but doesn't fill your stomach.

How does one follow a spiritual path? Are there spiritual hiking boots to protect your feet? Will spiritual camping equipment be needed, or is this a one day spiritual hike? What about spiritual protection against spiritual dangers?

So many questions, and no meaningful answers.

[thir]

What do you mean by "spiritual itch"?

I would guess that the fact that some people cannot be content with a full stomach, and loads of gadgets.

[Thorne]

I would guess that the fact that some people cannot be content with a full stomach, and loads of gadgets.

Yes, I see. They always want more, more, more. Just like those corporations they complain about.

[thir]

Quote Originally Posted by thir View Post
I would guess that the fact that some people cannot be content with a full stomach, and loads of gadgets.

Yes, I see. They always want more, more, more. Just like those corporations they complain about.

I walked into that one, didn't I? :-)

But you know that what I meant was that some cannot be content or happy simply by not starving or having lots of toys.

Even if you rule out religion, there are needs that are not strictly material. The material ones are more or less food, shelter, safety, sex.

But there are others. Fellowships/friendship, respect, self/respect, freedom, self-actualization - and so on.

Marlowe adds others, morality, for instance.

What about creativity, musicality? Where does that come from?

And we are on the way to spirituality.

[Thorne]

I walked into that one, didn't I? :-)

"Step into my parlor...."

But you know that what I meant was that some cannot be content or happy simply by not starving or having lots of toys

That's part of being human, I suppose. The urge to have more. The security of excess. I don't see a problem with it as long as it's not hurting others.

Fellowships/friendship, respect, self/respect, freedom, self-actualization - and so on.

Emotional needs. Not sure what the corporations have to do with these. These are more of a personal nature. And I'm not sure if they're actual needs or simply desires. We may WANT respect, generally, but I don't know that we actually NEED it.

Marlowe adds others, morality, for instance.

This one is more of a societal need than a personal one. Individuals don't NEED morality, except to function within a society. And the moral rules are generally set by that society, not by the individuals.

What about creativity, musicality? Where does that come from?
And we are on the way to spirituality.

I don't see what these have to do with spirituality. Creativity is a mental process, strictly biological, not spiritual. The same with music and art. They are functions of the mind, no different than any other kind of thought process. What need of spirituality here?