Spirituality is a nonsense term. Nonsense in that there is no sense or meaning to the word and its use should be avoided. Most of you in this thread seem to be asking what is spirituality or trying to desperately to define it, and that's a sure sign a word isn't doing its job.
As an atheist I can revel ..., a beast of the earth itself.
Edit: I'm merely curious... There seem to be a few pagans in this thread, so might I ask if any of you subscribe to a particular reconstructionist movement, or have you opted already for a patch-work syncretic world-view?
Hi THOaken,
Just taking a look at some possible word meanings, maybe to help the discussion on feeling 'spiritual', or not, for the wider bushcraft community...
i think the word 'spiritual' comes from the word spirit?
spirit (v.) 
1590s, "to make more active or energetic" (of blood, alcohol, etc.), from
spirit (n.). The meaning "carry off or away secretly" (as though by supernatural agency) is first recorded 1660s.
in my simple thinking, spiritual would mean something like - a feeling / a desire / being energised / - to be activity engaged in, or with, a person / place / idea / belief / situation,
whether at rest or at work?
i think science quite often explains the 'how' of things very well, yet still changes the 'how' quite often - this is right and good in the scientific method.
and spirituality sometimes explains the 'why' of things.... things that scienific method is inadequate for or questions it is not suited to - like, "do you think the sunrise is beautiful?" and "this pie tastes wonderfull!"
When people discuss and attempt to define what a word means, i believe that we are carrying out a very necessary process of understanding each other....?
So, rather than the word 'spiritual' being a nonsense term - it has a meaning that can be researched and understood - just like a scientist would do... and discussed as is happening a little here.
There seems no reason to 'avoid' using such a seemingly useful term?
i think perhaps that advice regarding use of words should be left to the people in the discussion -
Maybe the term 'athiest' would be better avoided...
atheist (n.) 
1570s, from French athéiste (16c.), from Greek atheos "without god, denying the gods; abandoned of the gods; godless, ungodly," from a- "without" + theos "a god" (see
Thea).
The existence of a world without God seems to me less absurd than the presence of a God, existing in all his perfection, creating an imperfect man in order to make him run the risk of Hell. [Armand Salacrou, "Certitudes et incertitudes," 1943]
atheism (n.) 
1580s, from French athéisme (16c.), from Greek atheos "without god" (see
atheist). A slightly earlier form is represented by atheonism (1530s) which is perhaps from Italian atheo "atheist." Ancient Greek atheotes meant "ungodliness."
Interestingly, i think there can only be a 'syncretic world-view'
in life with external influence....
i may be wrong on that tho
For example in posts on the forum we ask the question, "how do you do _______ ?" or we state how we do _______. (and many other questions tooo!)
IF we are to learn, then it is in a syncretic framework, where our present thoughts, methods and worldview are open to change / addition / subtraction / mixing.
The coming together in peace and community (mixture / reconcilliation / union) of people (pagan / atheist / christian / muslim / a.n.other ) is one of the fundementals of bushcraft, is it not?
Surely, community life is not primarily scientific, it is spiritual ?
Without being 'syncretic', neither athiests, pagans or any other people group can survive...?
So, is the term syncretic
is to be avoided...?
syncretism (n.) 
"reconciliation of different beliefs," 1610s, from Modern Latin syncretismus (David Pareus, 1615), from Greek synkretismos "union of communities," from synkretizein "to combine against a common enemy," from syn- "together" (see
syn-) + second element of uncertain origin. One theory connects it with kretismos "lying," from kretizein "to lie like a Cretan;" another connects it with the stem of kerannynai "to mix, blend;" krasis "mixture."
Hey, any more thoughts guys?
Anyone prefer scientific bushcraft to spiritual bushcraft?
Anyone prefer to be both like me?
anyone prefer just plain bushcraft? (is that possible for a thinking or sentient life form...?)
Did any of that make any sense whatsoever....?
austin