Lay spirituality and atheist spirituality

Main Article Content

Francesc Torradeflot Freixes

Abstract

This article aims to find out the relation between secular and atheistic spiritualties underlining the only one that seems to be able to suit the knowledge society. We analyze several texts of main classical personalities of both spiritualities, such as Feuerbach, Marx, Nietzsche and Comte Sponville, among others. Some of the essential elements of an atheistic spirituality are specifically discussed: critical spirit and rationality, centrality and sufficiency of human beings and their release from submission and exploitation, and a will without limits instead of laziness. However, the main objective is to highlight that there is a culture of absolute dimension of reality beyond the religious traditions. We also intend to point out that culture, in changing societies, requires, as Corbí suggests, a new anthropology, of an animal who talks, with a dual access to reality. We also point to the existence of a new epistemology, beyond the previous mythical paradigms, allowing the merely free and symbolic use of mankind wisdoms. Finally, it is a question of survival of humankind and of its environment.

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How to Cite
TORRADEFLOT FREIXES, Francesc. Lay spirituality and atheist spirituality. HORIZONTE - Journal of Studies in Theology and Religious Sciences, Belo Horizonte, v. 12, n. 35, p. 716–745, 2014. DOI: 10.5752/P.2175-5841.2014v12n35p716. Disponível em: https://periodicos.pucminas.br/horizonte/article/view/P.2175-5841.2014v12n35p716. Acesso em: 3 sep. 2025.
Section
Artigos/Articles: Dossiê/Dossier
Author Biography

Francesc Torradeflot Freixes, Centro de Estudio de las Tradiciones de Sabiduría - CETR- Barcelona.

Doctor en Teología, Máster en Ciencias de las Religiones, Licenciado en Filosofía. Relaciones institucionales de CETR

FRANCESC TORRADEFLOT FREIXES

Doctor en teología por la Facultad de Teología de Cataluña, licenciado en historia de las religiones por la Universidad Católica de Lovaina (UCL) y licenciado en filosofía por la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB). Fue codirector de programa, junto con Raimon Panikkar, del IV Parlamento de las Religiones del Mundo celebrado en Barcelona. Coordina la Red Catalana de Entidades de Diálogo Interreligioso y la Red Internacional sobre Religiones y Mediación en Zonas Urbanas. Es profesor e investigador del Centro de Estudios de las Tradiciones de Sabiduría y director de la Asociación UNESCO para el Diálogo Interreligioso. Ha publicado varios libros y artículos sobre diálogo interreligioso, diversidad religiosa, mediación interreligiosa y la importancia de la espiritualidad para la cultura del diálogo.