Introduction

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Contents

Intent

I worry that, especially as the Millennium edges nearer, pseudo-science and superstition will seem year by year more tempting, the siren song of unreason more sonorous and attractive. Where have we heard it before? Whenever our ethnic or national prejudices are aroused, in times of scarcity, during challenges to national self-esteem or nerve, when we agonize about our diminished cosmic place and purpose, or when fanaticism is bubbling up around us - then, habits of thought familiar from ages past reach for the controls. The candle flame gutters. Its little pool of light trembles. Darkness gathers. The demons begin to stir. (Carl Sagan in Science and Hope)

It has been more than two thousand years since the birth of Christ, more than twenty five hundred years since the birth of the Buddha, and yet, humankind is as malicious and violent and sorrowful as ever. Evidently, the spiritual solution has not worked. If something has not worked in two thousand years, even in those who are considered spiritually successful, it is high time humankind refused faith in the mystical, in lives after death, and refused to subjugate itself to God-men.

But just as the failure of traditional religions to solve human ills is all around us (especially in the third world), it is increasingly harder to resist the re-packaged forms of ancient superstitions. Instead of organized religion with their primitive beliefs and rituals, today humanity is confronted with sophisticated spiritual arguments, meditations, new-age therapies and pseudo-scientific claptrap.

Many millions have spent years trying to enlighten themselves through spirituality, and many more will doubtless venture into this mystical land. Due to the very nature of spirituality, critical and credible information is seldom easily available, even in today's information age. Public media rarely carries any politically-incorrect piece of news related to spirituality. Those with burnt fingers keep silent, doubting their own diligence or faith. The shenanigans and the dubious teachings of the various gurus, spiritual teachers and new-age messiahs are left unexamined.

There are sites offering information on destructive cults, on harmful new-age therapies, on the criminal activities of various gurus. But almost nobody questions the basic appeal of spirituality, or of a mystical solution, to a human being in distress.

nonspiritual.net takes the unambiguous position that spirituality and religion are fundamentally flawed responses to the human condition. Not content with criticizing the ostensibly criminal, exploitative or reprehensible acts of the various spiritual teachers, nonspiritual.net seeks to criticize the very fundamentals of their teachings, their morality, their unscientific claims and their inability to live up to their own impossible ideals.

Operation

The website is mainly divided in two parts. The first part contains the wiki pages with information on various topics. The wiki pages can be edited only by authorized members of this community (to prevent vandalism). To know how to request authorization, please visit Editing Rights.

The second part contains various discussion forums on the various spiritual teachers and their teachings (and other related topics). Anyone can become a member and join in the discussion.

Acknowledgments

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