Books for those of no fixed religion but want 'life guidance'

I'll see if I can get on my kindle. There are plenty of books about Plato and Neo-Platonic thought, I just tried to find some for you but amazon is acting up and wanting to show crockery instead of Plato, although theres one by Angie Hobbs, called Why Plato matters now, that looks like it would give a good overview. There's another by Bettany Hughs called The Hemlock Cup about Socrates and his teachings. If you can still get it on iplayer she did a brilliant series called Genius of the Ancient World, in which each episode explores a different ancient philospher.

Does modern life really call for  belief in something higher or better? Could that not be said of any age? I think there have always been people who can't think outside of the box and more who can barely think within it. I don't think that it helps anyone to have morality enforced or imposed from outside, especially if there's no understanding of why one should follow these rules. If theres no reason given that 'because god will be cross', then people are vulnerable to exploitation by the unscrupulous, they're no more educated than a dog who knows to wait at the roadside. I think people are better at abstract thinking than you give them credit for, we all know our emotions are abstract, we spend a lot of time and money talking about and exploring them, for many deity is an abstract concept, whether they have any faith or belief or not. For all that we're told by scientists that certain things are real and not abstract for many they are extremely abstract and solicit a response of "Eh?"

I wondered if that was what it was, I must say it's never appealled to me, mostly for the reasons you enjoy it like dancing, I think I prefer my Christianity with bells and smells and some nice Gregorian chanting, I've only been to a couple of churche services, but it didn't do anything for me at all.

For anyone who is interested in spirituality but, for one reason or another, doesn't want to explore the various Christian spiritualities, I would highly recommend having a look at Taoism. There are several modern translations of the Tao Te Ching, including one by Ursula K Le Guin which may be particularly appealing to those who have enjoyed her SF and fantasy. (She used to describe herself as an inconsistent Taoist and a consistent un-Christian.)

Personally, I have found my home in Eastern Orthodox Christianity. There is a reassuring stability to Orthodox worship (to the point where if you are familiar with the structure of the Liturgy, it really doesn't matter a great deal what language it is being celebrated in.) And I find Orthodox spirituality much more flexible than its Western cousins.

Cinnabar_wing said:

I've always preferred to live by my own moral cod

Yes, that's what I aim for, not a faith of a particular religion. I attended churches in mid life mainly out of loneliness but also felt a warmth and that something in me was improving as a result of being with like minded others.

Cinnabar_wing said:

Bill Gates and his wife follow, which involves philanthrop

Philanthropy is a practical spirituality. I like to be philanthropic in a micro way e.g. giving things to food banks and charity shops rather than selling them. Sharing ideas and experiences are also a form of giving. Modern life is too geared toward everyone having success and love - which does not always work out, causing many people grief; feeling that they are not enough and something is missing in their lives. The things spirituality teaches is to recognise joy in everyday life - small achievments underrated by society like smiling at someone, also being kind and feeding birds or admiring nature by watching clouds pass by. 

ArchaeC said:

I tend to bundle together different spiritualities that resonate with me and I practice meditation. 

Yes, that's how I do it. I meditate by gardening and cooking with mindfulness. I prefer to be alone these days so I can develop this side of my life. I don't accept Jesus as 'son of God' but as a good man like Buddha. Rumi is too deep for me. My brain is somewhat addled after years of abuse of various kinds sso prefer pre-digested rather than academic works. Solitariness works well for me - I join in 'community' by writing. Centuries ago, I might have become an anchoress I think. 

I sort of get this but a bit beyond my intellect! [I wish I was super-clever like my brother but alas did not inherit that gene]. Is it, that knowing myself I can then be one with God? It's more about learning to love the self, and thus finding peace and joy in life.

Yes, I've got the Tao of Pooh, also the Te of PIglet, much on the same lines. I've looked at many styles of faith. My tactic is to volunteer to make tea - that way you meet/chat with a lot of  worshippers! Vedanta is a Hindu sect. I lived in Bourne End near the Vedanta centre for years and attended their services for 2 years. They were very welcoming. I follow Stoicism at present, modern philosopher Ryan Holiday. I don't believe in a God as a corporeal being, but agree with de Botton that formal religions have many useful aspects applicable to daily living. He is using the term 'atheist' in a broad sense. I think our God-like (super ego) parts attract us toward spiritual pursuits and away from the 'id' proliferating in ourselves and across the world. I've always considered the Bible with reverance but because of the clever way moral behaviour is put across as something to strive toward. My brother is Zen Buddhist and has been this way since a young child - he is far more spiritual than me but at the same time remains antagonistic toward others, after years of being bullied at school. That sort of faith paradox is common, but I think few people would admit this.

TheCatWoman said:

Plato and Neo-Platonism, so you may find those interesting.

I'm not an academic - that's why I prefer 'pre-digested' philosophical works like Holiday, de Botton and Alexander McCall Smith. Modern life requires faith in 'something higher or better', to trigger the morality once encouraged [even enforced] by traditional religions. But sadly many are incapable of 'thinking outside the box' - or even fear it, so avoid subjects that are abstract. I would encourage you to read Religion for Atheists as de Botton has great ideas, including changing the teaching curriculum in schools and universities.

TheCatWoman said:

What's Black Baptist?

It's the style of worship of African Americans. It's not a perjorative term. Their services are full of joy with singing, spontaneous responses ['amen', 'thank you Jesus!'] and dancing. You really feel alive after joining in.

Kate Kestrel said:

teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh

I went to a lecture by Thitch Naht Hanh decades ago and bought his 'Mindfulness' book, which I've found very helpful over the years. I'm glad you found peace after your terrible experience . Yes, philosophy of some kind needs to be taught in schools, also practical life skills. I had no idea how to budget, cook or run a home when I left school, nor how to make friendships. It took me decades to learn these skills from scratch [my parents were hopeless - just constant arguments].

You make me happy.

You are a very cool human, Kate. 

Warm respect.

Number.

This is a subject I find so interesting too - and I think Alain de Botton’s comments about ‘throwing the baby out with the bath water’ hit the nail on the head. As modern western societies have moved away from religious practices they have struggled to find meaning and a strong ethical foundation to live by. 
I wasn’t religious for most of my life - the family I grew up in had no religious leanings at all. Then about 5 years ago I had a life threatening illness and I realised that I had nothing to ‘call on’ religiously or philosophically that could help me when facing life’s most profound challenges - in particular our mortality and separation from everything we love and hold dear. So when I recovered (which I was very very fortunate to do) I felt I needed to investigate what was lacking in my thinking etc that made me so completely ill equipped to face my own mortality, and impermance and suffering etc etc etc. So in the last few years I’m been on that journey of investigating religion, philosophy and so many things to try and find acceptance and peace, and ways to approach life in a way that brought me more happiness and peace.

By far the most positive and helpful philosophy I have found has been Buddhist philosophy and practices - specifically the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. Buddhism - and specifically THich Nhat Hanh’s teachings - are very inclusive of other religions, and people and cultures of no religion. There no discrimination in these teachings, and you don’t have to ‘believe’ in any God or deity etc. The focus is on ethics, kindness and compassion, non discrimination, mindful consumption (the philosophy is particularly relevant to concerns about the environment and protecting the planet and nature), cultivating joy and happiness. I could go on for hours (!) about how wonderful these teachings are to be honest. They are also incredibly accessible in ways that some schools of Buddhism sometimes aren’t. Thich Nhat Hanh’s wish was to make ancient Buddhist teachings accessible to modern and western audiences - so they could have global benefit to mankind and to the earth. 

If anyone wants to learn more then google: Thich Nhat Hanh, and also ‘Plum Village’ which is the monastic community Thich Nhat Hanh founded in the south of France - but which now has monasteries in various parts of the world. They also have a wonderful Youtube channel (called Plum Village) and a wonderful podcast called ‘The Way out is In’. 

I have to say it’s been life changing for me to encounter this particular school of Buddhism and it’s brought me a lot of happiness and peace in my life. It also helps me to deal with a lot of the everyday challenges we all face - it’s just so useful in my day to day life to be able to have this more balanced and philosophical approach to every part of my life. I really wish it could be taught in schools (not as religion but as philosophy and ethics) as I think we’d have a much happier and healthier society if that were the case, 

Thank you for this post Marianne. I am going to enjoy reading the responses. 

I have only recently detached myself from organized religion.

I do still like to follow Jesus and his teachings on how to treat others but only because it feels fair and more aligned with my own internal system.

I'm looking into all sorts of different areas at the moment.

I do listen to and read about stoicism and I am also drawn to Alain de Botton, they both feel aligned too.

I have also discovered a book called Braiding sweet Grass.

It focuses on fostering a deep, reciprocal relationship with the natural world, often described as a "spiritual practice" rather than a specific religion. 

I am very drawn to indigenous wisdom and philosophy, it just feels right to me.

The Art of Living, by Epectitus. Got my copy, today.

I like Rumi.

I am neither Christian, nor Jew, nor Magian, nor Muslim …

https://archive.blogs.harvard.edu/sulaymanibnqiddees/2012/11/06/rumi-i-do-not-recognize-myself/

What's Black Baptist?

I've been a Pagan for many years now, I started with Wicca, but my spirituality has grown a bit now, or Wicca has narrowed, I'm not sure which, although it does seem to be becoming more codified something I don't feel it was ever intended to be. To quote Sir Terry Pratchet, '.. witches [Wiccans] believe in their gods like they believe in the postman', this is very much how I feel, it's beyond belief or faith, it just is. 

I notice all the faiths you mentions are basically Christian, have you ever moved outside of Christianity or montheism? For me a multiplicity of Gods and Goddesses is obvious and I can't get my head around montheism anymore, it's taken me a while to reach this point having been brought up with the idea if not the practice of montheism. I dont' find myself with a lack of morals although I sometimes find myself with moral conumdrums and sometimes my moral compas is like that of Cpt Jack Sparrow, in that it points to what I want rather than whats a particularly "good" thing. But then one of the things about following a path such as Wicca is that it makes you conciously think about morality and what good and bad/evil actually mean.

Have your ever read The Tao of Pooh? Or Buddhism for Sheep? The Tao of Pooh, looks at Taoism via the medium of Winnie the Pooh, its a whimsically wise book. Buddhism for Sheep is a short book using the life of sheep as a metaphor for Zen Buddhism. Both of these books should be easy reading and a good way to start exploring spirituality.

I think an atheist religion is a contradiction, I get where de Boton is coming from, and it's been a conundrum for humanists and atheists for many many years, how do you have morality without a deity to enforce it? Personally I find it quite easy, our deities don't enforce in the way a monotheistic deity does, or at least what priests tell us pleases their god to punish or allow.

A lot of Christianity is based around Plato and Neo-Platonism, so you may find those interesting.

Cinnabar_wing said:

I don't want to offend anyone, but I find so often they are used by some people to persecute those who don't share the same faith (or even within it, tp create inequality and privilege, such as by gender).

Exactly! Some religions have marginalised 50% of the faithful by gender alone. For too long women have been written out of the history of religions. Religion has been used to control populations and influence those who have political power or civil control. I recognise though that some religions have done a lot of good but I don’t think it’s possible weigh up the arguments for and against religion to reach a credible conclusion one way or the other. Many people will have a personal opinion on that. 

Man made God in his own image (The Golden Bough, Frazer)

I don’t know of any books on spirituality without religion.

I read a few of Alain de Botton books years ago and liked how he integrated philosophical teaching into modern day life and illustrated the use of philosophical teachings with practical examples.  

I’m an ex Catholic (I’m biased) and agnostic, and someone who used be involved in Fransiscan spirituality and later Ignatian spirituality.  I’m interested in religion and I’m currently reading The Lost art of Scripture by Karen Armstrong. It is probably not what you are looking for but the author has written many books on different religions and spirituality, drawing on their various teachings. She is a theologian and used to be a Roman Catholic nun and her journey resonate with parts of my own spiritual journey. I don’t know if she is Christian or not now, but I do remember her talking about her difficulties with taking the Bible literally and doesn’t consider it factually true. 

She has written a number of books which you could check out on Amazon.

If you are interested in climate change and nature you might like to read a sample of this book  https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/443025/sacred-nature-by-armstrong-karen/9781529114799

Alain de Botton thinks highly of her. 

'Karen Armstrong is one of the handful of wise and supremely commentators on religion' Alain de Botton

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Armstrong

Marianne72 said:

So, why not use these to form a religion for atheists [those who do not formally believe in a God but want 'morals' to live by]

That is something I would be interested in, although I wouldn’t want to be resistant to good morals just because they come from Hinduism, Christianity etc. At the moment I think of myself as a follower of Jesus as a man rather than as God. He appeals because of his concern for the marginalised and because some of his moral teachings are relevant today. Also, I have known of him all my life, but I am not a Christian. Have you read the writings of Rumi? 

I tend to bundle together different spiritualities that resonate with me and I practice meditation. 

I don't have any books or philosophers to recommend, but interested in the book you mention by Botton so might check it out some point. I am not religious, I don't want to offend anyone, but I find so often they are used by some people to persecute those who don't share the same faith (or even within it, tp create inequality and privilege, such as by gender). I know many use religion as a source for doing good, which is beneficial to the wider world too, so I don't think they are bad in general.

I've always preferred to live by my own moral code (basically be kind to everyone), or as you suggest, find the good bits and leave out the parts I find troublesome. The world itself is troublesome, so I can see why still having some guidance is beneficial.

EDIT: I think there is some philosophy that Bill Gates and his wife follow, which involves philanthropy, and they are busy trying to make sure all their money is given away and want to live modestly. (Their foundation has issues, but the idea bilionaires don't need to sit on billions is good). I think things like this help us see the value in life over materials, which is counter to the way the world is run.