Bo Lozoff claims that spirituality is not “optional” in ethics, and I would have to agree with him, for the most part. Doing what’s right without an incentive is acting ethically. That’s very similar to the spirituality belief. The belief that God, the all knowing, ever present and caring Lord, helps guide the lives of those on Earth without ever wanting anything in return. Even those atheists, or non-believers, have to admit that a higher power has affected their lives in some way, may it be getting that job or that promotion, or marrying the women or man of their dreams. Placing luck at the front of every occurrence should never be done; acknowledging that somewhere down the road someone has helped you out is inevitable. The help may come from another being or an animal that calms the soul; help can come from the least expected of places. God truly does act in miraculous ways and by unexpected messengers.
I do believe an ethical person can be profound and meaningful without necessarily being spiritual. When a friend is truly hurting, as a result of a tremendous loss or life altering occurrence, sometimes just being there makes all the difference in the world. Sometimes not saying a word can make a world of difference. Helping a friend through this dreadful time does not always need an inspirational speech or a scripture reading revealing “God’s Plan”. Another example would be when a pedestrian walks into the intersection where an oncoming car is quickly approaching. A bystander grabs him by the collar pulling him backward just in time to avoid the car. This near death experience was all prevented because of the actions of this bystander. The bystander acted ethically, based on the principles that he/she did not expect anything in return for ...