My experience with forum theists, much like you can see in this thread, is that of trying to communicate with a simpleton.

Part of that is due to the people you've chosen to attempt to communicate with. If you only respond to the mystical theism of Robin Agrees, the posts by the now-banned cwocwoc, and the whatever that shahrad is, you might find that to be the case.

My mystical theism as you called it, is simply a wanting to be better. That is to say a better mindset and attitude towards life.

Sounds like self-improvement/self-help to me. Why is it required (by some) that the notion of self-help attach itself to 'spirituality' in order for it to have real impact?

I should have been more explicit in my last post, but the point to what I've outlined is that - whether a self exists or not - is not important. For all intents and purposes, belief in this knowledge is without utility - useless (unless you can demonstrate otherwise). What's important (in terms of beliefs) is that which gives noticeable utility: locus of control internality in my example. Whether that's a false belief or not, makes no difference, because the belief is at least important. Important to one's physical, psychological and material condition.

If I instead adopt the belief that there is no self, then locus of control internality would clash with this belief - by its very definition that I outlined, - and I would miss out on the benefits of holding this belief, since I would now need to drop it. I'm not sure about you, but I don't do well with holding conflicting beliefs.

Lastly, utility is not only defined by other beliefs. Is the utility that I observe by eating food only defined by other beliefs? No, its also defined by biological needs. Similarly, aspects of psychological welfare are in part defined by biological needs.

Science when applied is about the objective findings, that is to say that they can produce pills (and talk therapy) to help everyone as a general rule, as a one type fits all, as a rough average but helps no one specifically.

So when I talk about these matters I general refer to a subjective personal quest and journey for whoever to discover for themselves this "thing" and I can only suggest things that are based on my experience that I can point to, which in truth might not help the person at all but they might find things that are similar that they may relate to. Because at the end of the day the single person is ultimately the only judge to base his/her reality and belief system.

Because that's what we are talking about really when someone wakes up the morning they say to themselves "I believe today is going to be a great day and I believe it is worth living for".

So all that what I have just wrote and in the posts above gives you a general feeling of what I mean when I say spirituality and you are totally free to give it a scientific name if you wish because you see and experience the same "thing" (god, life, reality etc..)

I might not have found the answer in science but you might do (to help with the inner subjective experience you are having) as you research and test the outer world and if so I wish you luck in your personal journey but I'm willing to bet you will find similar ideas about this "thing" (God, life, reality, whatever take your pick of word) as I do but you will use different language and words and that is one of the problems because something is lost in communication and the reason why is because we are seeing and experiencing the exact same thing we just don't agree on the choice of words. The best language is to say nothing at all and just experience (and even that is too many words)

Don't forget the ones who go "today is going to be a ****ty day and I believe it is worth living for".

Appreciate the genuine response here but your choice of words is not an issue so loose as a bag a leaves on a windy day, tied together by a shoe-string.

Your words shape your perception and perspective, just as strongly as your emotions do. Words not only come with specific meanings but they also come with connotations. So choosing to use words that commonly connote with non-concepts or vaguely defined concepts is like creating a reality that's increasingly confusing - for yourself and your thoughts and decision-making processes (both conscious and sub-conscious).

I understand it may be cooler to tell others that "I had a magical/mystical/spiritual experience" rather than "I had an epiphany". It may be cooler to tell others that "I spiritually-developed" rather than "I improved on myself" and so on and so forth. But every time you choose use these loosely-defined words over words that have specific meanings you're choosing confusion over clarity. And the more often you continue to do so, the less capable you become of acknowledging the difference.

There definitely seems to be some arrogant, condescending, clap-trap being spouted in this thread, OP.

So stop it.

Well robin maybe you should try to try a little less[because i think, you try to a little to hard] no offence meant.

And maybe try to help other people[if you not doing so already i don't know] with things you are good in, it has happened you know that by helping others, your own problems?, bothers, worries come to be clearer by just not thinking about them for a while.

And being the best you can be, meaning for me trying to do good by helping others can make you look at your own live different, and can help, and maybe better it, and frankly being the best you can be is never wrong.

Just some well meant advice, it helps me, and it helps others a win-win in my book.

Thanks for that. I will continue to grow and learn that fair enough I guess. At this point in my life I want to chose uplifting words, positive words to help change my current/past thought pattern habits. Thoughts, emotions and actions are all closely linked, if I can change one I influence the other.

Yes. Choose a positive reality and learn more positive words. Adds some light to the ocean of darkness. Life's entirely yours to shape so you may as well choose a happy one. You seem fairly aware of this already though, you'll do fine.