Has today's society lost its sense of spirituality?

[Bekamom]

I was just wondering if anyone else felt like you were the only one around in your circle that feels excited about your religion and is intense about it and would give up material life for a closer relationship with God? I mean my friends and family are happy for me in my choices but nobody seems to wanna talk about religion or God its like something you shouldn’t talk about or something as if talking about the lastest movie was more important. I think most of today’s society has lost its sense of spirituality. Any Thoughts?

 

[Lutheranteach]

Spiritual? I think today’s culture is more spiritual than ever. IT is, however, less religious.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Spiritual? I think today’s culture is more spiritual than ever. IT is, however, less religious.

I agree.

I think people are spiritual, at least in the sense of “can’t we all get along” or “let’s be nice to one another.” There’s a form of spirituality that informs the environmental movement and the vegetarian movement, among others.

But “religion” seems to take the form of rules and that’s where things break down. I get the impression people don’t want to be held to rules about morality or worship or other things. Generalities are OK because there are always exceptions, but rules are hard to accept.

 

[JackVk]

But “religion” seems to take the form of rules and that’s where things break down. I get the impression people don’t want to be held to rules about morality or worship or other things. Generalities are OK because there are always exceptions, but rules are hard to accept.

Absolutely. I’m very open about my religion, and everybody thinks I’m a prude, a buzz-killer, and there’s the classical oxymoron: “jesus freak”, which says anyone who tries to be a good person is somehow a “freak”.

 

[wisdomseeker]

I was just wondering if anyone else felt like you were the only one around in your circle that feels excited about your religion and is intense about it and would give up material life for a closer relationship with God? I mean my friends and family are happy for me in my choices but nobody seems to wanna talk about religion or God its like something you shouldn’t talk about or something as if talking about the lastest movie was more important. I think most of today’s society has lost its sense of spirituality. Any Thoughts?

yes. i agree with you that people have lost the Spirituality. i go through the same as you. no one wants to talk about religion. the say, it is a private matter. it is your belief and this is my belief as long as it remains this way, we all be ok with each other.

i hardly hear anything about the Spirit. it is all the human person. so we have become very humanistic speaking. of course if we emphasize more of the human person instead of God’s plan of Salvation, spirituality will be lost.

 

[jmcrae]

I was just wondering if anyone else felt like you were the only one around in your circle that feels excited about your religion and is intense about it and would give up material life for a closer relationship with God? I mean my friends and family are happy for me in my choices but nobody seems to wanna talk about religion or God its like something you shouldn’t talk about or something as if talking about the lastest movie was more important. I think most of today’s society has lost its sense of spirituality. Any Thoughts?

It’s always been considered rude to discuss sex, politics, and religion at social gatherings, because these things tend to degenerate into argumentative debates. So, part of what you’re seeing may simply be people being polite, and keeping the conversation light and sociable.

People today are probably more spiritual than they were in previous decades, but their spirituality has become very unstructured, in a lot of cases, which would account for another part of the uncomfortableness that you’re encountering.

The good news is, more young people are going to Church, and finding meaning in the rituals that they encounter there.

 

[ProVobis]

Spiritual? I think today’s culture is more spiritual than ever. IT is, however, less religious.

How true. We seem to be looking for that right culture (be it a Polish event, a Spanish Mass, Transcendental Meditation, yoga, townhall meetings, etc.) to attain the right spirituality level than religion.

 

[Bekamom]

I love the responses and I understand that it is not always appropiate to speak about religion. However it is a big part of my personal life and I am going to continue to be devout. I like this forum because it allows me to discuss things otherwise I cannot. I love the internet…: )

 

[Rence]

It’s always been considered rude to discuss sex, politics, and religion at social gatherings, because these things tend to degenerate into argumentative debates. So, part of what you’re seeing may simply be people being polite, and keeping the conversation light and sociable.

I agree with you. Talking about religion at social gatherings tends to turn into arguments over which religion is the “True” and “Right” religion, and who is going to heaven and who is not based on religion, and conflicts over teachings especially when teachings conflict from religion to religion.

People today are probably more spiritual than they were in previous decades, but their spirituality has become very unstructured, in a lot of cases, which would account for another part of the uncomfortableness that you’re encountering.

I know a LOT more spiritual people than “religious” people who pray regularly but don’t like the confines of structured religion. I find that even amoung Catholics, they don’t like to talk about Catholicism or religion because of these reasons. For example, arguing over whether to how they take Communion, or where they go to Mass, whether or not they attend Latin Masses, etc. makes people defensive about their choices because no matter what the choice is, someone will argue with them that that choice isn’t good enough or right. It makes talking about religion uncomfortable and unpleasant, and leads to bad feelings.

 

[Thomas58]

Well, there is no such thing as a “dogma-less” religion. I think people who are “spiritual” but not “religious” want something to believe in. They want something to make them feel good about themselves but don’t want to be confined to any dogma or rules to govern their moral lives. They want to live their lives according to their own rules or morals, but yet be “spiritual”. In other words they want their cake and to eat it too! They want a religion of their own making without any rules or dogma.

 

[Rence]

Well, there is no such thing as a “dogma-less” religion. I think people who are “spiritual” but not “religious” want something to believe in. They want something to make them feel good about themselves but don’t want to be confined to any dogma or rules to govern their moral lives. They want to live their lives according to their own rules or morals, but yet be “spiritual”. In other words they want their cake and to eat it too! They want a religion of their own making without any rules or dogma.

And I don’t blame them. It’s not easy to live under another’s “authority”, so they simply do not subject themselves to it. That doesn’t mean they have “loose” morals, it means they don’t like find themselves in a tug-of-war or otherwise to be told what to do, what to feel, what to think, and what to say, about everything. It gets old…even for those who actually try to follow the rules as best they can.

 

[Thomas58]

And I don’t blame them. It’s not easy to live under another’s “authority”, so they simply do not subject themselves to it. That doesn’t mean they have “loose” morals, it means they don’t like find themselves in a tug-of-war or otherwise to be told what to do, what to feel, what to think, and what to say, about everything. It gets old…even for those who actually try to follow the rules as best they can.

I’m sorry. I’m not sure I understand your response. Are you saying that there is no objective truth, and that people should be able to pick and choose whatever they feel is moral or right for them? You know, the “you have your truth, and I have my truth” mentality.

The promise of Satan to the human race was that you shall be like God having the knowledge of good and evil. You, like God, will be able to determine for yourself what is true and good and not have to follow the commandments of God.

God creates the truth because He is the creator; and something is true because it conforms to Him and His will. He creates the good because He is all good. His very nature is truth and good. We must follow the truth, we must pursue the good, because we ourselves are not the source of truth and good. For that there must be an authority. We cannot be our own authority of what is true and good because we are not the source of truth and good.

The modern world believes in no objective truth. The rejection of objective truth is the most characterizing aspect of the modern world in the last 200 years. The destruction in mans mind that there is an objective truth and good that must be adhered to is the disease that has infected the entire human race.

 

[OneFaith2010]

I was just wondering if anyone else felt like you were the only one around in your circle that feels excited about your religion and is intense about it and would give up material life for a closer relationship with God? I mean my friends and family are happy for me in my choices but nobody seems to wanna talk about religion or God its like something you shouldn’t talk about or something as if talking about the lastest movie was more important. I think most of today’s society has lost its sense of spirituality. Any Thoughts?

I agree with the others that being “spiritual” and being “religious” are not synonymous. Society, particularly American society today, is coming apart at the seams due to the immorality of the people. Our world must ask more than ever for God’s divine mercy and forgiveness.

 

[Bekamom]

I so agree with you I think we could all use soon divine assistance

 

[rapunzel77]

I think that most people know there is something missing in their lives however they have had very little direction as to where to go, even for those who grew up Catholic or in another religion so they wander aimlessly, hoping to find a place where they are comfortable in. To often, people want to do things their own way and in their own time. I also understand the reason for many people’s adversions to “organized” religion. To them, it seems to “rigid” or judgmental. They don’t want to be told what to do, especially in regards to sexual morality.

I think that most people are not “materialists”. They do think there must be something else out there or something transcending their own existence. There are a lot of people who are searching and sadly not finding what they seek . We need to do a better job to attract them. Granted, it is ultimately the Holy Spirit that will set them on the road to conversion but we should set a good example. It all comes down to loving others. We need to show more love.

 

[johnthebaptist1]

I was just wondering if anyone else felt like you were the only one around in your circle that feels excited about your religion and is intense about it and would give up material life for a closer relationship with God? I mean my friends and family are happy for me in my choices but nobody seems to wanna talk about religion or God its like something you shouldn’t talk about or something as if talking about the lastest movie was more important. I think most of today’s society has lost its sense of spirituality. Any Thoughts?

.My friend, you are right, people are more interested in the matieral things that they
can have than worring about there savlation of there soul.
And talking about GOD,when I try too talk religion too my son,s they get a additude,
And my wife say,s I pray too much,but I tell them praying is good for the soul and keep
us closer to GOD, I tell them that I don,t worry about this world, I,am waiting for my time
too go too a better world. As Jesus said ,follow me for I can give you true happens, so
I wait tell God call,s me home

 

[johnthebaptist1]

I was just wondering if anyone else felt like you were the only one around in your circle that feels excited about your religion and is intense about it and would give up material life for a closer relationship with God? I mean my friends and family are happy for me in my choices but nobody seems to wanna talk about religion or God its like something you shouldn’t talk about or something as if talking about the lastest movie was more important. I think most of today’s society has lost its sense of spirituality. Any Thoughts?

.My friend, you are right, people are more interested in the matieral things that they
can have than worring about there savlation of there soul.
And talking about GOD,when I try too talk religion too my son,s they get a additude,
And my wife say,s I pray too much,but I tell them praying is good for the soul and keep
us closer to GOD, I tell them that I don,t worry about this world, I,am waiting for my time
too go too a better world. As Jesus said ,follow me for I can give you true happens, so
I wait tell God call,s me home
GOD BLESS

 

[Robert_Burns]

Spiritual? I think today’s culture is more spiritual than ever. IT is, however, less religious.

Well said. Very well said. I think that belief in GOD is as strong as ever - but the lack of outrage over the number of and obvious blatent disregard for the commandments of GOD reflects this.

 

[Bekamom]

Well I have found my path and am happy in my choice. I hope that others can truly feel god in their lives and in their hearts like I can and not be ashamed to show it. this has been a long time comingfor me and I am not about to let anyone take it away