"spiritual but not religous"

[Oscarthecat]

Short and simple:

What are your ideas on the statement “I’m spiritual but not religious.”

I think that this statement presents an impossible circumstance. Spirituality and religion can’t really be separated because religion is a spirituality which a group of people (could be 10 people, could be 10 million) agree upon and participate in. I think that those who claim to be “spiritual but not religious” are really just trying to be a “one-person religion” where they make the rules and attempt to define God in their own image.

 

[JC_Nixon]

Short and simple:

What are your ideas on the statement “I’m spiritual but not religious.”

It’s a cop out.

IMHO, if you are truly spritual, then the Holy spirit will draw you to become more holy or, if you like, religious. There is no getting away from it.

 

[Eileen_T]

That’s my take on it too.

 

[mrs_abbott]

Short and simple:

What are your ideas on the statement “I’m spiritual but not religious.”

I think that this statement presents an impossible circumstance. Spirituality and religion can’t really be separated because religion is a spirituality which a group of people (could be 10 people, could be 10 million) agree upon and participate in. I think that those who claim to be “spiritual but not religious” are really just trying to be a “one-person religion” where they make the rules and attempt to define God in their own image.

Depends on how absolutely technical you want to get but I believe, personally, that someone can be spiritual and not religious. Spirituality is being “in tune” with a higher being that has no physical presence in the world. Granted, if one was spiritual, naturally you’d think that would lead them to religion of some sort. It is possible, in my opinion, to have one without the other.

 

[fix]

Short and simple:

What are your ideas on the statement “I’m spiritual but not religious.”

Perhaps a bit cynical but it mostly seems to mean one claims to believe in some higher force, yet refuses to accept that “force” ordains we act, or not act, in certain ways. In other words we claim to believe in a god, but a god that does not make us change the way we lead our lives.

 

[Genesis315]

In most instances, it means they practice some kind of vague variant of a New Age religion they personally made up rather than one of the the mainstream world religions–although it may have some loose connection to one of those religions. It’s just more post-modern insanity.

 

[mikew262]

Depends on how absolutely technical you want to get but I believe, personally, that someone can be spiritual and not religious. Spirituality is being “in tune” with a higher being that has no physical presence in the world. Granted, if one was spiritual, naturally you’d think that would lead them to religion of some sort. It is possible, in my opinion, to have one without the other.

I more or less agree. I have found people who say they are spiritual, but not religious mean they feel they have a connection to a higher power, usually God, but have no use for the formal religious denominations with all their various rules and interpretations.

I will not question or judge their intent. To me a person’s relationship with God is a personal thing, and none of my business.

 

[Scottgun]

Being spiritual is natural to man, so saying one is spiritual does not mean anything worthwhile.

Scott

 

[StratusRose]

It means, “I don’t like the rules and morals that religion imposes on me, so I make up my own set of rules that I live by.” I’ve heard this said by fallen away Catholics who want to practice birth control, support homosexual marriage, see the irrelevance of confession, etc, etc.

Or, “Religion has caused so many wars that I don’t want to be associated with.”

JC Nixon hit the nail on the head, it’s a cop out.

 

[mrs_abbott]

I more or less agree. I have found people who say they are spiritual, but not religious mean they feel they have a connection to a higher power, usually God, but have no use for the formal religious denominations with all their various rules and interpretations.

I will not question or judge their intent. To me a person’s relationship with God is a personal thing, and none of my business.

So true. That’s where I was a couple of years ago. It’s where most agnostics are today.

 

[mikew262]

It means, “I don’t like the rules and morals that religion imposes on me, so I make up my own set of rules that I live by.” I’ve heard this said by fallen away Catholics who want to practice birth control, support homosexual marriage, see the irrelevance of confession, etc, etc.

Or, “Religion has caused so many wars that I don’t want to be associated with.”

JC Nixon hit the nail on the head, it’s a cop out.

In your opinion.

I’m sure with some folks you are right, but again I feel one can have a genuine connection and relationship to God without formally belonging to a specific denomination.

BTW, I sensed a little anger and bitterness in your response. Does it bother you that somebody may actually be able to have a meaningful relationship with God, yet not belong to any specific denomination?

 

[mikew262]

So true. That’s where I was a couple of years ago. It’s where most agnostics are today.

Hmm… agnostics are not sure that God exists or doesn’t exist, but can’t prove it one way or another. I think most folks who claim to be spiritual know a higher power/God exists and has established a relationship, they just don’t follow any formal guidelines as far as worship is concerned.

Again, I try not to judge. I don’t want God asking me someday, How do you know what kind of relationship I had with So and So? Remember the speck and the plank question?

 

[StratusRose]

In your opinion.

I’m sure with some folks you are right, but again I feel one can have a genuine connection and relationship to God without formally belonging to a specific denomination.

BTW, I sensed a little anger and bitterness in your response. Does it bother you that somebody may actually be able to have a meaningful relationship with God, yet not belong to any specific denomination?

Uh no. I’m a lover not a fighter. To each his own.

This OP asked for our ideas, implying it was my own opinion.

 

[a_cermak]

I’ve known a lot of people who are spiritual but not religious. Frequently it’s because they’ve developed a jaundiced view of the various faith communities out there. I’ve not known them to lead more crime-prone lives or to hold to lesser sets of ethics than the religious people I’ve known.

 

[Trelow]

It’s when one understands that there is a power greater than themselves, but to proud to admit it.

 

[mrs_abbott]

Hmm… agnostics are not sure that God exists or doesn’t exist, but can’t prove it one way or another. I think most folks who claim to be spiritual know a higher power/God exists and has established a relationship, they just don’t follow any formal guidelines as far as worship is concerned.

Again, I try not to judge. I don’t want God asking me someday, How do you know what kind of relationship I had with So and So? Remember the speck and the plank question?

Maybe agnostic was not the word I was searching for.
Every time I think of just spiritual folks, I picture the hippies in my head.
God will judge us all according to our own lives. He doesn’t have a criteria book and a checklist that He’s going to run down. He’s going to look at each and every one of us individually and see how we lived our lives for Him.

 

[mikew262]

God will judge us all according to our own lives. He doesn’t have a criteria book and a checklist that He’s going to run down. He’s going to look at each and every one of us individually and see how we lived our lives for Him.

I agree with you.

 

[fix]

God will judge us all according to our own lives. He doesn’t have a criteria book and a checklist that He’s going to run down. He’s going to look at each and every one of us individually and see how we lived our lives for Him.

That is a judgement. We all will be judged. The OP raised the issue about a specific type of view that is common in this age. The idea is that organized religion, any type, is not necessary or is wrong. The argument goes on to intend we each can believe in god without having to follow any specfic “rules”.

Is that not a recipe for moral relativism? Is that not a way to claim some sort of allgience to a higher power but absolve oneself of any personal responsibility accept to the extent one decides is necessary by their own power?

 

[carol_marie]

I think of Oprah.

Very “spiritual” whatever that means… but certainly not into Jesus from what I can tell. Yet, she was raised Baptist so she had to have heard all about Him - but she doesn’t seem to consider herself a Christian - at least not that I’ve ever heard her say.

 

[mrs_abbott]

Is that not a recipe for moral relativism? Is that not a way to claim some sort of allgience to a higher power but absolve oneself of any personal responsibility accept to the extent one decides is necessary by their own power?

Maybe. Maybe not. That’s not relevant to the question at hand. The question is “can someone be spiritual and not religious?” and vice versa.
What’s your view on that?