Spiritual not religious

Vanellus · Tuesday at 4:31 PM

Statements along the lines "I'm spiritual not religious" are often made these days. But in the case of true rather than nominal religion isn't this a contradiction? How can one be truly religious but not spiritual especially with regard to the Christian faith which involves being indwelt by the Holy Spirit?

seeking.IAM · Tuesday at 8:21 PM

When someone says, "I am spiritual, not religious," I am afraid I don't really understand anymore after they spoke than before. :scratch:

2PhiloVoid · Tuesday at 8:23 PM

Vanellus said:
Statements along the lines "I'm spiritual not religious" are often made these days. But in the case of true rather than nominal religion isn't this a contradiction? How can one be truly religious but not spiritual especially with regard to the Christian faith which involves being indwelt by the Holy Spirit?

Of those individuals whom I've bumped into over the past few decades who've given me a line like that, what they typically meant was they had loose beliefs which comport more to New Age sorts of ideas rather than to Christianity per say.

I've never spoken to a Christian who said, "I'm spiritual but not religious."

NBB · Wednesday at 8:33 AM

well to defend it a bit a person could be religious, like having a religion, or following customs or something, or like the pharises like they were vrey religious, but being christian is having God in you. The life of the Spirit etc.

dms1972 · Wednesday at 10:21 AM

I think it refers more to the new spiritualities. But the statement without further elaboration doesn't really tell one where anyone is at.

"Spirituality" as such can be merely horizontal, soulish, and of this world. Christian spirituality is more vertical - with Christ Jesus as the Mediator.

1 Timothy 2:5 - A Call to Prayer

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

biblehub.com

"It is theologically proper to assert that God is essentially and primarily transcendent and secondarily immanent. This is to say, he is above us before he is within us, and beneath us." Donald G. Bloesch

To think of God as "above us" is not to speak of a three storey universe as such, its to use height as a symbol of the divine transcendence.

com7fy8 · Wednesday at 11:11 AM

Vanellus said:
Statements along the lines "I'm spiritual not religious" are often made these days. But in the case of true rather than nominal religion isn't this a contradiction? How can one be truly religious but not spiritual especially with regard to the Christian faith which involves being indwelt by the Holy Spirit?

2PhiloVoid said:
Of those individuals whom I've bumped into over the past few decades who've given me a line like that, what they typically meant was they had loose beliefs which comport more to New Age sorts of ideas rather than to Christianity per say.

Yup . . . I would hope to hear someone speak for oneself, about what the person means.

If the "I'm spiritual" thing means the person leaves Jesus out . . . uh-uh.

Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (in John 14:6)

So, Jesus is the only way to God. And Jesus is spiritual, in the way of how God Himself is spiritual > Jesus Himself has said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father," in John 14:9, plus, "All things that the Father has are Mine," in John 16:15.

However, there is "the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience," we have in Ephesians 2:2.

So, whose spirit are you of? You are sharing with someone invisible - - - with God or with someone who is not God.

"But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him." (1 Corinthians 6:17)

"'Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'" (Matthew 11:29)

There is the spirit of disobedience which "works" (Ephesians 2:2) to have people disobey how Jesus cares for us in His "rest for your souls".

However, with Jesus, we have rest with His almighty power against any and all cruel and negative and nasty feelings and wrong ways of thinking. And we share personally with God in His own peace ruling us in our hearts . . . as every child of God is commanded >

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

So, when somebody claims to be spiritual, I am checking to see if this is what the person means

com7fy8 · Wednesday at 11:24 AM

Vanellus said:
Statements along the lines "I'm spiritual not religious" are often made these days.

There are Bible claiming people who say they are "born again", and not "religious". But you need to make sure what they mean. Because it is written >

"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27)

If unbelievers say they are not religious, they often mean they do not believe in Jesus and the Bible. But if a born-again person claims to not be religious, the person might not know about James 1:27, and could mean the person does not hold to the practices of a certain organized denominational group.

So - - I like to get to know someone and let the person speak for oneself.

SavedByGrace3 · Thursday at 2:07 AM

I see it the other way. People who say they are spiritual, but not religious.
I was saved during the "Jesus Movement" among the youth in the late 60s and early 70s. There was an undertone of disdain for "organized" religion and rituals. That was a long 55 years ago. I now see the usefulness of organized religion and rituals. They help us apply our spiritual faith in practice. They add continuity to our day-to-day faith and lives. All the while realizing that the spiritual is the core. It is the spiritual that matters. The religion and the rituals are just outward manifestations of the faith. They help with "reminding" us of the practical matters of our lives and the spiritual. They are not a substitute. But they are the clothing that displays who and what we are.

Vanellus · Thursday at 5:16 PM

Now does anyone say "I'm religious but not spiritual"? Well it could be refreshing honesty and humility. But I've never heard anyone say that.

The "spiritual not religious" can be a veiled attack on Christianity meaning a disbelief in Christianity but still holding a belief in something (or someone) beyond the material world. Of course there are some people who profess Christian belief but lack genuine faith.

As for James 1:27 - true but not the entirety of Christianity e.g. Mt 28:19,20.

RaymondG · Thursday at 7:43 PM

One can be spiritual and religious at the same time and likewise, one can be religious and not spiritual at all. However, most people who use the phrase in the OP mean that they believe in God but do not follow all the rules of religion and, most likely, do not go to the Church often, if at all. In Truth, those who walk after the spirit, do not concern themselves with these labels. They do not label themselves or others and are not concern with the labels given to them.

For those who have an ear.... One becomes spiritual when they start to walk after and concern themselves mainly with the things that are unseen, knowing it is on earth.....as it is in Heaven. When this is understood, nothing else exists and nothing else matters.

weary2025 · Thursday at 9:09 PM

To me it means that a person is spiritual and doesn't follow man made religion

Vanellus · 2026-02-20T06:18:30-0600

RaymondG said:
One can be spiritual and religious at the same time and likewise, one can be religious and not spiritual at all. However, most people who use the phrase in the OP mean that they believe in God but do not follow all the rules of religion and, most likely, do not go to the Church often, if at all. In Truth, those who walk after the spirit, do not concern themselves with these labels. They do not label themselves or others and are not concern with the labels given to them.

For those who have an ear.... One becomes spiritual when they start to walk after and concern themselves mainly with the things that are unseen, knowing it is on earth.....as it is in Heaven. When this is understood, nothing else exists and nothing else matters.

I agree about not using labels but when others make the OP statement I ask myself what do they mean?

RileyG · 2026-02-20T10:30:12-0600

I think it means they don’t follow any organized religion but, for a lack of a better word, choose their own spirituality.

Strong in Him · 2026-02-20T14:35:09-0600

Vanellus said:
How can one be truly religious but not spiritual especially with regard to the Christian faith which involves being indwelt by the Holy Spirit?

Quite easily, I should think.

For me, religion = going to church out of duty, obeying the rules and a long list of "thou shalt nots". It means empty traditions and practices - "God prefers the KJV, you know" - getting involved in church committees and good works in the hope that they "might make it to heaven" one day.
Someone can behave like that and give lip service to church doctrines without opening a Bible for themselves, understanding that God loves them, wants a relationship with them and can live IN them. They may be faithful churchgoers but challenge them on knowledge of the Bible or why certain doctrines are important, and they won't know the answer.
That was me as a teenager/young adult - sincere, but sincerely trying to win God's approval. I've seen this too often in others as well.

Alternatively, "religious" could be a Dot Cotton type. Dot was a character in "Eastenders", a British soap opera. She was disapproving, judged others, flung Bible verses around like confetti and said "I aint one for gossip ...." while doing just that.

If someone asks if I am religious, I say, "no, but I am a Christian."

JustaPewFiller · 2026-02-20T15:00:22-0600

2PhiloVoid said:
Of those individuals whom I've bumped into over the past few decades who've given me a line like that, what they typically meant was they had loose beliefs which comport more to New Age sorts of ideas rather than to Christianity per say.

I've never spoken to a Christian who said, "I'm spiritual but not religious."

I'd generally agree with that.

I've seen it fall into 4 camps...

1. The basically New Age camp that you mention.
2. The hodge-podge of stuff camp. For example, a young lady I know that says she is a Christian, but seems to borrow a dollop of this or that from New Age or other faiths.
3. The "I believe in God, but I don't want to hear a lecture. Now leave me alone." camp.
4. The "I feel I am a Christian, but I don't like or have had a bad experience in church and I'm never going back in one again." camp.

weary2025 · 2026-02-20T15:03:53-0600

JustaPewFiller said:
I'd generally agree with that.

I've seen it fall into 4 camps...

1. The basically New Age camp that you mention.
2. The hodge-podge of stuff camp. For example, a young lady I know that says she is a Christian, but seems to borrow a dollop of this or that from New Age or other faiths.
3. The "I believe in God, but I don't want to hear a lecture. Now leave me alone." camp.
4. The "I feel I am a Christian, but I don't like or have had a bad experience in church and I'm never going back in one again." camp.

I dont blame number 4 necessarily

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