Spiritual not religious

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

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?

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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."

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.

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.


"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.

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?

Click to expand...

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.

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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

Vanellus said:

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

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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.

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.