I've noticed something really interesting among both Christians and non Christians (I don't think this shows up in atheists, but maybe). I don't know about you, but I've been hearing a lot of people who would say "I'm spiritual but I'm not religious." This statement is not only spoken by non-Christians, but there are some Christians who would say this as well.

So here's my question to discuss: What does it mean when someone says this?

Here's the thing. I do believe that as Christians, we are to be both spiritual and religious. Spiritual in that we continue to seek and develop a closer relationship to God as individuals and religious because we do believe in a God of truth and don't just make up what God is like. In our study of scripture and fellowship with other Christians, we are to seek the truth of God and to worship Him.

When someone says they are spiritual but not religious they are saying they have an open mind in terms of other realms but are not sold on the idea of handing over their spirit for religion to control. Being spiritual opens up your mind while being religious does the opposite.

If you have too much religion in your spirit you are an extremist. If you have some religion in you then you are borderline extremist or below. If you have no religion in you then you are an open box and the world is what you want be. If not, then you are a closed box with duct tape all over it and nothing will convince you otherwise.

lol @ jigsaw.
Spiritual is the idea of some kind of force or power, not necessarily god, it seems like the kind of thing
Elara :
would associate with tbh, im not certain though, either way i think she could probably make a better point on this than i can because my distinction on it is not clear drawn either.

I am spiritual. I just connect myself with nature, and enjoy the abundance of nature around me. People call me a hippy I believe there is a higher power, I just don't want to call it God. I feel like if music wasn't around, the world wouldn't exist. Everything makes a sound, even if you cant hear. You can still feel vibrations, which is sound traveling through an object. Our body makes noise, whether your stomach grumbles, and even when your blood flows through your body. I just believe this, but I also believe there is someone up there, but I don't know who.

tbh?

The main group of people that could best explain "spiritual but not religious" I would think are Agnostics. They believe that there is some kind of greater power, but not necessarily "God". For many others, the difference for them is that religion implies a lot of trappings that they may not want to be associated with... like Christians that don't go to church but still believe in God, or Pagans that don't perform rituals on every single holiday and full moon (I fall into that later category).

In short, for many people, spiritual is internal, religion is external.

From a christian perspective. I think it is referring to a personal relationship with Christ. It is the kind of emphasis my own church puts on Christianity. To more emphasis on the heart and less on a religious practice. Not to say religious works don't matter, just that you need a Christ following heart otherwise such acts are empty and legalistic or "religious".

JigSaw : I'm happy to be an extremist for Christ.  The world can label me how they will, I am a Jesus freak.

mrfe :  Love it!!!!

I am an extremist as well.  (Anyone surprised?  )

To stay on topic however....
play4fun, I've always hated the term 'religious'.  I've never described myself as a 'religious' person, but as a person who has a relationship with Christ.  To me, this takes the focus off my own doings and accomplishments, and places it back on God.  It's also a much better and accurate description for true Christians.

As for the term 'spiritual' however, I've never quite understood that one.  I think the secular world views it as some kind of hippy movement, but for those that are saved, the term can't really be described with words easily now can it? LOL

play4fun : I have heard people use that phrase also. Myself I consider myself to be semi-religious. I do not go to church physically but I do try and observe mass online on a regular basis and I do believe in god and pray daily.

I think the reason some people choose to say things like that may have to do with their stance on organized religion and such. One of the primary reasons I do not physically go to church is because I do not believe in judging others regardless of what one has been through or, if someone lives differently than I do.

I read an article last week about the Westboro Baptist church which was planning to protest at the funerals of those who were killed at that Connecticut school shooting and such. I was thoroughly disgusted after reading some of the quotes from some of these people saying that they were protesting to among other things “Praise God, for carrying out his judgment” and such.

I believe when people see things like that they get turned off to the idea of church. As for me I don’t as I said believe in judging others and I do not have a tolerance for bigotry on any level. As for that church I hope they can sleep at night. Those children and adults did nothing to deserve what happened so I would really like a rational explanation as to how what happened was in any way God’s Judgment. I don’t get it and I don’t think I ever will but there are better things to do in life than disrespecting those who are gone as a means of garnering publicity for whatever cause they want to push. Just one man’s opinion.

play4fun : Well lets first take at look at how religion is defined; "religion is a collection of belief systems, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values".
Personally I believe that they're people out there who do not want to be categorized into a specific type of worship. Let's face it, they're about 4,000  different types of religions in the world. Depending on the type of person you are, and your background, your paradigms may not match any one religion. I will admit, personally for me keeping an open mind is  a must, and an essential part of my life.

                 Spirituality is a little bit easier to follow, let's see how it's defined; "spirituality is the concept of an ultimate or an alleged immaterial, reality. An inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the "deepest values and meanings by which people live". Not so much as a closed book, definitely more liberated and unbiased. This seems to be much easier for a person to follow, at least from my point of view it is. Hope this helps.

unknown0s : This is one of the places that I hear about this phrase from Christians. Do keep in mind though that he actually changed his mind about his poem because he understood that we are to love Jesus AND the Church. He actually thought that his poem was not theologically sound as he hoped.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2012/01/13/does-jesus-hate-religion-kinda-sorta-not-really/
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2012/01/14/following-up-on-the-jesusreligion-video/

Anyways, back to the topic.

Like I said before, Christians are suppose to be spiritual AND religious. I think that Elara is observing the same thing that I think I am observing. A lot of people think that being spiritual is internal and religious is external.

From the viewpoint of a Christian, I do believe that the Bible command Christians to be both. In our own time, we are to pray, studying God's Word, grow as a Christian, but at the same time, we are to fellowship with other Christians in church/youth group/Bible study, live your faith and to share the Gospel to others.

To those who are just religious, do you think you are in danger of being legalistic, going-through-the-motions, prideful, or being works-based rather than faith based.(working your way into heaven rather than trusting in God's Grace)?

To those who are just spiritual, do you think you are in danger of being lazy, not displaying your fruit, not growing in fellowship, or not focusing on believing and seeking truth?

bvd1022 : You might as well deem them to be non-Christians or a cult.

Could it simply mean there is spirituality outside your own? Even in Christian sense? Also there have been many ways to perceive "Christian sense" for the past 2000 years?

Sure i'm a christan but I don't go to church or read the bible, just belive in God.

servbot128 : So how would this be any different with someone who is not a Christian, not go to church, not read the Bible, but believe in God?

Brigand : You may have to define "spirituality in a Christian sense" for me in your context.

play4fun : Well fine sence you put like that.

play4fun :

I guess it means the belief in the holy trinity. The father, the son the holy ghost. Well,that leaves out some churches so maybe it would be the best to say a belief that Jesus is not only a historical figure or a prophet but that he is the son of god and the messiah.

I think this was the conclusion in some ecumenical meeting sometime in the past. Sorry if I cant refrence it right now. Though there are spirituality outside christianity too ofcource.

I've never herd of it before. :o But now I know what it means XD. 10/10

Its not a topic that interest me much, but i randomly came across this article today, I thought it was worth sharing:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20888141

i don't know how it's possible to be spiritual but not religious... aren't they basically the same thing? Unless your one of those fake pshycic people who can supposedly "tell your future", i don't think it's possible.