In Perspective: Spiritual But Not Religious

More and more people these days use this phrase in an attempt to contextualize and convey their own understanding of and relationship with the divine.

From the unset, there are a number of “must” questions, plaguing inquiring minds when hearing this phrase.

Define religion. What is it?

There are countless definitions of religion that can be found with the click of your mouse. For the purposes of this blog we’ll define religion as a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. (Dictionary.com)

Define spiritual. What is it?

Predominantly, the web and other information outlets are littered with examples of a negative connotation of spirituality, in that the trend is to view it as opposed to religion, a fashion of the reckless young, eager to do away with the boundaries imposed by religious observances. For the purposes of this essay however, we will simply define spiritual as that which pertains to the spirit or soul, as distinguished from the physical nature, relating to the mind or intellect.

Can one be religious without being spiritual and vice-versa?

Yes, understanding that both religiosity and spirituality are both intellectual exercises, it follows logic that one can chose between the two, without the one necessarily being tied to the other.

Does the distinction between the two really matter and why?

The distinction is important only in its attempt to clarify the realm of each subject matter. Religion addresses a set of beliefs, generally shared by a number of individuals, involving a series of dogmas and rituals, which inform their understanding of their relationship to place, time and the universe. Spirituality focuses on understanding the ethereal nature of humans, and that of all other “living” forms of energy, their relationship to each other and the universe.

Neither Religion nor spirituality should rank above the other in my understanding. Simply put, they are both intellectual tools at our disposal to inform and cater to our need to understand that which we cannot explain through other means. Understanding the intellectual nature –a human activity generated by our will to exercise it- of both these concepts, explains why you can be religious and not spiritual, spiritual and not religious, and/or religious and spiritual at the same time, which ever your inclination.

Regardless of your proclivity, your persuasion, it is important to respect that of the others around you as they too have traveled their own personal path to arrive at their own understanding. Thus, respect is paramount when addressing matters of religion or spirituality, for, just as you, others deserve their own “breathing space” to be. In other words, as in pretty much everything in life, your decisions about religion, spirituality and the question of God are yours to make; the rest of us are called to respect such deeply personal decisions. Now, let’s talk about you!