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A large proportion of people define themselves as Spiritual, not Religious.

I have wondered about this for some time, and what exactly people mean by this term?
The "not Religious is obvious", I think, but what exactly does Spiritual mean to most people.

I take it to mean that they have a belief, be it in God or some other higher power, but do not belong or affiliate to any one religion. They are not a practising Catholic, Anglican, Muslim etc.

Yes, I see what you mean, Do you think an Atheist can be spiritual? Lets say someone who does not believe in a higher power?

two separate things and this is where i get deep sorry guys

Religious is just following the rituals without feeling GOD, and spirituality is real path towards reaching HIM, without showing rituals.

Religious is the first step towards spirituality, but being only religious is never towards spirituality.

i hope this makes sence

I think people are disillusioned with the church and all the hierarchical tradition, formalities and boundaries. People are wanting to customise religion more now, they are rejecting the conventional rites and rituals and seeking spirituality from within. Seems like they want to worship in a different or looser way. People are moving away from the church (say I am speaking in terms of the Catholic church...)

But back to the question, Spiritual to me means having faith in something bigger than us, believing that there is something more out there, a God if you like, or that God is everywhere. It's a freer form of belief maybe than just "religious"...maybe also turning away from the strict and sometimes questionable and contradictory "laws" of the church or the Bible (maybe such as being against homosexuality and adultery yet forgiving sinners and love thy neighbour?). Since sometimes the church's position is never exactly clear...I think people have opted for a more individual approach?

Interesting...

Just say your post corkguy, I think religion and spirituality can be intertwined? I hear what you're saying though...just moving through the ritual without feeling it is not really enough. Yet what of the people who still fervently believe in a set religion? Are they devoid of any spirituality?

Tough one that. I don't think so.

I don't claim to know a lot about it but I think that Spiritualism is a faith in an intangible entity, such as God or Allah or even Angels. Pleasing that entity or living according to rules or guidelines attributed to that entity is a motivation of sorts. If your good God will take you to heaven when you die sort of thing.

I would imagine an Atheist would have more "secular" though probably just as valid motivators.

As I say I don't claim to know much about the subject.

Don't be sorry about getting deep, this is the deep end That is not something you have just written, you have put a lot of thought into this

Do you think it is possible to be Spiritual and not believe in God or a higher being?




All of what you say is correct, and how would you describe your own Spirituality?if you can, it is not an easy task certainly for myself.

i think you answered that question yourself. yes you are right both can be intertwined.

I find most of the religions today are run by people who are not spiritual and thus the purpose of religion has been defeated.


I believe the Public at large now find no spiritual benefit from religion and thus find it to be non spiritual.

Finally, one should understand that no spiritual development is possible with any religion until there is a living spiritual leader who is guiding the people as how one should live and practice the spiritual activities on day to day basis.

To me spiritual is acknowledging a higher power without actually linking yourself to one religion maybe taking the bits that you associate with from a few different religions and actually putting them into use in your everyday life that you feel you can use to the best of your abilities. Whether it be kindness or showing compassion for others and the world we live in.
To me religion is the practices of which ever faith you decide you want to go with.
What turned me off the Catholic church was the two faced attitude of some of its regulars and the turn a blind eye attitude. To see a man hand out communion at mass on a Sunday morning then head off to the pub and drink himself stupid come home and beat 7 shades of s**te out of his wife eaving them with no money for food I wouldn't even call that man a Catholic let alone a Christian.

Yes, i was shocked to discover that almost all pedophiles are "pillars" of their local church. At least that is one demon being exorcised from the church.

or is it.

Not so sure it is. I suspect a lot of the apologies etc in recent times are mere lipservice. After all, how many priests who have been accused and found guilty of despicable acts have been kicked out of the priesthood.

If I commit a crime I would be sacked as would most people. Priests are not. They are still allowed to say mass, perform weddings, Christenings, Communions and Confirmations.

Yes and people used to joke about priests and the alter boys little did people realise what was actually going on. People seem to put priests on a higher level like mini Gods ( bolt of lightening at my window ) when in fact they're all just every day people. If you're seen to be involved in the church be it a priest or a lay person its like a smoke screen for the seedier activities that are going on behind closed doors.
And I wouldn't think that demon will ever be exorcised from the church.
I do feel bad because there are some wonderful genuine priests out there who live and breath their church and religion and its the few bad ones that wipe out all the good work that they do.

I just read a brief article by a gentleman called Watchman Nee, where he states that "Spirituality produces religions" I guess that it is when Spirituality leaves the Church, so does it's followers.

Yes and you can see evidence of it all around in the power vaccume that was left behind from a move away from mass organizsed religions.

Waco, that mormon bigomy sect not so long ago, Shirah law (spell?) Islamic extremism, Christian extremism (particularly Intelligent design movment they really irritate me).

And i think it was corkguy that pointed it out that a religion is usless without a spiritual leader to well ummmm lead which has lead to the rise in the above organisations.

Humans got to belive in something wheather it be science, war, love, religion or spirituality.

Humans got to belive in something wheather it be science, war, love, religion or spirituality.


Well said

I was asked to do a body of work on the subject and read a total of 25 books on it and was none the wiser. I do not accept failure easily in my work, but had to go back and tell them that I could not come up with anything. They were not surprised saying that had been their experience trying to get people who are on the outside of it to come up with work to do with it.

Why not believe in themselves?

Someone's always taking a poke at someone else in one way or another and tring to rule over them. If people truly believed in themselves, it wouldn't be so easy to be misled.

good point H