What does "I'm not religious but I'm spiritual" mean.?

Question

Not just that phrase, I'm sure you've read statements like that many times on this board.

Answer 1

Religion is a set of rules to live by and is used to control others.
Spirituality is a way of being. It is the beliefs and ideals held by an individual.

You can be Religious without being spiritual. ie: all the people who go to church every Sunday after beating their wives/children on Saturday night (extreme example). People who try to push their religion onto others (more common).

You can be Spiritual without being religious. ie: people who follow their own paths without following someone else's set of rules. They live good lives because it is right, not because someone tells them they will go to a "bad place" if they don't.

You can be both Religious and Spiritual. Although this seems to be rather uncommon. The Dalai Lama is a good example of this. So was Mother Teresa and Mahatma Gandhi.

Answer 2

Its a nonsense phrase.

Especially when someone is describing someone else... "yeah you know Jeremy, hes reeeeally spiritual"

Thats a good question, Ive asked people many times and never got a decent answer.

It suggests that there is some measure of spirituality. Im not sure if it can be measured.

To some people, these type of "amazement at the world, or wondering about what its all about" thoughts occur at the beach, some in the woods, some in church - so in that sense we are all spiritual.

It would be a rare person who is non-spiritual. It suggests that they are barren of any thoughts about anything except the "concrete" or physical world. I would say almost all of us would have thought or felt something about the amazing nature of the world, our existence, what happens to dead people etc.

Maybe those thoughts are spirituality. Do we have to reach some conclusion from these thoughts to be spiritual?

Maybe I just dont understand!!! Good question.

Answer 3

When I hear the word religion I think along the lines of organized religion, so in that sense I feel that "I'm not religious but I'm spiritual" means that that person does not follow or believe in any organized religion. But just because one does not follow any particular religion, does not mean they cannot have a belief in some type of spiritual being or force or greater good, you want to put it.

Answer 4

Well, I've seen and heard that statement countless times. Those I've heard utter this phrase are not spiritual, but carnal. Now there are, I'm sure, quite a few people that say this that aren't carnal, but the ones I know are. So among the ones I know, I think it means that they don't want to be bothered with religion and tell themselves they are spiritual to justify it.

Answer 5

After seeing what followers of different religion do and think of each other, people have got negeative outlook to religion, so probably they say they are not religious, but on the other hand claim to be spiritual. i guess by this it means that they pray and donate for charity , and do the little things they can to help people around them and their community. So spiritually growing and keeping away from religion.
PS: but at the end of the day all religions are from the same source (God)

Answer 6

Usually thats a choice on things like personal boards. Kind of a catch all when you don't fit anywhere else. You'll find in that classification Pagans like me, and people who believe in a god but don't do the organized religion thing.

You can be spiritual without being Christian.
You can even be religious without being Christian.

Answer 7

It could mean one who believes in a higher power, but doesn't put anything into the religions man has made. That's what it means to me, anyway. Though, I do see a lot of people claiming they aren't religious (but are spiritual) meanwhile giving the main points to a religion (Christianity, Islam, etc)... so that kind of nullifies their statement, IMO.

Answer 8

are you aware of you been more mental than Spiritual, a/o more physical than mental, a/o more Spiritual than mental or physical?, There are stages in some peoples life, were they can't favorably explain their self's, as best as been non-religious because they aren't, and they have ever been an active part of any church. though you can be religious without been part of a church by keeping you self in good grace with God, praying went necessary, or went you may think you need it, or anytime you may which or want to prey, that is freedom., or the kind of freedom everyone may which sometimes to achieved to express some Ego-centrism, Being this an state of awareness, that can be achieved, only by been conscious of what God expect from you, me and I, us, and everyone else.

Answer 9

I am spiritual because I have beliefs in a spiritual nature. I have chosen no specific religion,but lean towards a couple. And I will not join a church because then I would either feel uncomfortable or have to choose that religion in my heart. I am a good loving and peaceful person.

Answer 10

Sure I have, I always say it.
A religious person, fallow thing that aren't God made, are man made, rules, laws. They invent and put you more weight that you can hold.
I consider myself a Christian, I attend service, but I read the Bible, and get to conclusion. I don't judge anybody, and don't try to make anybody believe in what I believe.
I maintain my Christianity always, but I never try to obliged no one to believe in what I do.
That is the difference. Jesus say that the Pharisee, were like whitening tombs, clean outside and full of worms inside! Those were the religious of that time...so you can get your own conclusion...in Jesus words , not mine!
Have a nice day!