What does "spiritual but not religious" mean?

Question

Can someone explain what "spiritual but not religious means"? Sounds to me like people want to take the good, and turn there back on the parts they dont like. Sounds selfish to me but I'm not sure I understand what it means.

Answer 1

It means that they are trying to get a date and aren't sure what the other person's religion is.

Answer 2

In my case, I believe in trying to be a good person and to do what's right even when that is the difficult choice. I do not follow a particular religion, do not go to any church, and believe that is in and/or part of everything and everyone.
In my opinion, organized religion is the scourge of the world. More wars have been fought ,more blood has been shed in the name of religion than any other cause. Whole societies have been told "Convert or die." Those who's personal beliefs diverge from that which is locally accepted have often been murdered and their murders sanctioned by the church.
You're right though, I do only take the parts that I choose. One of those parts is free will and the ability to think things through for myself. I need not belong to a group to understand what is right and wrong. My personal belief is that it is actually more difficult to believe as I do because I must take full responsibility for my beliefs. I cannot blindly follow a group or priest of Rabbi or minister. I am required to think for myself.

Answer 3

I am deeply spiritual, and not at all religious.

This means that I look upon the dogma, the outdated 'rules' and asinine cemented, solidified, stagnating teachings and want no part of them.

I believe in the soul. I believe in an afterlife of sorts. I believe in a kind of higher power(s). But it is not of the same sort as professed in ANY religion. My beliefs are not at all like those of christianity, buddhism, hinduism, Judaism, Islam, shinto or any others. Thus, I am not religious in two separate ways, while still being very spiritual.

Answer 4

Spiritual things are from above. Religious things are from below. The difference is, We must have the Spirit of God to Lead, Guide and Direct our lives from day to day. We religiously, go to work, or get up at a certain time, or have a meal at a certain time. Do you understand this? Have I answered your question well enough? I really hope I did...

Answer 5

YOUR opinion does not matter to me, and i don't care if you think that I am selfish or not. I am more consistent then most christians are.
I think that a lot of christians are ''selfish'' , by going through their bible, and cherry picking what THEY want, and don't want!
We simply reject it all. As for spirituality???
I can enjoy a gorgeous sunset, and get chills, down my spine. I can enjoy looking at the colors of Fall, and Autumn, and 'get chills'. that is a kind of spirituality, and it doesn't have squat, to do with a 'god'.
I enjoy going to the coast, and watching the waves rush to the shore, or waves rising hundreds of feet in the air, hitting the rocks, and cliffs. That has nothing to do with a 'god'
There are many things that I enjoy, that have absolutely Nothing to do with a, or your 'god.

Answer 6

Religious usually refers to adherence to set of beliefs, or participation in church or other religious organization.

Spiritual is one of those words that float around religion in our culture. Some religious folks assume they own the word. But that isn't so.

When a person says, "I'm spritual but not religious," he usually means that he is interested in the intemporal things of life such as emotions, mental health, well-being, the meaning of life, his own reasons for living, his relationship to others and to the universe. He's interested in understanding how he should live. What's moral behavior? What's immoral behavior.

The spritual but non-religious person derives much the same emotional satisfaction from studying and thinking about these things as a religious person might from a relationship with god or membership in a church.

Answer 7

To me spiritual means believing in a greater power. Religious means believing in and belonging to an organized group of people who believe in a god and attend a church. Religion is a method to control other people.

Answer 8

Spiritual means avoiding dogma as in Religion. Generally practicing dogma divides us from others. Spirituality makes it easier to see the good in others. ie: I've got it , you don't, poor you. A good actual song title..." Jesus loves me & can't stand you"
Religion is rigid & adheres to specific tenets or dogma. All religions have a spiritual side however.
My opinion is: It is better to have a God of my understanding than of someone elses understanding. Spiritual first then comes religion

Answer 9

Spiritual but not religious means you don't let others tell you what you believe. It also means you don't try to push your beliefs on others, making it a very unselfish thing. Religion is what causes war and death, not spirituality. Religion causes hypocricy and piety, not spirituality. Religion takes you away from "God" and places your focus on the priest, bishop, rabi, etc.

Answer 10

>What does "spiritual but not religious" mean?

Usually it means that the speaker is a new age hippie who has essentially no understanding of science, philosophy or logic and believes that their emotions are the single best source of information about the Universe, followed closely by the proverbs of some obscure native american tribe.

>Sounds to me like people want to take the good, and turn there back on the parts they dont like.

Yeah, that too.

Answer 11

Some people feel that the word religious means that they are following dogma, that they are legalistic or that they are more interested in what other people in their church think than what God says. Many times when I hear that phrase, I take it as someone who rejects dogma and is pursuing a relationship with God and other people who feel the same way they do.