Spiritual but not religious?

no you don't sound stupid however you can be spiritual and not believe in god you can believe in nature or in your own definition of God not man kind's def.

I agree. Each person has his own sense of the universe, and his/her place in it. One does not have to a particular religion, or even believe in a God to be spiritual.

I don't know what the word "spiritual" means outside of a religious context.

When I was religious, we used the word to mean someone who put God in front of their own desires or needs. I suppose someone can do this in their own way without being part of any organized religion.

But I think that even believing in "Spririts" is religious by definition.

Therfore one being spiritual is one believing in a religion? then what about the Wiccian?

Isn't Wicca a religion?

Re: Spiritual but not religious?


Anyone who believes in anything spiritual sounds stupid to me.

That sounds harsh, but I think the whole spiritual idea is silly. What the hell is a spirit? From what I hear, it's some sort of thing that manages to disobey the physical laws of the universe - how does it get away with that?

how do we manage to set up rules and then just break them to suit oursleves?

e-brown

i do not know is it? i think it is but....

I don't think that being spiritual necessarily means that you believe in material spirits; that's animism.

Can't "spiritual" simply mean that you feel a relationship with something outside your own self be it another person or any living thing? I think the important words defining spirituality are "feel" and "relationship."

One can be religious without feeling or relating; concepts or dogma are sometimes central to religions to the extent that they preclude a spiritual relationship, especially in conservative religions.

too true

I think the idea of there being no "them" goes a long way towards explaining the spiritual vs. religious issue. Also, I reckon the notion that we're all made of the same stuff and that there is something worthy in the teachings of all religions captures the idea of having spiritual beliefs rather than religious ones. Whether there is a God or not there is still a certain way we should treat one another...IMHO

I completely understand what you mean. It seems that people who believe in religion the most, seem to do the most un godlly things (killing abortion doctors, KKK), and they all swear that they are doing in the name of God. But I was raised a Southern Baptist and we were taught that only god can hand down a judgement. So for a long time, I was just plain confused. The I discovered Wicca, which some say is a religion. I don't really agree that statement but I have a much clearer understanding of things since I have started the path. For one, judging others. The Wicca creed is "and ye harm none and do as ye will" I would never try and discredit some other person's belief simply because I did not agree with it. I hurt no one, and therefore deserve to be left alone by others. I think that is the one godly vow that no religion seems to get other than Buddhist. No one has made us judge and jury. And no one has the right to try and step in for God. We left England to escape religious persecution only to come to a new world and become exactly what escaped from.

alakritz--

Hinduism as well chooses that path....thus the law of karma "what we reap that we shall sow"....and i completly agree with you

Re: Spiritual but not religious?


The immaterial part of you is your spirit, or your soul.

it is also considered to be immortal and a part of God