On Spirituality and Religion, Part 4: Why Claiming to be Spiritual but not Religious Goes Beyond Glib Identification

During a recent episode of Speaking of Faith, host Krista Tippett asked guest Robert Wright his opinion on the increasingly popular “trend” of people professing to be spiritual, but not religious. I perceived an attitude from both parties that this is sort of a laughable cliché espoused by the superficial.

And I suppose Mr. Seversen would agree.

But I disagree. And I disagree, strongly.

People describe their spiritual life in this manner for reasons that run much deeper than trendiness and ease. We connect more with our global community every day, allowing us to discover that our own religion doesn’t hold the only truth that resonates within us. We identify less with the constructs of religion yet still feel the presence of a higher power in our lives. We feel the current of a larger, Universal truth running beneath our everyday reality. We’ve been exposed to numerous religious and spiritual traditions, and are able to glean what works for us to create a personal spirituality.

I find nothing silly or cliché about this so-called trend. I actually find it rather hopeful that we are beginning to see beyond the doctrines of our particular religions to the Universal beliefs at the core of most traditions. Our minds are opening, and so are our hearts.

When the topic of one’s religious or spiritual life enters the conversation, how should people respond who are nonreligious, but believe in life beyond the physical? Something to the tune of “Well, I believe in a Higher Power, but not the kind of god I learned about growing up…I guess you could say I’m spiritual, but not religious,” doesn’t sound shallow or faddish to me. It certainly requires more thought than saying, “I’m Catholic,” or “I’m a Muslim,” or, “I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,"

Let’s look at two definitions for the terms in discussion, courtesy of dictionary.com:

Religion.
#1: “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.”

Spirituality.
#2: “of or pertaining to the spirit or soul, as distinguished from the physical nature: a spiritual approach to life.’

While this definition of spirituality is certainly concise, I think it nicely encapsulates my own spiritual life. In regard  to religion, I suppose the spirituality I’ve described in these last few posts does contain a vague set of beliefs regarding the cause, nature, and purpose of the Universe. But it’s definitely fluid and open in nature. I have no name for it, no sacred text, and no religious leader, or set of practices to follow. My moral code consists of the golden rule.

Does what I describe sound like religion to you?

How do you describe yourself spiritually?