Musings, Spiritual and Religious

A few years back I asked a coworker of mine whether she was spiritual or religious. She is a pastor's wife so I was pretty sure of the answer I would get and she didn't fail me. She stated that she was both. At that time I told her I was probably more spiritual than "religious" although then and now I am Methodist. I still think that statement is probably correct as I continue to muse and sort out, where does spiritual end and where does religion begin and can you really have one without the other?

Let's look at some definitions. 

Spiritual: of, relating to, or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things. Can also be used referring to religion and many use it as one and the same: as in.... of or relating to religion or religious belief

Religion: a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.

Religious: relating to or believing in a religion.

Spiritual but not religious (SBNR) is a popular phrase and initials used to self-identify a life stance  of spirituality that rejects traditional organized religion as the sole or most valuable means of furthering spiritual growth. The term is used world-wide, but is most prominent in the United States where one study reports that as many as 33% of people identify as spiritual but not religious.

If you are interested in reading more about spiritual but not religious take a look at  this CNN article written by Linda Mercadante. Good News about the Spiritual but not Religious  Linda Mercadante, is professor of theology at The Methodist Theological School and the founder of Healthy Beliefs-Healthy Spirit.  

The following are my thoughts and musings as of today. Who knows by next week I may have some other ideas. Musings are never set in concrete and are fluid and able to transform or reach different levels.

Thinking about the venn diagram above. I do believe that you can have religion without spirituality. Religion is following a doctrine set up under a specific name. I am not suggesting that there was never prayer, thought, history, etc behind any particular religion. Simply that religions are formed around a core set of beliefs that members believe and follow (or try to). As such, depending on the religion, it may include aspects of spirituality or not. We can all think of religions (or some would say cults) that fit the "definition" of religion but do not seek spirituality.

In turn, I think it is possible to be "spiritual" without religion if you view religion as a predetermined and set group of beliefs that people of the religion adhere to. Being spiritual might include some of those beliefs but not all or may pull from beliefs from a variety of belief systems without rigidly adhering to all of them. Some refer to this as the "salad bar" approach. Take what you like, ignore what you don't. I don't really feel that way about it, but that's material for a whole other post.

Then we have the overlap where religious and spiritual merge. I see this as an area where someone uses the framework of religion to strengthen, support, guide and perhaps even question their spiritual beliefs. In todays world quite honestly there are fewer and fewer members of religions that follow the guidelines of their faith in totality and without question. I believe that where the two are married (religious and spiritual) we have the strongest possibility of traveling the path God wants for us. God provides free will for a reason and if we fail to ever question "religion" then don't we run the risk of being like the Pharisees and scribes?

'Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long,    (Matthew 23 1-29)

 

I think perhaps this quotation speaks to the issue. When we become too tied up by "religion" that we actually grow further away from Christ,

 

Remember we are all different and have so much to learn from each other (even those with different beliefs) Perhaps it is best said in Romans:

"As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind."  (Romans 14 1-23)

Hugs, love and acceptance to all.....This musing is hard work but I share it with you so that perhaps you will get some tiny gem out of it that may help you on your journey in some small way.