Spiritual but not religious

[Magical Realist]

https://www.barna.com/research/meet-spir...religious/

"I’m spiritual but not religious.” You’ve heard it—maybe even said it—before. But what does it actually mean? Can you be one without the other? Once synonymous, “religious” and “spiritual” have now come to describe seemingly distinct (but sometimes overlapping) domains of human activity. The twin cultural trends of deinstitutionalization and individualism have, for many, moved spiritual practice away from the public rituals of institutional Christianity to the private experience of God within. In this conclusion of a two-part series on faith outside the church (read the first part, on those who “love Jesus but not the church”), Barna takes a close look at the segment of the American population who are “spiritual but not religious.” Who are they? What do they believe? How do they live out their spirituality daily?"

[Syne]

"Religious" is something done religiously (repeated regularity) like attending church, etc..
"Spiritual" is can mean everything from "in name only" to being an adherent but not a participant.

[Magical Realist]

"Religious" is something done religiously (repeated regularity) like attending church, etc..
"Spiritual" is can mean everything from "in name only" to being an adherent but not a participant.

Religious means devoted to a creed and a set of beliefs and practices that are part of being an adherent to a certain institutionalized religion. Spiritual is more experientially based and takes as its inspiration the events of everyday life as it occurs. Religion is belief or faith based while spirituality is aesthetically or feelings based.

[Yazata]

I'm not clear what "Spiritual but not Religious" even means. Both words ('spiritual' and 'religious') lack any clear and distinct definition.

I guess that lots of people say it when they aren't members of any particular organized religious group and and don't identify with or otherwise believe in the doctrines of any particular religious tradition... but nevertheless still feel that there's a deeper transcendental dimension to reality and/or that there's some kind of vaguely conceived "higher power".

I've met lots of people like that and I feel that way myself in some of my moods.

[Leigha]

You can be spiritual and believe in God...and follow a particular religion. But, you can be spiritual, and not religious at all. Many people aren't comfortable with religion because some of them tend to focus on rules and rituals, but others desire that type of structure ''around'' their spirituality. I don't think that spirituality and religion need to be at odds with one another. But, if I were to describe spirituality in general, it's probably trying to find the ''divine'' in the mundane?

Interestingly, a growing number of Americans right now, consider themselves to be spiritual but not religious, so it makes me wonder if there's something inherent in humans that drives us towards spirituality.

[Syne]

Religion is belief or faith based while spirituality is aesthetically or feelings based.

If that were true, spirituality would just be another name for hedonism.

[C C]

[...] Many people aren't comfortable with religion because some of them tend to focus on rules and rituals, but others desire that type of structure ''around'' their spirituality. [...]

One encounters the occasional Wiccan who claims they don't literally believe in its occultism, but just like adhering to its principles and ritual practices. Along with, arguably, a preference for any aesthetics and fashion it has, similar to Goth sub-culture. (And I suppose, that "family tradition" aspect, too, after the decades and generations accumulate.)

Ultimately, there are certain ripples of people who need to carry on ceremonial "make-believe" or game-like roleplaying deep into adulthood. Perhaps more benignly related to the "intoxicated mindset" where partying, drugs, and wild sex fill the slot for teens/college-youth, belated grown-ups, managers/execs with a closet life and rich celebs who can't give up whatever childhood, recreational need that playground activities once fulfilled.   

https://www.learnreligions.com/pagan-and...ls-1729589

Ritual is a common practice among the spiritually connected. Pagan rituals have survived via religious beliefs, ethnic cultures, and family traditions of our roots. New generation rituals can also be invented through purposeful intention. If an action empowers you, ritualize it. Share your rituals.

[Leigha]

[...] Many people aren't comfortable with religion because some of them tend to focus on rules and rituals, but others desire that type of structure ''around'' their spirituality. [...]

One encounters the occasional Wiccan who claims they don't literally believe in its occultism, but just like adhering to its principles and ritual practices. Along with, arguably, a preference for any aesthetics and fashion it has, similar to Goth sub-culture. (And I suppose, that "family tradition" aspect, too, after the decades and generations accumulate.)

Ultimately, there are certain ripples of people who need to carry on ceremonial "make-believe" or game-like roleplaying deep into adulthood. Perhaps more benignly related to the "intoxicated mindset" where partying, drugs, and wild sex fill the slot for teens/college-youth, belated grown-ups, managers/execs with a closet life and rich celebs who can't give up whatever childhood, recreational need that playground activities once fulfilled.   

https://www.learnreligions.com/pagan-and...ls-1729589

Ritual is a common practice among the spiritually connected. Pagan rituals have survived via religious beliefs, ethnic cultures, and family traditions of our roots. New generation rituals can also be invented through purposeful intention. If an action empowers you, ritualize it. Share your rituals.

Adding to this, many people yearn for structure and routine - religion can provide that, but there comes a point when the traditions and such are the only things that hold some followers to certain faith beliefs (not the core doctrines themselves).

Leaving Catholicism was difficult for me in this regard, because I missed the cohesiveness that can be found in the rituals and traditions, and that’s often the case for so many (coupled with guilt over abandoning the “religion of our parents”).