Has anyone noticed how some Christians have started saying they're not "religious" but "spiritual"? It's like it's the next fad in religion. Here, let me give you the American Heritage Dictionary's definitions of "religious."

1. Having or showing belief in and reverence for God or a deity.

2. Of, concerned with, or teaching religion: a religious text.

3. Extremely scrupulous or conscientious: religious devotion to duty.

Now for the definition of religion (to expand on #2 above)

1.a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.

b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.

2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.

3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices ased on the teachings of a spiritual leader.

4. A cause, a principle, or an activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.

Note that in 1.b. above, that religion can be personal as well as institutionalized.

What this is all really about is the negative connotations of the word "religious." I won't deny at all that some of you out there are spiritual. But for a fundamentalist Christian to say that they aren't religious is sheer nonsense. They just want to get rid of the bad associations with the word "religious." Whatever. You're not fooling me.

For those of you who honestly aren't religious but are spiritual (mystics and other weirdos), you know who you are. This isn't directed to you.

I think what most christians are trying to get across is the fact that the bible is God's word, and "religion" is commonly understood as the practice thereof.

I don't think anyone is trying to fool you into anything. :-/

SInce I'm one of the weirdos, you may wish to disregard this--but my observation is that religion tends to set people apart, while spirituality tends to draw people together.

quote:Originally posted by Beholder:

I think what most christians are trying to get across is the fact that the bible is God's word, and "religion" is commonly understood as the practice thereof.

I don't think anyone is trying to fool you into anything. :-/

But then why would they say that they aren't religious? Maybe I'm just not getting what you're saying.

quote:Originally posted by ArmsMerchant:

SInce I'm one of the weirdos, you may wish to disregard this--but my observation is that religion tends to set people apart, while spirituality tends to draw people together.

I really was saying the mythics and weirdos thing as a joke, since I've been into practicing psionics/magic and believe that consciousness can survive death... although I don't believe in supernatural beings, necessarily.

I think it really depends on the religion whether it brings people together or not. Spiritualism sounds like it's more generalized, without dogma and all that, so yeah... interesting point you make.

It's a result of this new-age mysticism bullshit where aging hippies, housewives and young people who realize they wasted their lives on a Liberal Arts major in college try to "enlighten" themselves because their lives suck.

They usually disgrace most real cultures or just make up one of their own about crystals and astrology. Don't put it past them to start making up shit about their heritage too.

"Well I'm part of *insert culture here* so it's in my blood to follow it. These other guys are just ruining it!"

Look it up it's in the dictionary.

[This message has been edited by Paradise Lost (edited 12-01-2005).]

quote:Originally posted by ArmsMerchant:

SInce I'm one of the weirdos, you may wish to disregard this--but my observation is that religion tends to set people apart, while spirituality tends to draw people together.

Well said.