How To Be Spiritual Without Religion

Spirituality is a topic that is frequently discussed, but it is frequently misinterpreted. Many individuals confuse spirituality and religion, and as a result, they bring their religious ideas and prejudices into debates about spirituality. Although spiritualism is emphasized in many religions, you can be “spiritual” without being religious or a member of an organized religion.

What is a person who is spiritual but not religious?

“Spiritual but not religious” (SBNR), sometimes known as “spiritual but not affiliated” (SBNA), is a popular phrase and initialism used to describe a spiritual life perspective that does not see organized religion as the only or most valuable source of spiritual growth. Historically, the terms religious and spiritual have been used interchangeably to express all components of the notion of religion, but in modern usage, spirituality has come to be connected with the individual's interior existence, emphasizing the “mind-body-spirit” well-being.

How do I start to be spiritual?

The spiritual journey—and the resulting “spiritual awakening” we seek—always appears to take place in some exotic location or following a spectacular incident.

Perhaps you believe you need to travel to Peru to drink ayahuasca or leave your spouse to get the spiritual awakening you seek?

From the comfort of your own home, you may connect with your spirituality and awaken to the lessons that are meant for you over and over again throughout your life.

How can I be without religion?

1. Raising decent children does not necessitate belief in God.

Religion is not an indicator of a child's moral growth in and of itself. According to research, children's morality is influenced more than anything else by their parents' sensitivity to others' feelings and injustice. In laboratory studies, even one-year-old children of such parents showed a stronger sense of right and wrong. Our children are watching everything we do, which implies that parents have more power than we realize to replace old Sunday sermons with our own secular ideals.

2. We become gentler after experiencing wonder.

When we feel little in the presence of a greater system—the grandeur of nature, a spectacular piece of art, the circle of life—we sense awe. When we're overtaken by awe, time appears to slow down, allowing us to feel more empathy and generosity. Take note of what happens when you spend time with your family in nature. Awe-inspiring experiences, which have long been expressed in religious terms, are universal human experiences.

3. Rituals provide context.

Rituals unite us, help us keep track of time, and encourage us to be our best selves. We don't have to abandon rituals just because we've abandoned religion. One family I visited has a weekly meditation, conversation, and sharing routine on Sunday mornings to enhance family relationships and establish a strong moral compass based on principles like fairness and justice. Teenagers in a nature-based coming-of-age program in the West were asked to consider the unique gifts they would each provide to the world. Solstice parties have taken the place of midnight Mass for some, while newborn welcoming ceremonies have taken the place of baptisms for others.

4. We all want to be a part of something.

Belonging is important, probably more than we think. Scientists have discovered that our sense of belonging—or lack thereof—is recorded on a molecular level in our bodies, altering our physical and mental wellbeing. And it's not how many connections we have, but how deep those connections are, that determines our happiness, feeling of purpose, and overall life satisfaction. Secular humanist groups, Sunday Assemblies, and atheist meetings are cropping up around the country for those who miss the company previously found in the pews. The Humanist Hub in Boston even boasts a new secular Sunday school for children of all ages.

5. Volunteering provides us with a sense of accomplishment.

Religious people are more philanthropic than nonreligious people, according to studies, and this is true not just for their own religious organizations. Those organizations are onto something when they say that volunteering even one day a month provides people a feeling of purpose and makes them feel more connected. Participating in meal-packing events, park cleanups, and blood drives provides meaning to many nonreligious persons I met. Our children need training wheels to learn the value of giving in our individualistic world, so choose a family-friendly event and bring them along.

My only regret three years after starting my book is that I didn't learn the name of the father who asked that crucial inquiry. If I could meet him today, I'd tell him what statistics can't: that millions of nonreligious Americans are developing meaningful rituals, finding a better sense of purpose, and bringing their communities together. It turns out that the Nones are perfectly OK.

How can I worship God without religion?

I would also recommend that you pay heed to the desire you have to know God. What Thomas Merton stated, “I adore what he said,” is one of my favorite quotes “People are drawn to be alone with God wherever they are: in the monastery, in the city, in the country, in the woods. They appear to be in the middle of their voyage at the moment, yet they have already arrived at their destination.”

Can you believe in God but not religion?

The emergence of the “Nones,” a generic phrase for people who do not identify with a specific faith, has been one of the most significant stories in American religion for more than a decade. The religiously unaffiliated currently account for just over a quarter of the population in the United States.

While agnostics and atheists are included among the Nones, the majority of those who fall into this category believe in God or a higher force. Many people identify as “spiritual but not religious,” or “SBNR,” according to academics.

As a theology professor at a Unitarian Universalist and multireligious seminary, I come across a lot of students who meet the SBNR profile. They're studying to be chaplains, interfaith ministers, and social activists, among other things. However, they may be astonished to learn how much they resemble certain Protestants from five centuries ago, particularly those of Martin Luther's so-called radical reformers.

Do all religions cause God?

“If you are a Christian, you are not obligated to believe that all other religions are fundamentally flawed. If you are an atheist, you must believe that the central point of all world religions is simply one gigantic mistake. If you're a Christian, you have the freedom to believe that all of these religions, even the most weird, include some semblance of truth. When I was an atheist, I had to convince myself that the majority of the human race had always been mistaken about the most important topic; when I became a Christian, I was able to take a more liberal stance. Being a Christian, however, does imply believing that where Christianity differs from other religions, Christianity is correct and they are incorrect. There is only one correct answer to a sum, and all other responses are incorrect; yet, some of the incorrect answers are considerably closer to being correct than others.”

Lewis is entirely correct. Most religions strive to explore the divine in some way, and some come closer than others. We can say that all religions go to God in this way. However, as Pastor Marc pointed out on Sunday, only Jesus can lead us to God in a way that puts us in right standing with him and allows us to associate with him (John 14:6).

In the first chapter of Romans, Paul reinforces this line of reasoning by describing humanity's bleak plight in the absence of the gospel:

“God's anger is being revealed from heaven against every godlessness and wickedness of humans, who suppress the truth through their wickedness, because everything there is to know about God is plain to them because God has made it plain to them.” Because God's invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen and understood from what has been made since the beginning of the world, people have no excuse. Because, while knowing God, they did not glorify him as God or give thanks to him, and as a result, their reasoning became useless and their stupid minds darkened. Despite their claims to wisdom, they became idiots, exchanging the grandeur of the immortal God for pictures resembling mortal humans, birds, animals, and reptiles.” (NIV, Romans 1:18-23).

By looking at God's world, we can learn not only if he exists, but also what kind of God he is. That is, we can witness God by philosophical argument. However, this will not absolve us of our guilt. We can only pretend to be godly, engaging in religion as a means of avoiding the fact that our sin separates us from God, and that no amount of philosophizing or religious good works will change that. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel,” Paul declares, “for it is the power of God that gives salvation to everyone who believes… For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed – a righteousness that is by faith from beginning to end…” (NIV, Romans 1:16-17)

All religions and philosophies lead to God in some fashion. Only Christ, on the other hand, brings us into right standing with God and into a relationship with him. He accomplished this by taking our sin and punishment upon himself as he hung on the cross, then rising from the dead to offer everlasting life to everyone who place their total confidence in him.

C. S. Lewis contrasts Christianity to other religions in the following videos. The first video was featured in a previous post. Lewis compares the morality of many world religions in it. The second video is entertaining, but it is a little complicated. Enjoy.

Can you have faith and not be religious?

Ronald Dworkin, an attorney and philosopher, was inspired or at least directed by James when he wrote Religion Without God, in which he claims that there can be such a thing as a “religious atheist.” Basically, you can have religion without God if you believe in something other than the physical reality of the cosmos.

How do I awaken my spiritual power?

Seven Ways to Boost Your Spiritual Well-Being

• Examine your spiritual foundation. You are merely asking yourself questions about who you are and what you mean when you explore your spiritual essence.