I read this on a lot of profiles. How can someone be spiritual without being religious? More importantly, why is "religious" such an unwanted title?
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1) - Cite This Source
re?li?gion /r?'l?d??n/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[ri-lij-uhn] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
RELIGIOUS:
–adjective 1. of, pertaining to, or concerned with religion: a religious holiday.
2. imbued with or exhibiting religion; pious; devout; godly: a religious man.
3. scrupulously faithful; conscientious: religious care.
4. pertaining to or connected with a monastic or religious order.
5. appropriate to religion or to sacred rites or observances.
RELIGION:
–noun 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.
2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.
7. religions, Archaic. religious rites.
8. Archaic. strict faithfulness; devotion: a religion to one's vow.
The word religious is said to come from two words:
[Origin: 1150–1200; ME religioun (< OF religion) < L religion- (s. of religio) conscientiousness, piety, equiv. to relig(are) to tie, fasten (re- re- + ligare to bind, tie; cf. ligament) + -ion- -ion; cf. rely]
Unless you are a total atheist you must be in some part be religious and if you are an atheist, are you not demonstrating an anti-christian behavioral belief system which avows its own excercise of religion?
My take on this is simple... The word ligament comes from the root of ligre. When a ligament becomes loosed from its place in our bodies the event is painful and healing is slow. Adding the prefix "re" simply means to re-establish that binding. In the beginning God created us in His own image and in total communication with Him. That communication was broken when sin entered the world through Adam. The Bible is clear that all men are born into that same position of non-fellowship with God through Adam's bloodline. Since God is calling each one of us into fellowship with Himself, the act of "religion" is by His initiative, not ours.
Although I fail in my faith in many ways (the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak), I will in no way say I am not religious. Furthermore, most of you who say you are not religious actually are without knowing it.
As my friend and yours, Forrest Gump would say, "That's all I've got to say about that!"
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Blogs by wordsenchanting:
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lildork
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Oct 5 @ 8:29PM
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I'm religious if you want to get right down to definitions...my religion is "free thought" It's wonderful. Maybe christians and muslims could give it a try sometime.
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Jusme712
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Oct 5 @ 8:30PM
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I didnt see rules posted, and i do have to admit i did not look up either word.
however, in general terms, spiritual means, i believe in God, but, i do not go to church every sunday. and for those that find that offensive, give it a rest; i believe God is every where and any where you need Him.
Religious on the other hand, pretty much means going to church every sunday and for some, wednesday nights too.
which if you want to talk about something that could really get the comments flying, pretty much has to do with tithing.
myself though, i'm not that brave and will just hush right now 
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christy74
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Oct 5 @ 9:38PM
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As someone who is not very spiritual, and not at all religious, I think it's just a way to distinguish those who are members of organized religion, or all deists, for that matter, from those who are not. The word religious implies that you believe in a god or gods, whereas with spiritual, that may not be the case.
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LavenderMoonlight
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Oct 7 @ 4:23PM
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You ask how one can be spiritual but not religious. Just thought I'd let you know that there are many of us who use the term spiritual rather than religious because of the negative aspects of organized religion. For many, we choose not to embrace the traditions of man, which is formalized religion. One can be spiritual, accept G-d, but not be religious in the sense of following the doctrines of a particular denomination or religion. One doesn't need religion to commune with G-d.
One also can be religious and not be Christian. My take on your blog is that you consider Christianity to be the only true religion and Jesus as G-d. Your comment on anti-Christian behavioral beliefs of atheists shows that you are limited in your knowledge and acceptance of other religions. Atheists do not deny religions (there is an Atheist Church)...they deny the existence of a god.
Your interpretation of Adam is just one of many interpretations of the Book of Genesis. You also interpret Jesus of Nazareth as being G-d. With that belief of Jesus as a god, man took Jesus’ teachings, added Paul’s interpretation for the Gentiles, and thus initiated the Christian religion. The G-d who created Adam doesn't exist in the New Testament portion of the Bible.
Communication between man and G-d has never been broken. The communication is and always will be there. The power of choice and man’s use of that power gives the illusion that communication is broken.
Religion is of man, spiritual is of G-d. I have chosen spiritual over religious communion with G-d. I know I am not religious.
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wordsenchanting
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Oct 7 @ 5:35PM
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Lavander, I smile at your attempt to prove your point, but by being so emphatic in your arguement you have proved mine exactly. You have expressed religious opinions whether you enjoy the terminology or not. But it's ok! I do understand the difference in the words and your desire to be separated from the fanatacism of ritualism or judgmentalism.
As to your comment about the God of creation not being listed in the New Testament, I can only venture to surmise that you must have read a different New Testament than I have. The New Testament writers frequently refer to "the God of Abraham, The God of Moses" etc and John 1: 1 refers to Jesus as being the very creator. I will agree with C.S. Lewis on the point that one has few choices in deciding who Jesus really is. Either he was the very Son of God or a lunatic to have claimed to be. Me? I like being a man of faith. I find it easy to believe that Jesus is the actual Son of God and as much God as God the Father.
About the other religions? Most seem to be revised copies of the original, designed to fit the whims of the men who devised them, but to say that I am unknowledgeable of other religions would be a huge mistake. I spent my early years as a student ardently trying to disprove what I had been taught as a young person. Later I learned that C.S. Lewis had already done that research and had come to the same conclusions that I already had. I have no real choice but to believe because I can in no way disprove it and there are far too many witnesses to not only the historic events stated in the Bible but in the POWER of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
We hear a lot about PEACE in our society but very few people possess it. The Bible talks about a "peace which passes all understanding" as being one of the rewards of a spirit filled life. I see it in the eyes of some of the people I meet. It is not uncommon for me to say to a perfect stranger, "You are a Christian, are'nt you?" The answer has always been an emphatic "yes" and every person I have seen that in, has immediately shared with me their intimate relationship with god, through Jesus Christ, who said "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes unto the Father, except my me"
I don't require anyone to believe like I do to like them or accept them or even appreciate them. Everyone is entitled to believe and to worship as they please. my opinion is of no value whatsoever, but His opinion? That is an entirely different matter.
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chakrasoul
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Oct 8 @ 3:54AM
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I will answer your question. This pertains to my life so I can't speak for others. I myself am spiritual but not religious. Religion is a boxed set of ideas that someone came up with to best represent what THEY think G-d is.
Every so many generations someone invents a new "religion". It is simply that fact that g-d is too great and truth is too mass to be contained in any "religion". What this means to me is that I practice the love of my heavenly father and do my best to be the quality human he wishes we all were.
I study truth and grow continually as a person, mother, daughter, friend, employee, and e.t.c. from my learnings. By not "practicing" any "religion", I have freed myself from the restrictions of the "box" and have learnt much more than I ever would have sitting weekly for 50 years listening to the same person sputter off the same 10 commandments.
When you walk into a "church" you hear the same thing year after year. But what you don't hear is the truth. Because truth will set you free. And if you are free then you have no need to place your money in the unworthy pockets of the business we call religion. The simple fact is in one of the first bible verses we are ever taught: Romans 10: 9-10, that if thou confess with thy mouth and believe with thine heart. Hmmm...no "religion" needed to be saved?? No building needed to be paid for to get to heaven?? No paychecks week after week being cashed and dropped into a church plate??? What could this be??...hmmm...I got it!! G-d starts within US, not some building. Not some set ideas forced on you by other humans. Nope , not one "religion" needed. Start within yourself to find G-d and you will begin the spiritual journey to truth that he always intended us to find.
God is so massive and expansive that we as humans should be ashamed to claim to be able to erect a building , write a book, and say that we can now know all that god knows. I believe that ALL religions have truth, but no ONE religion holds all truth. God is truth, and he cannot be contained. To understand this is the first step in truely growing spiritually.
I myself am Jewish, Blackfoot Indian, and English. Although I do not have a religion as you know it, I do in fact honor my heritage and follow the commandments given to the Jews. I also study the cultures and truths that the Indians have shared for centruies. I also am a born again christian and believe in my savior. I also have studied many different "religions" and took from them the truth they had to offer. And I would not speak so candidly if I could not offer proof. No where in the bible does g-d EVER tell us to follow a "religion". He tells us to follow 10 commandments. WOW, and people go to a building they call church for 50, 60, 70 years just be told the same commandments over and over, and think that because the guy on the stage uses a differnet story each time that he is telling you something new. No dear, there is nothing new in religion. Those 10 commandments are always going to be the same 10 commandments no matter how much money you hand over to build a bigger building.
Hope that answered at least a part of your question. I hope I didn't come across as too crude, but I shed a tear to watch us humans pile into buildings every week in the name of g-d when not one time , one day, of any century, have they ever once taught that the real relationship with g-d starts, lives, breaths, and always will be forever simply by letting your soul reach his.
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wordsenchanting
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Oct 8 @ 12:31PM
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Dear Chakrasoul
I am smiling as I read your answer here. First, because I really LOVE what you say and I agree with you 100 percent. That is a rare thing!
BUT secondly, in the process of explaining your value system and ideas about religion, you have also identified yourself as being of a religious nature, as defined by the posted dictionary definitions. I think most people would understand very quickly, exactly what you mean when you explain yourself to be "spiritual not religious" but in a technical sense, given the definitions of the words "religious" and "religion", it could be soundly argued that you and I are both religious people. You might say that you are "spiritual" without the "trappings" or "ritualism" or "dogmas" of an organized religion but I do not think you can logically say that you are not religious.
One thing you say which I completely agree with is about churches with huge building plans and real estate holdings. The early church was far more effective in reaching new converts by meeting in homes and public places, without huge building budgets. I applaud the churches with central locations and satellite home groups. That makes sense to me, but when I see churches building huge facilities, often alongside other churches of almost same doctrines I think they are simply acting as big business interests and competitors.
The Bible says to bring your tithes to the "storehouse" Even if you could find a "storehouse" in a modern day church, it would almost always comprise less than a miniscule fraction of that church's budget, as would "feeding the poor"
Here is the bottom line. When I am asked if I am "religious" by someone, it is almost always by someone who is NOT religious. (religious people avoid the use of the word due to their embarrassment over the state of organized religion today.) If I answer "no" I have lied. If I answer "yes" , I have identified myself with ideologies and a system that I don't always feel I agree with. BUT I can also NOT answer "I am spiritual but not religious", because I KNOW the definition of the word "religious" and it fits me (and you too) If I took time to explain to the person asking me the question all that I have written here, he or she would walk away saying in their own mind, yes he is religious, because that person does not have the same hang ups about the word "religious" that you or I do.
steven
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DeeDee747
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Oct 27 @ 12:07AM
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Short and Simple,..." Religion" is for people who are afraid of going to hell,.." Spirituality" is for people who have already been there! 
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