If you are religious now and were non-religious before

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Funny how everyone uses "spiritual" these days, rather than "religious." It's almost as if people are embarrassed to say they're religious.

Spiritually and religion are two different things.

Correct, but the thread is "If you are religious and were non-religious before." So why do so many people say they are "spiritual?" As you say, they're two different things.

DP. In our church, the word “spirituality” is used all the time and it’s a compliment to say someone is “spiritual.” I don’t know pp’s background, but Christians have been talking about spirituality for hundreds, maybe even 2,000, years.

But what does it mean?

Very great question. It sounds like vague enough to be very cool, but not "religious" which isn't seen as cool.

Does being “cool” carry a lot of meaning in your world? When someone or something isn’t “cool,” do you and your friends laugh and poke fun at the “uncool-ness?”

well, yes. But more importantly, I see it as a good development that in our society intelligent people don't want to be labeled, "religious" so they say they are "spiritual," which seems more socially acceptable. Like "spiritual" is different than "religious" which is not something you want to call yourself.

You are projecting your thought process and opinions about religion and “coolness” onto strangers. It’s even more disturbing because you feel being “cool” is something other adults (if you are an adult) want to be.

If you are teenager, I get it. If you are an adult: sorry. Someone failed you.

No just read this thread. About did you become religious. And so many answers are I go to church to because I am "spiritual." Very common to hear this now. Go ahead and disagree that being "spiritual" is more socially acceptable.

I hate trite and snarky replies, but: Wut?

If you have read through this thread you will see how many posters have said, in response to the question "if you are now religious and were not before," that they are "spiritual." This seems to be the new thing. So go ahead and disagree with me that being "spiritual" is more socially acceptable than saying you are religious.

You continue to demonstrate that you don’t actually understand how these words are used within faith communities. Talking about “spirituality” is a very common thing in Christianity and it doesn’t take a backseat to religiosity at all. I presume this is also true in other religions. When pp above says “spiritual community,” they’re using the words as they’re used to using them, and as they expect another believer to hear them—to mean the whole nine yards of services, adult Bible study, Sunday school, and the rest.

You’re applying your own distaste for the word “religion” to a spiritual community you don’t understand. And so you miss what these posters mean.

Saying “spiritual community” is certainly not some effort to seem “cool” to you and other internet strangers. What a bizarre thought.

Also, your jibe about “intelligent” people is unnecessary. Are you the earlier pp who called believers “dumb”? These little swipes and your obsession with whether somebody else wants to seem “cool” to you actually say a lot about your own maturity.

[Anonymous]

A “religious community” has meant monks and nuns for hundreds of years. Thus, the pp with kids said “spiritual community.”

How weird to think pp is trying to hide the fact that she goes to church by using the word “spiritual” in the middle of two paragraphs on rediscovering her faith. Or that she’d do that to seem cool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A “religious community” has meant monks and nuns for hundreds of years. Thus, the pp with kids said “spiritual community.”

How weird to think pp is trying to hide the fact that she goes to church by using the word “spiritual” in the middle of two paragraphs on rediscovering her faith. Or that she’d do that to seem cool.

Just like the anti-theists who hide behind the atheist moniker?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A “religious community” has meant monks and nuns for hundreds of years. Thus, the pp with kids said “spiritual community.”

How weird to think pp is trying to hide the fact that she goes to church by using the word “spiritual” in the middle of two paragraphs on rediscovering her faith. Or that she’d do that to seem cool.

she doesn't want to say she's religious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A “religious community” has meant monks and nuns for hundreds of years. Thus, the pp with kids said “spiritual community.”

How weird to think pp is trying to hide the fact that she goes to church by using the word “spiritual” in the middle of two paragraphs on rediscovering her faith. Or that she’d do that to seem cool.

Just like the anti-theists who hide behind the atheist moniker?

an atheist can be spiritual. In fact, aren't Buddhists atheist and spiritual?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A “religious community” has meant monks and nuns for hundreds of years. Thus, the pp with kids said “spiritual community.”

How weird to think pp is trying to hide the fact that she goes to church by using the word “spiritual” in the middle of two paragraphs on rediscovering her faith. Or that she’d do that to seem cool.

Just like the anti-theists who hide behind the atheist moniker?

an atheist can be spiritual. In fact, aren't Buddhists atheist and spiritual?

Personal religion is spirituality, defined as, “the feelings, acts, and experiences of individual men in their solitude, so far as they apprehend themselves to stand in relation to whatever they may consider the divine".

Religion is the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.

What are atheists “spiritual” about?

[Anonymous]

I liked this from Psychology Today

"[Spirituality is] about non-religious experiences that help them get in touch with their spiritual selves through quiet reflection, time in nature, private prayer, yoga, or meditation.

Many people identify as spiritual but not religious: With a few exceptions, the percentage of adults who identify as religious in many industrialized countries is declining, while remaining generally high in less developed nations. Even as religious affiliation decreases, though, a sense of spiritual identification could remain steady or even increase."

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/spirituality

someone who does not believe in god can nevertheless wonder what's out there, how it all got started, and be in awe of the universe, etc. Didn't Einstein say in that sense he was very spiritual?

[Anonymous]

question remains: why are people saying they're spiritual and avoiding saying they're religious?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:question remains: why are people saying they're spiritual and avoiding saying they're religious?

Question was answered. “Spirituality” means something very different to people of faith than to someone like yourself who thinks the word “religion” is somehow bad.

You’ve already been told that nobody here said they were “spiritual.” They talk about finding “spiritual meaning” and a “spiritual community.” Also, you were told that a “religious community” is a monastery or convent, thus the need to say “spiritual community.”

Clear now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:question remains: why are people saying they're spiritual and avoiding saying they're religious?

They aren’t. That’s something you’ve been pushing for the last 3-4 pages. By all means keep posting obsessively about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I liked this from Psychology Today

"[Spirituality is] about non-religious experiences that help them get in touch with their spiritual selves through quiet reflection, time in nature, private prayer, yoga, or meditation.

Many people identify as spiritual but not religious: With a few exceptions, the percentage of adults who identify as religious in many industrialized countries is declining, while remaining generally high in less developed nations. Even as religious affiliation decreases, though, a sense of spiritual identification could remain steady or even increase."

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/spirituality

someone who does not believe in god can nevertheless wonder what's out there, how it all got started, and be in awe of the universe, etc. Didn't Einstein say in that sense he was very spiritual?

“There may be a downside for people who avoid religion and spirituality altogether: Some research has indicated that eschewing “magical thinking” and being unable to identify patterns in the surrounding world may be linked to depression or anhedonia, the inability to experience pleasure.

Is religion good for you?
Overall, a large body of research suggests, religious attachment is generally beneficial for people. It is correlated with better health habits such as less smoking and drinking, an enhanced ability to cope with stress, and increased social support. “

from your link

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:question remains: why are people saying they're spiritual and avoiding saying they're religious?

I think this belongs in a new thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A “religious community” has meant monks and nuns for hundreds of years. Thus, the pp with kids said “spiritual community.”

How weird to think pp is trying to hide the fact that she goes to church by using the word “spiritual” in the middle of two paragraphs on rediscovering her faith. Or that she’d do that to seem cool.

Just like the anti-theists who hide behind the atheist moniker?

You can be both anti-theist and atheist at the same time. Against belief and not believing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:question remains: why are people saying they're spiritual and avoiding saying they're religious?

I think this belongs in a new thread.

Sure. Then 18:32 and I (18:31) will just post the same obvious responses to this non-issue again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:question remains: why are people saying they're spiritual and avoiding saying they're religious?

I think this belongs in a new thread.

I think you're right. I just noticed here how many said they were spiritual, presumably to avoid saying they are "religious," but it is a different thread.