Why I am Religious, not Spiritual.
Religion seems to get a bad rap in the world.
I used to be one who would say, “I am spiritual, not religious.” I recall saying that to a co-worker about 15 years ago thinking that it was an original thought.
Religion, in its truest sense is practiced in community and binds us to one another and God. That seems like a good thing. I am no expert on religion but I have rarely if ever had problems with a religion.
The problem is with people…
and the way they practice their religion...
or live out their so-called spirituality.
When one’s spiritual belief based on one’s religion divides and separates out of a need to control and coerce others to think, believe and act with the same presuppositions, problems arise. Institutionalized dogmas practiced by people who operate from a mode of fear have done more damage to humankind than any secular culture in history. Like Jung said, “One of the main functions of organized religion is to protect people from having a direct experience of God.” I suspect this is because of control and fear.
To paraphrase Anne Lamott, when you God hates everything that you hate there’s a good chance you need to examine your God.
This morning I was meditating on the character of Jesus as I imagined him to be based on my readings of the Gospels. Jesus didn’t seem to be concerned with control and coercion. His life and message seemed about freedom of human spirit and love, and had very little if nothing to do with attempting to start a new religion and place boundaries on people and God. I was reading the Gospel of Mark and he never pointed to himself but to God’s presence in the here and now. Luke records Jesus claiming that the “kingdom” of God is in you. Jesus seemed most concerned with helping folks awaken to their true identity as children of God and then to live as one who is loved and created in the image of God.
I often say that I don’t have the guts to follow Jesus so I settle for being a Christian. For to follow Jesus would require that I let go of parts of myself—to become empty of ego and pride and be “filled” with the Spirit; to be compassionate as God is compassionate; to include not exclude. To follow Jesus would urge me to drop my prejudices that allow me to exclude others who think differently than me. To follow Jesus would suggest that I actually practice my spirituality in the world in a way that helps others awaken to the kingdom of God in them. To follow Jesus would mean that I live out my spirituality in such a way that others who are suppressed and oppressed by religion and nationality would free to be fully human. To follow Jesus would mean that I actually loved my enemies and prayed for those who persecuted me. Can you imagine a spirituality that was based or rooted in love? No offense, but it’s a bitch to live a spiritual life-- it takes faith-- no wonder we settle for religion.
Actually religion may not be all that bad, for it often seems that many folks through history who claim to be spiritual actually suck at practicing their spirituality.
That’s why I now say, I am religious, not spiritual.
7 Comments:
You always make me think....that is quite a task this early in the morning. I try so hard to get rid of all the "chattle" that religion carries with it, but sometimes I think if I lose all of that I will just be nothing!
Being spiritual is a bitch indeed.
Thanks Rick, once again you've hit me between the eyes. You have my attention.
B~
What do you do with the phrase "Christianity is not a religion; it's a relationship?" Thanks,
A friend of mine and I used to remark that we should get t-shirts made that said, "I'm Religious, not Spiritual." As per usual, you have written an excellent post, Rick, and given me much to ponder.
Thanks,
-R
Thank you for this. The story of the prodigal son comes to mind -- the father rushed to embrace, to include, to honor the errant son, rather than to condemn and exclude him. Imagine the son's relief and astonishment, and imagine how such a demonstration of grace enabled the Kingdom of God to grow within him!
As Leonard Sweet writes in his book, Out of the Question, Into the Mystery:
"The father in the story had been shamefully treated and taken advantage of. Yet he was forgiving, and threw a party. The elder brother in the story had not been wronged, yet he was the unforgiving one."
What a picture of the church-as-we-so-often-experience-it these attitudes and actions of the older brother are. No wonder so many human souls over the centuries have been so damaged by the church.
Again, thanks for the nourishing words.
I guess I have trouble understanding why anyone has to be religious OR spiritual. Why can't we just enjoy God? ... and let the world come to it's own conclusions?
....a very thought provoking post...it is a messy journey and yet the whole of following Him hard as it is once begun is harder and harder to deny...failure is inevitable quitting becomes no longer an option...thanks
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