# what does it mean to be "spiritual?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 28, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592 "2009-07-28T20:52:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592/21 "2009-07-29T01:00:51Z")
> [@NoJustice](#): > > Indeed. > In my experience, these “not religious but spiritual” people are simply those whose thinking processes are too random to stick to any particular dogma without committing blasphemy on a regular basis, but luckily they’re not smart enough to need the indoctrination or well thought out deceptions of longstanding religions to fool them. So they’re happy to just believe at any moment whatever makes them feel happy right then and ignore the fact that none of it makes any sense. Boy do I agree with you on this, butI don’t think I could word it as well/ ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592/22 "2009-07-29T02:22:20Z")
I remember how “spiritual” was used in some episodes of Star Trek: TNG. It typically meant the race being described has (or once had) rituals of some kind that could make cheesy special effects appear. ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592/23 "2009-07-29T02:32:49Z")
> [@NoJustice](#): > > In my experience, these “not religious but spiritual” people are simply those whose thinking processes are too random to stick to any particular dogma without committing blasphemy on a regular basis, but luckily they’re not smart enough to need the indoctrination or well thought out deceptions of longstanding religions to fool them. So they’re happy to just believe at any moment whatever makes them feel happy right then and ignore the fact that none of it makes any sense. Wow. Your eloquence leaves me in awe. Does that make me spiritual?:smack: ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592/24 "2009-07-29T02:45:08Z")
> [@Joe Frickin Friday](#): > > What would a person who is neither religious nor spiritual be like? I am an atheist and aspiritualist. I prefer to define myself as a “shrugnostic,” meaning that the entire question of God’s existence no longer has relevance to my life. Unfortunately, these terms define what I don’t believe, not what I do believe. I probably have as many beliefs as anyone else, but there’s nothing supernatural about them. Like most people I have a well-developed sense of ethics, but it’s not based on “commandments.” Nor am I a materialist; I believe in lots of things that cannot be seen or touched (reason, freedom, love, integrity, honesty, etc.). I consider myself a well-rounded human being, and think that my lack of religion or spirituality is an asset, not a liability. ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592/25 "2009-07-29T03:26:50Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I am an atheist and aspiritualist. I prefer to define myself as a “shrugnostic,” meaning that the entire question of God’s existence no longer has relevance to my life. Not to hijack the thread, but are you assuming that even if God existed, there was no afterlife or divinely-enforced consequence for earthly behavior? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592/26 "2009-07-29T03:44:50Z")
> [@Joe Frickin Friday](#): > > What does it mean to be “spiritual,” particularly in the absence of religion? For one thing, it involves massive consumption of spirits! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592/27 "2009-07-29T03:59:38Z")
“Spiritual” means “instead of reason and logic dictating my decision making processes, I tend to look towards the supernatural or mystical for guidance .” Or IOW, an “idiot” or “moron”. Someone who isn’t “spiritual” for example, can appreciate the beaty and magesty of things like the universe or a mountain vista for what it is. A phenomenon of nature. “Spiritual” people need to ascribe some “higher power” to it. ---
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592/28 "2009-07-29T04:52:25Z")
I’d say the difference is between listening to the voice of God through some intermediary (pastor, Bible, etc) and tuning into God through a meditative process. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592/29 "2009-07-29T05:59:10Z")
> [@athelas](#): > > Not to hijack the thread, but are you assuming that even if God existed, there was no afterlife or divinely-enforced consequence for earthly behavior? Yes, but I wouldn’t even go so far as saying “even if God existed” because I don’t believe such a God is possible. It’s just something I no longer think about as much as I used to. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592/30 "2009-07-29T13:47:18Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Nor am I a materialist; I believe in lots of things that cannot be seen or touched (reason, freedom, love, integrity, honesty, etc.). I’m not sure what you’re saying here - that doesn’t seem to follow. I consider myself a materialist, and I believe in reason, freedom, love, etc. ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592/31 "2009-07-29T14:32:11Z")
> [@Cagey\_Drifter](#): > > I’d say the difference is between listening to the voice of God through some intermediary (pastor, Bible, etc) and tuning into God through a meditative process. Seconded. IMO, an atheist is someone who cannot not accept as rational his beliefs about God and with good reason. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592/32 "2009-07-29T14:43:17Z")
I have to admit, I’m quite biased against the “I’m not religious, but I am spiritual” description. I can’t help but interpret it as a lame meaningless statement used to soften your image when you don’t want people to think that you are shallow. Something one might say to try pick someone up in a bar. I don’t think many people I’ve heard use this line have any real idea of what it means, rather they just think it makes them sound interesting. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592/33 "2009-07-29T15:34:47Z")
> [@Joe Frickin Friday](#): > > Every now and then I will hear somebody say “I’m not religious, but I am spiritual.” > > Can somebody make the distinction more clear? > > If I understand correctly, to be “religious” implies a certain set of beliefs, adherance to a particular dogma. > > What does it mean to be “spiritual,” particularly in the absence of religion? > > What would a person who is neither religious nor spiritual be like? I am a spiritual person. Spirituality has nothing to do with religion. It is following spiritual principles, most spiritual people that I know have had spiritual experiences such as near death experiences, OBEs, Visions, ADCs, Pre-birth knowledge, Past Life knowledge, Lucid Dreams, and other forms of spiritual experiences. However there are some spiritual people who have not seen yet believe and understand spirituality through practice. It is not what you do that makes you spiritual, but what you feel, and see in life. You are aware of your own spirituality and the meaning and purpose of physical life. The only rule is the rule of spiritual love, which has nothing to do with physical love. There are spiritual churches, very few, most just meet at someone’s home and enjoy the company of life believing people. There is a great deal more, but this is a good outline. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592/34 "2009-07-29T15:43:41Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > “Not religious but spiritual” tends to mean, “I believe in some kind of god(s), but don’t inend to let him/them tell me to stop doing anything I like doing, or to make me start doing anything I don’t like.” > > Yoga, meditation, New Age crystals, tantric sex, watered-down Eastern mysticism? Yes. > > Self-denial, ritual, worship, sacrifice, generosity? No. Bingo! It’s a combination of “burden me not with your requirements!” and “I am \*not \*shallow!”. With a side of woo woo. \*\*Eve \*\*once asked this same question, I remember. Og, I miss her. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592/35 "2009-07-29T15:59:29Z")
There used to be a category (or perhaps still is) for “religion” on [Match.com](http://Match.com) that was “Spiritual, but not religious.” Contained within that category seemed to be the following: 1. Someone who is agnostic or atheist but doesn’t want to state this publicly. 2. Someone who vaguely believes that there is an afterlife or some sort of greater cosmic justice, or possibly just karma. 3. Someone whose beliefs are a convenient hodgepodge of various “faiths”: they can adhere to a few ideas that make them feel happy and “connected,” but not have to commit to anything. 4. Someone who is basically just a wacko. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592/36 "2009-07-29T16:08:37Z")
I say I am not religious but spiritual. To me, it is just a short hand way of saying: I stop for introspection often. I don’t believe in a “soul” but I believe this inner self of me, the combination of mind + body + personality needs caretaking as much as my physical body. I appreciate beauty wherever I can find it without attributing it to a God. I cultivate an inner Zen. I meditate. I believe in a global society and that we’re all the same, really - that we’re all human and we woud do well to remember that. I also believe in the concept of my duty on this earth, and to a generalized concept of karma, if I do good things, good things will happen to me. I believe in almost no woo-woo bullshit. I would say “absolutely none” but I hate to be so firm on anything. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592/37 "2009-07-29T16:17:38Z")
I would agree with the definition of “spiritual” as “religious without commitment”. Think of it as telling God “I love you but I still need to see other people”. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592/38 "2009-07-29T16:24:25Z")
To me, ‘religious’ means ‘belonging to an organized religion’, and ‘spiritual’ means ‘interested in such things, and possibly believing in them, but _not_ belonging to an organized religion’. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592/39 "2009-07-29T16:52:02Z")
The way I’ve heard it used is generally in an oppositional sense: as in, “I’m not materialistic, and nor am I a member of any established religion”. Actual _content_ of the “not materialsitic” beliefs vary widely, of course, from the sublime to the ridiculous (as is the nature of people, more of the latter than he former! 😃 ). Most well-informed people avoid pinning this label on themselves for the same reason few actual mystics want to be called “mystics”: a strong popular association with various sorts of charlitanism and new age type nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592/40 "2009-07-29T17:04:58Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > To me, ‘religious’ means ‘belonging to an organized religion’, and ‘spiritual’ means ‘interested in such things, and possibly believing in them, but _not_ belonging to an organized religion’. I’ve always taken it to mean “I believe in God, you know, _just in case_, but I like having my Sundays free.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-it-mean-to-be-spiritual/504592.md?page=3)