“Spiritual, But Not Religious” Culture

I remember it like it was yesterday - two coworkers talking openly about their religious beliefs. But there was something different about this conversation that made it stand out from other religious conversations I had heard. One of my coworkers was talking about jewels she had at home, about how each of these jewels had different “chakras” or powers. The other responded in agreement and added that she believed the moon had powers over humanity and that everything good and bad in her life could be attributed to the moon’s different phases.

Reading this you might think it was the strangeness of these beliefs that stuck out to me, but it wasn’t the views themselves as much as the people who held them. I recognized these views as a blend of Hindu, Buddhist, and Animistic beliefs, but what struck me is that my coworkers would not have labeled themselves as a Hindu, a Buddhist, or an Animist – merely, “spiritual.” This is but one example of the growing popularity of identifying with the phrase, “spiritual, but not religious.”

Spiritual, But Not Religious

As I approach this subject, I think it is helpful to first define the phrase, “spiritual, but not religious.” To be fair to those who subscribe to this phrase, I want to first say that there are multiple expressions that will vary person-to-person. Therefore, not everyone will fit into my definition. However, generally speaking, those who describe themselves as “spiritual, but not religious” have a deep interest in the Supernatural or Divine. Like Christians, Muslims, and Hindus, they believe that there are spiritual powers at work every day. They would not, however, identify with an established religious tradition. This is because their goal is to be in touch with the Divine in a way that fits them uniquely as individuals.

While it may seem strange to some, I believe this is the logical end to the radical individualism our culture celebrates. In Eastern traditions, the goal of spirituality is to conform to the social structure set about by the Ancients. However, as Western culture continues to dive deeper into praising the individual, it should be no surprise that this has an impact on how our culture views religion. Simply put, if truth is relative, why can’t I pick and choose aspects of religion that best fit me?

This obviously creates a difficult situation for Christians to speak into because we believe that truth is not relative, but absolute. We believe that God has spoken to us in His Word, and without this source of truth, we would be unable to have any meaningful connection to the Divine. How, then, should we as Christians engage with those who affirm spirituality but denounce religion? I believe this cultural trend presents a few challenges as well as some opportunities.

The Challenge and the Opportunity

The first challenge of this ideology is that it creates perceived common ground so long as the values of relative truth are upheld. My spiritual coworkers were always encouraging one another in their beliefs, even when they contradicted one another. They would even encourage me in my Christian faith as well. But the undertone of this spirituality is that all our beliefs are equally valid and cannot be challenged, a sentiment that Bible-believing Christians cannot agree with in light of Jesus' exclusive truth claims. (John 14:6)

Another challenge this ideology presents is that it holds personal feelings as its foundation. This means that even when obvious logical contradictions present themselves, this will not be enough for a spiritual person to abandon their beliefs because, after all, it still makes them feel good. There is an obvious challenge here: those who have religious faith are interested in what is true about the world they inhabit, while those who are “spiritual, but not religious” are primarily interested in how those truths make them feel.

While these challenges are significant, I am optimistic about this cultural swing because I believe it also presents opportunities for gospel proclamation. The first reason I am optimistic is because this swing shows that our culture is hungry for an encounter with something (or Someone) beyond themselves. When I was young, Christians were seen as foolish for believing in an invisible God who created the Heavens and the Earth, but with this turning of the cultural tide, it seems there may come a day when our culture sees the validity of our beliefs.

The other reason I am optimistic about this cultural shift is that it encourages humble listening and learning about the things that matter most. Again, growing up it was very difficult to discuss my Christian faith with my unbelieving friends, but because of the growing interest in the Divine, I believe it will become easier for Christians to enter these conversations. What will be key is the posture we hold as we enter the conversation. As we take a genuine interest in others’ beliefs, we can be sure that they will respond in kind, allowing God to plant the gospel in their hearts. (Matthew 16:23)

The Beauty of True Spirituality

I would like to conclude this blog post by examining why being “spiritual, but not religious” ultimately does not satisfy our hunger for the Divine and by showing how Biblical Christianity presents spirituality in its truest form.

As I shared in the story I began with, this ideology does not ultimately satisfy because it is an “a la carte” approach to spirituality. Those who subscribe to this thinking will take aspects of several different faith traditions and mesh them into one. Logically this does not work because many of these faith traditions contradict each other in meaningful ways. Ultimately an “a la carte” approach to spirituality promises to value many different religious traditions, but it ends up not taking any of them seriously.

Another issue with this approach is that it treats the Divine as a servant to our feelings. It has no interest in engaging in a relationship with God, but rather, it uses God for how He can make me feel today. Simply put, you can’t have meaningful contact with anyone, let alone God, while attempting to use them. Further, while Biblical Christianity promotes submitting to who God has revealed Himself to be, (Exodus 3:14) this mindset flips this relationship on its head saying, “I will accept the parts about God that I like.” In a sense, it is man’s attempt to fashion God in our image. To be blunt, it is self-worship in disguise.

It is easy to understand the motivation behind this ideology - people are burnt out on God telling them how they should live. But it misses an essential truth that true spirituality always comes in the form of relationship. True spirituality is not a feeling we give ourselves, but it is God extending a hand in friendship to those who do not deserve Him.

There is beauty in this. It is a beautiful thing when someone responds to God’s love by submitting to His authority. The result of the gospel is giving up on controlling the Supernatural and giving God His primary place in our hearts. This is what it looks like to be in relationship with God, when we respond like Jesus, who gave up his will, trusting that the Father knows best. He knows what we need, and He sent His Son to accomplish it for us, proving His love once and for all. The cross is evidence that when we submit to God’s will above our own, it will always be for our good and His glory.

In conclusion, I am thankful that God does not allow us to use Him. I’m glad He prizes a relationship with me over and against merely what He can do for me. Let’s rejoice today that the God of the universe hears our voice, rescues us in Christ, and allows us to participate in this divine relationship with Him. Maybe if we grasp the beauty of this relationship, others will want a relationship with Him too.

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” – John 4:23