Spirituality, Religion and Faith

I read this article about Spirituality versus Religion. Like the writer, I have also heard a lot of people tell me that they are spiritual but not religious. The terms are never defined.

The sloppy use of words leads to sloppy thinking. In general people who are spiritual but not religious seem to define religious as either belonging to a particular denomination or having firm beliefs in what is right and wrong based on their faith. The definition they use of spiritual seems to be whatever they want. For some it is the feeling that they are part of a larger universe, for others it can be that they are somehow in tune with nature.

The word spirit, in a religious discussion, really refers to believing that our essence is not material, that it is beyond the physical. If one is spiritual, meaning that they believe they are more than their body, then one should investigate what the nature of the spiritual world is.

People have said to me over the years that there are so many different religions that it proves they are all wrong. This is really lazy thinking. There are lots of different beliefs in politics, that does not mean there are not better ways to do things. Just because there is a lot of wrong thinking does not mean there is no correct answers and that is the beginning of the search. The search is not for spirituality, it is supposed to be a search for the truth.

I do not believe any one of us is capable of fully knowing the truth, we are limited beings. Each of us understands things slightly differently. The truth I know may be different than the truth you know; but, they can both be the truth. Like the blind men and the elephant, one can know the trunk and one can know the ear and one can know the leg. The Universe is like that, it is too big for anyone to know all at once.

If we seek the truth we find ourselves. We discover how others effect us and how we effect them. Spirituality is not an individual journey, it is a great journey of learning how "we" connect. Buddha was a spiritual man; but, not religious. He was very interested in how we impacted each other, he cared about other spirits, human ones. For some becoming spiritual does not involve God; but, it must still be about others.

Spirituality without belief is not spirituality. If you believe in nothing you will fall for anything, as it is said. There has been a debate over whether or not certain denominations should give up on their beliefs because they are no longer popular in order to retain membership. This is logically insane.

Because it is a popular argument I will use homosexuality as an example. The Catholic Church and the Mormon Church both believe that homosexuality is a sin. As a Christian (I do not belong to any denomination) I would agree. Okay, now what. Lust is a sin, as a lustful man, I would still agree that it is. I think what I am trying to say is that we are all sinners, the question is what actions should be prohibited and what are appropriate restraints on people.

New York has become the last state to pass No Fault Divorce. No Fault Divorce means that you can commit adultery and have your ex-spouse pay you money. Why can we reward adultery and punish gays? Is that in the bible?

In the New Testament there is the story of an adulterer and the men of the town were about to stone her to death. Jesus says to them, let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Nobody throws a stone. If it had been a gay man, would Jesus have said differently? I think not.

I have had many a gay man ask me if I thought homosexuality is a sin. I always tell them yes and then give my explanation. I am not aware of any of them ever being angry at me for my answer. They rarely ask me why I think it is a sin, they have usually been more interested in what I think should be done about sin. Most sin is between the sinner and God, it is not my business. When people make other people unwilling participants it has societal effects that we can protect ourselves from.

I have a problem with how the Catholic church is being run. It cannot condemn gays and then not assist in the prosecution of Priests who have molested little boys. The gay men I have met do not look for little boys or to force anyone. For me, laws should not be based on spiritual beliefs, they should be based on consent, informed and rational consent.

It is not for me to tell another person they are a sinner absent a close relationship. That is between them and God. It is for me to stop them from stealing my car. That is between them and me. It is also not for us to outlaw boxing just because someone might get hurt. That has willing consent.

I detest mixed martial arts; but, I would not outlaw it. I also will not watch it.

The denominations will completely disappear if they cease having beliefs. What needs to change is how they act on those beliefs. The church is supposed to be a collection of people who believe in God not a collection of bullies. We are to be bound by love for one another not by hate of others.

The issue is not individual spirituality, it is about finding the truth and then finding the most loving way to live by that truth. It is not about being right, it is about making things better. That comes from love.

"Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous, love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offense, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes. Love does not come to an end."

The quote from the bible says that "Love takes no pleasure in other people's sin but delights in the truth". A casual reader might read the words and assume that it means that love does not enjoy sin; but, that is a limited reading based on the context. I believe it refers to feeling you are better because other people are worse. A common attitude in the church at present.

We are told that as believers we should always have an explanation for why we believe. We are not told to force those beliefs down anyone's throat or look down upon those who believe differently. "Spiritual" people, religious or not, frequently have few beliefs, it is often a search for "inner peace" rather than the truth.

For the church, any church, to have relevance it must seek the truth and do so in a loving way rather than a self-righteous way. If it gives up the truth it does not matter how big it grows, it ceases being relevant. If believers do not live by their beliefs then they are not of Christ. His explanation was, "Love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself". I do not believe that the church should be involved in politics either. I do not believe the churches focus should be on charity. I believe it's focus should be on God.