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I get the impression that what bothers you the most is the fact that you can't "sort" spiritual people into your little boxes of preconceived notions and stereotypes
No, it's just that it's currently THE thing to say. Never heard it before 1995 or 2000. Prior to that, people who believed in a greater power but did not have it all worked out said "I'm agnostic." I don't bristle at "agnostic," because there is an honesty about it.
It's kind of like some words pertain to certain eras - "biotchen" was 70-ish and "awesome" was more 80-ish/90-ish, though it continues today.
No, it's just that it's currently THE thing to say. Never heard it before 1995 or 2000. Prior to that, people who believed in a greater power but did not have it all worked out said "I'm agnostic." I don't bristle at "agnostic," because there is an honesty about it.
It's kind of like some words pertain to certain eras - "biotchen" was 70-ish and "awesome" was more 80-ish/90-ish, though it continues today.
Ptsum explained to you the difference between a religious follower and a spiritual person beautifully. Sometimes a person is spiritual and in a religion but not always. Sometimes a religious person is not spiritual, they just follow the rules.
It's not about being "trendy" but no one expects you to understand that.
When did it become popular to answer the question of religious affiliation with "I'm spiritual?" That's another great catch-all trite phrase which means absolutely nothing. Seriously, is there a baseline for even pulling this answer apart? When I get that answer, my thought is "this is someone I can't even relate to."
The other "goodies:" a lot of the people that call themselves "spiritual" seem to like Eastern thought and philosophy, yet they don't practice any of the religions of the Eastern world. Those religions have temples that people belong to, just like neighborhood churches, in their respective neighborhoods in a city. The people I see filing into these places are all ethnic. Are these "spiritual" people Richard Gere-wannabees?
Does someone want to take a crack at this one?
Well the answer to the question in the first sentence of this paragraph, which I suspect is not REALLY a question but a lead-in device to say what you wanted to say in the second sentence, is "during the Oprah years".
No, it's just that it's currently THE thing to say. Never heard it before 1995 or 2000. Prior to that, people who believed in a greater power but did not have it all worked out said "I'm agnostic." I don't bristle at "agnostic," because there is an honesty about it.
It's kind of like some words pertain to certain eras - "biotchen" was 70-ish and "awesome" was more 80-ish/90-ish, though it continues today.
But when I say "I'm spiritual" I am being honest. It's not that "I don't have it figured out". I'm not agnostic. I believe in God--and I'm sure of it. I believe in the spiritual realm. That makes me "spiritual".
But when I say "I'm spiritual" I am being honest. It's not that "I don't have it figured out". I'm not agnostic. I believe in God--and I'm sure of it. I believe in the spiritual realm. That makes me "spiritual".
That's where the term came into use, I guess. People needed something to describe that, instead of "I'm not religious, but..."
And it's hardly trendy. I wasn't kidding when I said the term became popular during the Oprah years, because that's when most people first heard it, but we're talking a term that's been in common use for a couple of decades now. Hardly trendy.
Not only that, but can anyone, especially robertpolyglot (who seems to take such issue with the term) suggest any other terminology? How else would I describe the fact that I:
1. Believe in God as the highest vibration of love (not an anthropomorphic model).
2. Believe in energy, spirits, spirit guides, the spiritual dimension, etc.
3. Do not believe in the Bible, Torah, Qur'an, or any other religious textbook.
4. Do not believe in Jesus, Abraham, Muhammad, Buddha, the Dao, Baha'ullah, etc.
5. Do not align myself with any organized religion--not even one centered around spirituality (such as when psychic mediums--who I am probably aligned with strongly in terms of beliefs--set up churches and give them a specific name).
6. Practice my sense of spirituality, both through personal rituals (that are really just about the intention and not the acts), and use it in everyday life.
I wasn't kidding when I said the term became popular during the Oprah years, because that's when most people first heard it, but we're talking a term that's been in common use for a couple of decades now.
Oprah's two contributions to society:
- the term spiritual
- the increased openness in talking about prior sexual abuse
Why doesn't she take some of her money and create some high-rises called the Winfrey Towers to house the cold, starving, and unsheltered people in Chicago. God knows she's got enough money to wipe her big a$$ with.
Not only that, but can anyone, especially robertpolyglot (who seems to take such issue with the term) suggest any other terminology? How else would I describe the fact that I:
1. Believe in God as the highest vibration of love (not an anthropomorphic model).
2. Believe in energy, spirits, spirit guides, the spiritual dimension, etc.
3. Do not believe in the Bible, Torah, Qur'an, or any other religious textbook.
4. Do not believe in Jesus, Abraham, Muhammad, Buddha, the Dao, Baha'ullah, etc.
5. Do not align myself with any organized religion--not even one centered around spirituality (such as when psychic mediums--who I am probably aligned with strongly in terms of beliefs--set up churches and give them a specific name).
6. Practice my sense of spirituality, both through personal rituals (that are really just about the intention and not the acts), and use it in everyday life.
What other term is there?
Just like you've elaborated. It can be distilled to "I believe in God, but not in organized religion."
Just like you've elaborated. It can be distilled to "I believe in God, but not in organized religion."
I believe in more than just God, though. If that were the case, I would just call myself "theist", or something more specific like "deist" or "pantheist". Some of these terms (like "theist") still have connotations of believing in an anthropomorphic God. I specifically believe in the spiritual realm, which is not included in any of the terms I just mentioned—expect, of course, "spiritual". To add to that, what do I fill out on forms and drop-down lists (which usually have a term like "spiritual" available but not the phrase "I believe in God but not organized religion")? Plus, why would I waste a whole phrase when I can convey the same concept in a word?
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, is "during the Oprah years".
