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Fr. Christopher argues that the idea of being "spiritual but not religious" is a misconception. He asserts that spirituality is inherently religious based on the definitions and origins of the words "spiritual" and "religious." Spirituality refers to things concerning the soul or spirit, which are religious concepts originating from God. Likewise, religion is about the relationship between humans and God. Therefore, one cannot truly have spirituality without religion or vice versa. He claims people use the phrase "spiritual but not religious" to avoid acknowledging their egoism and desire for an unbound individualism that rejects obligations to God.
Fr. Christopher argues that the idea of being "spiritual but not religious" is a misconception. He asserts that spirituality is inherently religious based on the definitions and origins of the words "spiritual" and "religious." Spirituality refers to things concerning the soul or spirit, which are religious concepts originating from God. Likewise, religion is about the relationship between humans and God. Therefore, one cannot truly have spirituality without religion or vice versa. He claims people use the phrase "spiritual but not religious" to avoid acknowledging their egoism and desire for an unbound individualism that rejects obligations to God.
Fr. Christopher argues that the idea of being "spiritual but not religious" is a misconception. He asserts that spirituality is inherently religious based on the definitions and origins of the words "spiritual" and "religious." Spirituality refers to things concerning the soul or spirit, which are religious concepts originating from God. Likewise, religion is about the relationship between humans and God. Therefore, one cannot truly have spirituality without religion or vice versa. He claims people use the phrase "spiritual but not religious" to avoid acknowledging their egoism and desire for an unbound individualism that rejects obligations to God.
The latest book from perennial sophomore in religion, Dr. Sam Harris, is the perfect occasion to take a moment and clear up a prevailing misconception. In Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion, Dr. Harris states, Spirituality must be distinguished from religion because people of every faith, and of none, have had the same sorts of spiritual experiences. He goes on to argue that it is a mistake to interpret such events through the lens of one or another religious doctrine. True to form, Dr. Harris demonstrates just enough religious understanding to establish what liCle religious understanding he actually possesses. To some degree, he can be forgiven this ill- conceived treatise. He doesnt have a degree in religion, theology, or even philosophy. He has a Ph.D. in neuroscience. No maCer how popular, Dr. Harris simply hasnt done the hard work necessary to be able to actually contribute in any substantive way to the discourses surrounding religion. Compounding this, a recent survey of Americans found that 20 percent now describe themselves as spiritual but not religious. They are, no doubt, the target audience here. Like Dr. Harris, they too struggle with a basic misconception easily remedied with some basic theology coursework. But forgiveness always comes with penance. And in this case, penance takes the form of correction. To be blunt: Dr. Harris and those who mistakenly describe themselves as spiritual but not religious misunderstand what exactly spiritual and religious mean. This misunderstanding leads to the false idea that a person can have one without the other. This is simply not true. Spirituality is religious. The reverse holds true as well. Religion is spiritual. This is not to say that feelings or emotions like awe, wonder, insignicance in the face of natural grandeur, and any other such emotion is inherently religious. Its true that everyone experiences or can experience these emotions, including Dr. Harris. But, we arent discussing emotion here. People dont say, I prefer awe and wonder without religion. The title of his latest book is not called Waking Up: A Guide to Awe and Wonder Without Religion. No, our topic is spirituality. The word spiritual means of or pertaining to, aecting or concerning, the spirit (OED). It is noted that the word is used frequently in expressing or implying a distinction between the material and nonmaterial; the body and the soul. As soon as we leave behind the material, the physical, the measurable, the predictable, we have entered into the realm of metaphysics, the realm of theology, the realm of religion. To be clear, spirit or soul and those states, conditions, or qualities relating to it are religious notions.