Are you "Spiritual" or "Religious"?
A Growing Battle in Faith
Why We Need Both Religion and Spirituality: A Framework for Growth
In our modern age, a growing number of people describe themselves as "spiritual but not religious." For some, the word “religion” carries connotations of rigidity, hypocrisy, or oppressive structures. They feel that their personal spiritual journey can thrive only when liberated from the perceived constraints of organized faith. But is this rejection of religion truly beneficial for our spiritual lives? Or does it strip us of a necessary framework for growth, maturity, and the safeguarding of truth?
Let’s explore why “religion” isn’t a dirty word and why it might be precisely what our spirituality needs.
Religion as the Soil for Spiritual Growth
Religion, at its best, provides structure, community, and accountability. It offers a space for spirituality to mature, much like soil provides nourishment for a seed to grow. Without this structure, spirituality can become untethered, vulnerable to being shaped by personal whims or societal trends rather than by enduring truths.
Consider this: if spirituality is the pursuit of connection with the divine, religion offers a map and tools for that pursuit. Religious traditions—when faithfully practiced—are not cages but trellises, guiding spiritual growth in a way that ensures it remains fruitful and aligned with objective truth.
The Bible itself testifies to the necessity of structure. In the Old Testament, God provided Israel with the Law as a means of guiding their relationship with Him (Exodus 20). The psalmist later declares, “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul” (Psalm 19:7, NIV). Religion, rooted in divine revelation, provides clarity and boundaries, preventing us from wandering into dangerous territory.
The Danger of Untethered Spirituality
When spirituality is severed from the boundaries of religion, it becomes vulnerable to individualism, where personal feelings and interpretations reign supreme. Without the guiding truths of faith traditions, we risk creating "truths" that reflect our desires rather than God's will.
St. Paul warned Timothy about such dangers: “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3, NIV). This is the peril of a purely subjective spirituality—it can lead to heresy or self-worship, disguised as enlightenment.
What Jesus Criticized
Many point to Jesus’ critiques of the Pharisees and other religious leaders as evidence that He opposed religion itself. But this is a misunderstanding. Jesus did not condemn religion; He condemned hypocrisy, pride, and the elevation of human traditions above God’s commands (Mark 7:8). His harshest rebukes were directed not at the Law or the temple system but at those who misused them for selfish gain.
Jesus Himself participated in religious rituals. He attended synagogue (Luke 4:16), observed the Passover (Luke 22:7-8), and emphasized the importance of Scripture (Matthew 5:17). He sought to purify religion, not abolish it, showing us that religion and spirituality can—and must—coexist in harmony.
Religion as a Safeguard Against Self-Deception
Human beings are fallible. Left to our own devices, we are prone to drift toward beliefs and practices that suit our preferences rather than God's truth. Religion, with its teachings, sacraments, and communal accountability, acts as a safeguard against this tendency. It reminds us that faith is not merely personal but communal and covenantal.
The Catholic theologian G.K. Chesterton once said, "The Church is the only thing that saves a man from the degrading slavery of being a child of his age." Religion anchors us in eternal truths, enabling our spirituality to flourish within boundaries that protect and nurture rather than restrict.
A Call to Reconciliation
Rather than pitting spirituality against religion, we should seek a reconciliation of the two. Religion without spirituality can become hollow and legalistic, while spirituality without religion risks becoming shallow and self-centered. Together, they form a holistic approach to faith, offering both the intimacy of personal connection with God and the richness of shared tradition.
The writer of Hebrews captures this balance beautifully: “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25, NIV). Religion provides the community, encouragement, and structure needed for spiritual growth.
Conclusion: A Framework for Faith
Religion is not the enemy of spirituality but its partner. It provides the space, tools, and accountability for our spiritual journeys to thrive. As we navigate our relationship with God, let us embrace the richness of religious traditions while guarding against the pride and legalism that can distort them. When practiced authentically, religion and spirituality together can guide us "always toward the light" of truth, grace, and eternal life.
Faith is a journey, and we are not meant to travel it alone. Let religion be the map and spirituality the traveler, each dependent on the other to reach the destination: union with God.