spiritual x religious

Spoiler alert: Many people today aren't into organized religion. Shocking, right! Instead many people identify as spiritual-not-religious. And, hey, as far as I'm concerned, that's okay. Everybody's got to live where they are. For these lovely folks, spirituality is based on loose and transient practices encountered through a combination of chance, tradition, experimentation, convenience, social influence, outside influences, financial availability, perceived value, perceived alignment to their authentic self, and so on. As a person and their life situation changes—perhaps a new work schedule or a gift certificate to try out a new class—their spiritual practices adapt and flow seamlessly into their new life factors.

Further, often today's spiritual-seekers draw from a melange of imported world influences, the most obvious being Buddist meditation, Indian/Hindu yoga, Zen concepts of simplicity and balance, and, let's face it, Rastafarian smoking. Also, popular inspirations for personal spirituality include: medical-based relaxation techniques, Roman Catholic icons ands candle-lighting, Protestant Christian prayer, Oprah- guru- and self-help-inspired self-improvement, drumming workshops, silence retreats, pagan/folkloric/esoteric practices/influences/art, watching babies/puppies on YouTube, non-violent activism (like OccupyWallStreet), Asian TaiChi and Qigong martial arts, outdoor music festivals, massage and spa treatments, participation in major Christian festivals via consumer participation (ie: Christmas), purchasing of consumer goods (such as t-shirts with chillax messages), social media, etc. It's a global economy, and that includes global competition and influence in areas of spirituality, religion and the "feel good" arts.

It is interesting to understand where people are finding connection to silence within and powers larger than themselves. I also find it interesting how some people comfortably and proudly self-identify along the lines of their chosen spiritual practices... as long as it isn't based in an organized religion. Spiritual-not-religious (SNR) people kind of have it made: power to assert their personal right to practice a self-specific transient spirituality, without the drag of collective responsability to a larger community.

Obviously, spiritual practitioners are doing their thing both inside, outside and beyond the traditional framework of organized religion. For example, last fall I took a course on qigong, a beautiful slow-mo meditative martial art. I loved it. I wasn't out as a Christian in this group, and I really didn't need to be. Group members barely spoke to another beyond polite "excuse me" here and there. I came and left an individual. Feeling empowered with my new skill, connected and grounded through the movement and breath-work. I attended the group because I was open to it, and I found it. Simple, really. Months later, I've kept up: "I practice qigong". No label needed beyond a simple description of my practice.

The qigong class delivered on its promise: to teach me qigong. Mission: accomplished. I now know how to do two flow series of qigong, and enjoy it greatly. It makes me wonder: is religion promising beyond what it can deliver? I'm not talking about God or the life-giving spirit of Jesus. I'm talking humanly-organized-religious-institutions. What is being promised? What delivered? And how can those disconnects be reconciled?

The rub really occurs when Spiritual-not-Religious people meet Religious-not-Spiritual people. Both groups experience a disconnect and major challenge to their expectations of the other. I intuit (with no concrete data here) that many spiritual seekers have found the connection they sought only after leaving organized religion and experimenting with adjunct or alternative spirituality practices (such as meditation/yoga). Post-religious people soon realize that organized religion doesn't have the monopoly on spirituality that it claims to have.

Similarly, Religious-not-Spiritual people cautiously approach Spiritual-not-Religious people as sadly disregarding the rich value of the tradition of their religions and communities. They may consider the SNR folks a bit individualistic, failing to give back by participating in a wider circle. They also feel sadness and loss at having lost someone, wondering what they did wrong, and how they can re-build the connection.

Budding theologians—such as myself, for example ;) —consider, by definition, God to be in the connections, to be The Connection. For me, practicing spirituality within and beyond a religious context provides the most connections to myself and to others also seeking to make connections, within the 4th dimension of time (our tradition and our modern world).

Truly living our values and qualities-of-spirit is hard, hard work. Other people challenge our patience, our empathy and our ability to walk humbly every day. I believe there is value in being with people where they are at: as we all have something to learn from eachother. Through dialogue we will find commonalitites that can inform our connection to God and eachother wherever we are at right now.

What can we learn from SNR and RNS people? First, take responsability for your spiritual life. Try new things, experiment with connecting to the still, small voice within: that is God. Second, take responsability for your connection with others; confirm your spiritual gifts by practicing them within a community, as that is God too. Exchange your modern, living spirituality and share the wisdom of your ancient traditions with eachother, so that each may be challenged, flourish and grow.

I'm not telling anyone what to do here. I'm just saying that for me, I'll be at meditation on Thursday, and at church on Sunday. xo