Spiritual but not Religious (SBNR)

[TheMonster]

What do you think about people who say they are "Spiritual but not Religious"?

They are not atheist, or religious or even agnostic... do their views actually hold up?

I think they believe in a higher power, but do not endorse any religion or creed as such.

[Minimalist]

I think they are mightily confused.

[vorlon13]

To the extent necessary (decreasingly, obviously over the years) I employed it when I washed up in 12 Steppers. RR eschews it, but they weren't around yet when I cratered.

I'm not hostile to fellow 12 Steppers that find it useful/necessary, there being some psychology behind it's employ with addicts. 12 Steppers don't, as a habit, divulge the psych angle rationale, but I have been known to.

[Dystopia]

I think spiritual but not religious mostly means that you are some kind of agnostic deist and have some spiritual beliefs, usually influenced by paganism and neo-paganism.

[Thumpalumpacus]

As long as they treat me decently, I don't care one way or the other what they believe.

[TheMonster]

Their beliefs do not make any sense though!

[robvalue]

Yeah, as long as they're not hurting anyone, they can get on with it.

I view spirituality as an imaginary extension of reality for people who find regular reality either too boring or too complicated.

Quite right, it's a load of rubbish. But they hold onto it most likely for emotional reasons, or because they were brought up that way.

[Longhorn]

But they hold onto it most likely for emotional reasons, or because they were brought up that way.

.....or, imagine that, quite possibly, that they have had experiences in life that made them arrive at this belief? You know, a crazy notion, maybe they actually think it's true?

I don't mean to be rude, and I'm sorry if I come off that way, but it's a bit like when theists say that atheists disbelieve because they're angry at god or hate rules. Don't get me wrong, I have been guilty of saying that many times and it may not be a very popular sentiment, but I don't think it's very fair.

[robvalue]

Sure. When I say "emotional reasons" that could well be that they've had an experience, and it makes them feel such and such is true. I'm not saying they are consciously choosing to believe it for bad reasons.

I would love to know exactly what they think is true, though. No one has ever been able to tell me in terms that make any sense.

[Whateverist]

Spirituality is kind of the opposite of Occam's razor.