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I am very Spiritual, but I am not Christian. A year or so ago I was in a relationship with a man who said he was deeply religious, but he did not go to church. I felt that each of us could do our own thing but in the end I was wrong. He insisted that I join him on his path. End of relationship. I follow a very esoteric path and I would never expect my partner to change who they are or what they believe to match me.

Gosh...not sure I can answer this .....to me...religious is only man made....doesn't mean anything to me. I am NOT religious...nor do I want to be......I guess it could be a problem. Religious is a lot of rules made by man....lots of do this, don't do that. I only need the Bible and answer only to God. That's just me.

To me, religious means you belong to a congregation of like minded people, who all hold the same beliefs and ideals and follow a spiritual leader. Spiritual means you lead yourself in your beliefs.

Yup. Annie and ginger have nailed it. I was raised in the Lutheran Church, but do not consider myself affiliated to any particular church anymore. I find I cannot stand there in some building, surrounded by other people, and spout words I'm told to say about things I do not agree with. I have read the Bible almost cover to cover, and I pray regularly. But I have abandoned organized religion and the dogma that goes with it. I have a close friend who actually has distanced herself from me because I cannot embrace the rigid rules and regulations she feels so strongly about. That's disappointing, since we go back 47 years. She's convinced I'm going to Hell, and, I guess, is concerned about guilt by association. So I guess what I'm saying is I'm spiritual (altho' I seldom use that exact word) but not religious. I still consider myself a Christian, but I don't think there's a church out there that agrees with my point of view.

When I hear someone say that they are "spiritual" but not religious I think of my brother-in-law who is an avid hunter. He told me once that he feels the closest to God when he is out hunting for pheasants in an open field with his dog. He seldom attends services in a church. As an "artist" I feel the closest to God when I am painting. Maybe it is the creative process that does it - I don't know. I do attend church services as often as I am able to get there but am not tied into religiosity. I frankly don't think a strictly religious person would do well with a purely "spiritual" one.

I find it disturbing when people tell me that they feel spiritual when they are out killing the creatures of the Universe. Hunters usually say that as they are blasting off the head of some animal they have no intention, or need, of eating. As do fishermen. At least fishermen are more likely to eat what they kill.

I have no trouble with someone killing an animal for food. But I prefer to call it what it is - utilitarianism, or necessity. But let's not call it a spiritual exercise.

I have yet to meet someone in the same spiritual realm as I am that I have been attracted too.
Therefore I have not dated in 7yrs. This is a deal breaker for me.
I am not religious but I am a Christian, meaning I believe what Jesus taught but NOT what the bible claims he taught.
It was totally screwed up by controlling government and rabbi's.
I am in the realm of John Edwards, Sylvia Browne, Lisa Williams, Wayne Dyer, etc. and I have meet most of them.
I will never visit a traditional church again even though my entire family are clergy and missionaries.

Religion and spirituality are both means of connecting with a higher being. The two words are synonymous, so it is practically impossible to be spiritual but not religious. You may say that you don't attend a church, but claim to be spiritual, either way you are connecting with that higher power.

I find it difficult to believe that someone can claim to be spiritual when they are not practicing it. You might be a believer, but if you aren't finding a way to express that spirituality, you are not spiritual.

There are people who attend church who are not spiritual at all, they are either there out of habit or for show.

I think people who refer to themselves as "spiritual" have a more inborn universal definition in mind - something that we all possess like an intellect and a will. They may not think it necessary to do anything to develop their spirituality - just place themselves in certain situations that they know will trigger it like being out in nature or creating a work of art. I also think for some it is used as a substitute for "religious" when they are no longer part of a church community. Many Boomers who were raised in church systems are now disillusioned with organized religion but still feel a need for as TestofF8th put it a connection with a higher power.