Hi LaShawn,

I've been thinking about the question asked here, of whether my family or God is more important, and I am not sure the choice works for me. I don't think I can separate the two. To boil it down to the nine-year-old level, if God is everywhere, do I have to choose?

I suppose this answer also outs me as the Unitarian/Universalist style believer I am...But motherhood and some tough choices I had to make for my son put my spiritual life on warp drive. Hence they're entertwined...

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

I agree. I think loving and prioritizing my family is an expression of my spirituality.

Perhaps by "deeply spiritual" those respondents were not denying a Higher Power, but organized religion. I call myself "spiritual" rather than "religious".

How do I practice it? By following the teachings of Christ, Abraham, Buddha and the tenets of most religions (I can't name all - I'm not a religious scholar)...to love my neighbor, forgive my enemies, be kind and understanding.

What does it look like? Non-hypocritical. Not to "preach" one set of values and live by another.

I do not consider myself a disciple though, in the sense that I do not proselytize my beliefs (except in forums like this, to respond to a direct question LOL)

I have no qualm with those who chose discipleship. My biggest complaint with organized religion (including Christianity) is the exclusion of other faiths, other beliefs in a Higher Power.

I don't think God (Higher Power) denies eternal life to anyone who lives by these guidelines - no matter what "religion" it is called.

But I could be wrong - LOL

Marti

I think one of the reasons so many people who may have described themselves as "Christian" (or a variety of the same) 20 years ago now describe themselves as "spiritual' is that we may have let the radical right claim ownership of that word "Christian". I cannot speak for other faith traditions, but I know that if I tell someone that I am Christian I can sense that they are doing that silent scanning thing to see if I start hissing abdout Roe v. Wade or supporting the slaughter in Iraq. While I do find value in other faith traditions, and have incorporated much eastern thought into my Christian Cuisinart Faith, at the core I remain Christian, liberally Lutheran in fact, albeit somewhat embellished.

Can I get an Alleluia?

One of the reasons the spirituality thread in forums was started because spirituality, in the collective sense, incorporates so much beyond organised religion. If someone is hunting for rituals and ideals espoused by organised faiths, fails to find them, and therefore concludes people are not in fact spiritual, I have a problem with that conclusion.

I think of the most spiritual person I've ever met, non-Christian, reiki master... things a bit north of my head... and it is obvious there is a lot going on outside the traditional boxes.

My own beliefs fall outside, but I very much consider myself spiritual, it's all just done in private time.

Nelle

So we should not discuss individual faiths? Sorry, I wasn't in on the "reasons the forum was started." Maybe these things should be posted somewhere so we don't post things that offend people. I guess I thought I spirituality forum would encompass all spiritualities. Sorry. I apologize to anyone whose toes I stepped on unintentionally. I'll do my best so it doesn't happen again, and if there are some "guidelines" to posting and discussion, I'd appreciate someone pointing them out. Thanks.

Belinda

I guess I have a problem if people assume that because I have an affiliation (however loosely) to a denomination that happens to be Christian that :
1. I am intolerant of other traditions
2. that I think spirituality is only defined as (a) Christianity (b) denominationalism, or (c) neocon evangelicals
3. that I really 'don't get' the scope of spirituality
4. that I believe whatever the people believed who treated her badly in organized religion
5. that I secretly am planning to convert her
6. that I must be intellectually limited and/or anti-intellectual

Same here, Mata. It makes me sad, and tired. Some days I speak up, and some days I don't. I feel bad that the only Christians some people ever hear about are people like Pat Robertson, and just want them to know that that's not the universal truth.

And being tolerant and accepting of other faiths does not mean that you have to deny or hide your own. Except when it does, I guess. But I certainly knew what you meant.

Belinda

I agree with Mata as well.

I suspect if Jesus Christ appeared on Earth today, he would have to pull an awful lot of folks who call themselves "Christians" aside, and have a little chat with them to clear up some of their misconceptions about following his teachings - LOL

Blessings to all of you. This is a delightful and enlightening conversation.

Marti

I consider myself spiritual even though I don't formally pray to a God... I think everything/everyone in the universe is interconnected, through an all-encompassing consciousness. I strongly believe in ethics, and doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do. I classify myself an agnostic with a Hindu culture, because Hinduism is what I was raised within. In terms of exclusivist religion, I guess I'm one of those New Agers that religious conservatives like to diss, but this is what I'm really happiest being. Really.

Priya Ramachandran
Blogher Contributing Editor - South East Asia
Words on Water

"one of those New Agers that religious conservatives like to diss..."

And that, precisely, is what I don't get. How are you serving your faith if you are "dissing" someone else's? That practice has always struck a bad chord with me.

And even if your faith is an evangelistic one, exhorting its folowers to bring others to your God (mine is), how in the world is this served by alienating half the world at a whack? It just doesn't make sense.

Belinda

I hear you DesiGal -- If all world religions believed that " everything/everyone in the universe is interconnected, through an all-encompassing consciousness", I think they would be right. I might call that consciousness "God" or "Our mutual Createdness" but my belief probably does not differ much from yours although the language we use to describe it may differ.

Belinda - yes indeedy -- I agree and just do not understand how the dissing od decent people moves the world forward at all.

La Shawn,

I love your post. I definitely think there are so many people, including the media, that act like it "in" to be spiritual but it is "out" to be evangelical. They just don't get it. :(

LBB (who is an Evangelical)
Saving the moisturized-impaired one shea butter at a time.

Why is it a choice between "spiritual" and "evangelical"? I am not a conservative Christian, but I sure am a Christian, not just " spiritual". What I would like to ask is why so many conservative Evangelicals feel that is the ONLY way to be a Christian? I just do not understand that.

Mata H

~~~Blogging relentlessly at Time's Fool

Mata, explain what you mean when you say 'why so many conservative evangelicals feel that is the only way to be a christian?' Perhaps I need your defination of conservative evangelical AND the only way. :) Here's how Wikipedia defines it: "Evangelicalism is typified by an emphasis on evangelism, a personal experience of conversion, biblically oriented faith and a belief in the relevance of Christian faith to cultural issues." Is this your defination as well.
Thanks
Alyce

Thanks for responding Mata,
I am actually familiar with that poll.
The point you made concerning 'I see conservatives as' speaks to just exactly how we go about getting our so-called world-view or presuppositions. We all do; from a vast collections of experiences, both good and bad, interactions from mentors/teachers and from my personal experience-my personal experience with God, as the Holy Spirit continually changes and teaches me. Not that I have 'attained-but I press on.' However, until I engage/interact with what I 'define' in my own mind as a liberal (whether theological/political/cultural) then I remain trapped in my presuppositions and unable to break free and engage that human being in love, the way God would have me engage them.
Again, the point you make about conservatives-sounds very 'political' and while I believe I am called to make informed decisions, be thoughtful, respectful and seek God concerning His will in all matters-I yeild my will in these matters (politically speaking) to the will of God as He directs me-not to a political party or group. In other words-my allegiance is to my Lord Jesus Christ and none other.
Agape

Hi Alyce -

It is my deep belief that good people, faithful people, can be led to very different positions on the same issue -- and that they may both passionately believe that they are 'right'. For example, to chose one of the least volatile of the issues that could point to this: the ordination of women.

You original question was why I felt that 'why so many conservative evangelicals feel that is the only way to be a Christian?'. If I look at the ordination of women, there are at least two groups with strong opinions -- one that opposes it, one that wants it. Both could have reached this decision prayerfully, and both could believe that they are acting in the way Christ would want them to. Yet, it is absolutely true in the past and in denominations other than my own, that I have been accused of being less than Christian for supporting the ordination of women, and that I have been told that I am doing something wrong, sinful and hell-worthy by believing as I do. I am happy to engage in dialog with those who are of different belief from my own. But dialog and dogma can rarely co-exist. Truly not all conservative evangelical Christians show such behavior.

But I am also alarmed by the number of fringe groups that are advocating some very scary things that use conservative, Christian, evangelical language to support their positions.

~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs relentlessly at Time's Fool