A Christian Response to “I’m Spiritual, Not Religious”

In my senior year of high school, I went from being that annoying skeptical, agnostic kid who was always questioning everything to that annoying Christian kid who was telling all my friends why they needed Jesus. My zeal for evangelism was probably admirable, but the way I went about it would have, perhaps, made even the apostles cringe.

One day I was in a conversation with this girl about Jesus. And why he was real. Like really real. I remember her politely saying to me, “that’s nice, but I’m spiritual, not religious.”

I think that was the first time I’d ever heard someone say that. Since then, “I’m spiritual but not religious” has become one of the defining slogans of modern America. And it’s not just anecdotal. According to Pew Research, roughly one in five Americans now identify that way.

Back then, I didn’t really know how to respond. But twenty-six years later, I think I finally do. Better late than never. So, Georgia—that was her name—if you happen to be reading this …

The first thing I’d point out is that whenever we disagree with someone, it’s usually wise to begin by acknowledging where we agree. So even though a Christian may be tempted to roll his eyes when someone says, “I’m spiritual, not religious,” there’s actually something in that sentiment we can affirm. It’s good to recognize beauty, morality, conscience, love, and transcendence. These things seem to point beyond a purely material world.

But the question is this: if there really is a spiritual dimension to reality, shouldn’t we want to know the truth about it?

In every other area of life, we seek deeper knowledge about the things we think matter. If someone discovered evidence of intelligent life beyond earth, we wouldn’t say, “That’s interesting, but let’s avoid studying it too closely. I’d like to maintain my vague belief in aliens without knowing anything specific, thank you very much.”

No. We would investigate. Or at least expect other people to. We’d ask questions. We’d want answers.

The same should be true when it comes to God.

Christianity teaches not merely that spirituality exists, but that God exists and has revealed himself to mankind. He didn’t merely leave vague clues about himself scattered throughout creation. He entered history in the person of Jesus Christ.

That’s what separates Christianity from vague spirituality. Vague spirituality says there is “something out there.” Christianity says, “correct! And that something, it turns out is actually a someone, and this someone has made himself known.”

This is why vague spirituality is ultimately insufficient and unsatisfying. It acknowledges transcendence, but then loses interest the moment more definite knowledge is offered about the transcendent God and what He asks of us.

Imagine a man saying: “I believe my wife exists, but I don’t want to know anything specific about her. I don’t want commitment, communication, or relationship. I just want a vague feeling of affection.”

No one would call that love.

And yet many people approach God this way. They want spirituality without truth. Transcendence without obedience. Comfort without conversion.

But if God truly exists and loves us, then He would not merely want us to have vague spiritual feelings about him. He would want us to know him.

Jesus said, “this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

Notice that eternal life is described not merely as having spiritual sentiments, but as knowing God.

This is where religion becomes necessary. And I know some Christians bristle at that word, as if religion and relationship with God are opposites. But rightly understood, religion is simply the shape that love and worship take.

Religion, properly understood, is not man inventing arbitrary rituals to reach God. It is humanity responding to God’s self-revelation through worship, prayer, obedience, and love. Religion gives shape to our relationship with God just as vows, habits, and fidelity give shape to marriage. The problem, then, is not religion itself. The problem is false religion. Empty religion. Hypocritical religion.

Jesus condemned religious hypocrisy repeatedly, but He didn’t abolish religion. He founded a Church. He gave authority to the apostles. He instituted sacraments. He commanded worship.

I think, to be blunt about it, “I’m spiritual but not religious” really means: “I want God on my terms.”

But Christianity doesn’t allow us to invent God according to our preferences. It calls us to receive him as He truly is.

St. Augustine wrote, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

I think that restlessness explains why vague spirituality so often fails to satisfy. Human beings are not merely seeking mystical feelings.

We are seeking God himself.