"spiritual, but not affiliated" means...what??


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MW77009 is offline MW77009 Post #11  July 21,2008, 9:59am
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multitask,180425 wrote :

It means that I believe in God/Nature/One Power/Spirituality,but not in any religion.


It means that I put a good human being over any person tied down by rituals and dogmas of organised religion.
Well said. That pretty much covers it for me.
 
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scorpio is offline scorpio Post #12  July 21,2008, 10:12am
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I do not believe in organized religion, per se, but I do find many things to like about many religions, particularly somepractices that might be applied to any religion - such as prayer and meditation. I do not believe that God lives outside myself. I believe that he works through human beings, making us both human and divine.


I also believe that we exist on a level of being where all mysteries have not yet been revealed, as somany traditional beliefs seem to purport having the answers to - particularly Christian fundamentalists - whose dogma I can barely tolerate.


The church I attend is interdenominational and is comprised of people who believe as I do, as well as those who attend their own churches along with this one. Basically, we believe that God is omnipotent, existing in and around us.


As someone who is basically spiritual, I pray and meditate each and every day before starting anykind of action. My prayers are mostly in the form of requesting the further development ofinner characteristics such as strength, purpose,patience and understanding in order to handle any current challenges in my life. Further, I pray by giving thanks for my gifts and blessings. I also pray for myself and others.


Mypersonal relationship with Godis what keeps me grounded and even happy, even though I have faced and continue to face unusual challenges and setbacks in my life. Like everyone, I do not have alltheanswers to life's contradictions and mysteries. Nor do I presume to.


The difference between what I believe and what some others believe is the realization that clarity is often bestowed upon those who admit they don't knoweverything. Whereas some religions never admit to not knowing.
 
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Lace23 is offline Lace23 Post #13  July 21,2008, 10:12am
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Pretty much for me what the majority has said here. I believe in God. I do not belong to any particular church nor do I practice any particular faith at the moment. Doesn't mean I couldn't or I won't, just that I'm not now.
 
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neardc is offline neardc Post #14  July 21,2008, 10:34am
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Gr8Guyn2008,180441 wrote :

So you would be a Druid?
I don't define myself as an "a" anything, but no...lol.
 
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ScottK is offline ScottK Post #15  July 21,2008, 12:32pm
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I use it as a way to try to stop EH from sending me matches that mention God/Bible/Religion 10+ times in their 1 Page Profile.


(Not that it helps all that much)


Here is what I put in my "More information" section about it:


I consider myself Christian/Baptist in my religious beliefs.
I am also very tolerant when it comes to any religious (or non-religious) beliefs my partner might have.
However, I have decided to list myself as "Spiritual, but not affiliated with a religious group" because otherwise EHarmony seems to send me matches that are MUCH too extreme about their views on Religion.
 
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nancymargrit is offline nancymargrit Post #16  July 21,2008, 5:04pm

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riley,180164 wrote :

It means they make up their own god.
For me it doesn't mean that I make up my own God. I like the explanation that EEDr gave - that I believe in God and the Bible but I don't affiliate myself with any religious organization. I think that's the definition that eharmony uses as well (spiritual but not affiliated with any religion).


I was raised in a strong Lutheran and Baptist home. I've got Jewish and Catholic grandparents and my aunts, uncles, and cousins are all affiliated with different religious organizations (Pentacostalists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, and the Salvation Army). I attend the services at the United Church whenever I am able. I've also got neighbors that are Muslims and they are some of the best neighbors that I've ever had.


Because I have family and friends that belong to so many different religious denominations, I prefer calling myself spiritual because all faiths have something positive to offer. It's unfortunate that some people see "spiritual" as some kind of satan worship or making up one's own God, but I can't think of a better word for the category.


If "occult" or "satan worship" or a similar title would be given as a choice, I don't think anyone would choose it. It has too much of a negative connotation attached to it.
 
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jackhawk66 is offline jackhawk66 Post #17  July 21,2008, 6:57pm
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riley,180164 wrote :

It means they make up their own god.
Shouldn't you be answering for yourself? You have no idea why I or anyone else puts this down. We can speak for ourselves.
 
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CICity is offline CICity Post #18  July 22,2008, 12:26pm

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brit3164, wrote :

Most of the matches I receive choose the "spiritual, but not affiliated with a religious group" option for their religion. Is this just a way of saying "Im not religious but Idont worship Satan either, I swear Im a good guy"?


PS - I choose this option for myself, Im just wondering what other peoples perspectives are on this very ambiguous statement.
I'll tell you that group of answers was not clear enough for me. I want to say I am Catholic, not just Christian.


How about instead of trying to figure out what other people mean, why noy ask them?


Anybody out there offer this response? Please, tell us what you meant when you used it.


If they aren't available to put to the explanation, how about making a decision on whether that reply is acceptable to us when we read it and move on.


Spiritual, but not affiliated is a no go for me. It's vague, riddled with uncertainty and doubt. I could be wrong, but it sounds like to me (when directed at me) that perhaps the person believes in God, but hasn't been in church. So what! I don't go to church as often as I ough to but a Catholic I am and twice on Sunday.


Actually, imagine how many people there are who would rather not answer the God question at all and reply because it is put before them? How about answers like " I'd rather not say", or "topic for future discussion." A man in one of these chat boxes said it was a turn off to him to hear a woman mention God too often.


This is a crock. We are just running our mouths passing the time waiting for matches. You'll pardon my script flip won't you? My bid is up in August. There needs to be an emoticon with a big YAWN face!!!- Not against anyone or their topic. No disrespet intended.
 
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nancymargrit is offline nancymargrit Post #19  July 22,2008, 3:22pm

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CICity,182223 wrote :

brit3164, wrote :


Most of the matches I receive choose the "spiritual, but not affiliated with a religious group" option for their religion. Is this just a way of saying "Im not religious but Idont worship Satan either, I swear Im a good guy"?


PS - I choose this option for myself, Im just wondering what other peoples perspectives are on this very ambiguous statement.


I'll tell you that group of answers was not clear enough for me. I want to say I am Catholic, not just Christian.


How about instead of trying to figure out what other people mean, why noy ask them?


Anybody out there offer this response? Please, tell us what you meant when you used it.


If they aren't available to put to the explanation, how about making a decision on whether that reply is acceptable to us when we read it and move on.


Spiritual, but not affiliated is a no go for me. It's vague, riddled with uncertainty and doubt. I could be wrong, but it sounds like to me (when directed at me) that perhaps the person believes in God, but hasn't been in church. So what! I don't go to church as often as I ough to but a Catholic I am and twice on Sunday.


Actually, imagine how many people there are who would rather not answer the God question at all and reply because it is put before them? How about answers like " I'd rather not say", or "topic for future discussion." A man in one of these chat boxes said it was a turn off to him to hear a woman mention God too often.


This is a crock. We are just running our mouths passing the time waiting for matches. You'll pardon my script flip won't you? My bid is up in August. There needs to be an emoticon with a big YAWN face!!!- Not against anyone or their topic. No disrespet intended.
In one of these boards (the one that has the five top things that turn men off on a first date), one of the guys said that "spiritual but not affiliated" turned him off. When I questioned him about why he never responded. I also get annoyed with people who don't respond or who are not clear about what they mean when they say something.


As I said before, I grew up in a family where a diversity of religious faiths was tolerated. I would rather just choose to stay "spiritual but not affiliated" because all faiths have their good sides and I choose to pick the best parts out of all of them and live by that.


One thing I am not vague and uncertain about is my belief in God and the Bible. I just choose not to affiliate myself with any particular religious group. By closing a match just because that person chooses "spiritual but not affiliated", you may be closing off a potentially rewarding relationship.
 
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mizKaramela is offline mizKaramela Post #20  July 22,2008, 6:35pm
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Gr8Guyn2008,180441 wrote :

neardc,180421 wrote :


That is what I have as well. I define "spiritual" very loosely for myself. My personal spirituality has more to do with nature and recognizing the general magnificence of the Universe (I guess), but not with any diety or dieties. I'm not at all religious...


So you would be a Druid?
well, theres definately a difference between being religious and being spiritual. IN every religion theres probably a question or two you have that can't really be explain by your pastor, priest , etc... they kinda just give you a bit of a runaround answer that doesn't really answer the question you asked and pretty much every religion has this sort of thing. Being raised catholic since i was a child made believing in god simple. You goto bible study, ccw classes, go to church every sunday,become a "daughter of mary",, etc..after a while you start questioning why, how and who says. When i didn't get straight answers i just stopped believeing in god entirely. Thoughts ran in my head like " well if all men sin, and men wrote the bible, does it means that certain things in the bible is not true or not actually god's word". i don't want to follow what other people who are just like me say what is true or what is right. i want divine untainted truth. Soi just end up living life. Spirtuality came into my life when i was at my lowest possible i had no idea where i was heading or really what was the point of it all. it was then as my last resort that i started praying to whoever, if anyone was out there. to help me or offer me some sort of advice something, anythingthat was better than what this world had offer, (like i said, i was really low) so pretty much my prayers were answered. ok so there is a god. now what? with some many religions out there whose to say which one is right. ceretainly god wasn't telling me which one. it was my instincts that lead me to every right decision i've made and your instincts is really your true connection to god. when something tells you "don't drive that way", and later you find out an accident happened down that road, the road you take every day. thats your instincts. Who is telling you that? it's a thought that keeps bugging at your head. Where does it come from? believe it or not we are a part of god, he created us! And if you studied algebra; God is a part of us. So he's telling you, watch out. he's always with you in everything you do. i know it's cliche to say "your not alone" but it's true. in more ways than one. BUt to commit to just one religion is only to limit your spiritually or your love for god and all things related. Because everything we think we know is actually nothing at all. Everyone and everything is connected, the earth, the universe, you, me, andeven though we never met, we all the same,everything isall made from energy. i'm a spirtualist because i believe in more than what religion has to offer. all religion is man madeand it doesn'tmatter which one you study it will never touch the surface of how things really are or it will never have all the answers you seek. You would have to study all religions and be a spiritualist if you really want to know the meaning of it all or the truth of reality. i could go on and on as i've already had explaining what is is to be spiritual but not affiliated.
 
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