Verified answer

A 'religious' person, to my semantic understanding, is a person who deliberately creates a high profile based on their [perhaps imagined] holiness.

A person who seeks 'spirituality' is often someone who, for example, listens to fine music, reads poetry, attends theatre - all to enhance a part of their life.

A Christian who seeks spirituality would possibly seek ecstasy through choral Evensong, the theatre of liturgy, etc., but may also seek in in areas where non-Christians do, of course.

A friend of mine is a devout atheist who, for most of his adult life has attended church regularly. He sings most enthusiastically in the choir, and derives enormous pleasure thereby. His association with the Church is utterly 'spiritual' in origin, and his version of 'spirituality' actually contains strong disbelief! (Is he, perhaps, breaking any law by doing this?)

The distinction between 'religion' and 'spiritual' is subtle, and is based solely on common usage and understanding of these words....

I know many, many people who are intensely 'spiritual', and, although they are regular church goers, I would never think of them as 'religious'.

Because of the fearsome reputation of, e.g., Jehovah's Witlessers, many devout people take pains to distance themselves from them and their like. An easy way to do this, apparently, is to claim not to be 'religious'.

The word 'religious' has strong 'Bible-basher' connotations, in my opinion. Also, there are strong implication of blind acceptance, of puppy-dog obedience, and of a lack of truly adult thinking habits.

What we mean is our focus is on a relationship with God rather than on a set of rules made up by man.

God inspired the Bible.

We have the Spirit of God.

Now some people when they say that mean that they aren't involved in any church or worship but still want to claim that they are spiritual.

Spiritual is your relationship with given deity/s. Religious is adherence to a set of rituals and rules given by an organisation.

God said He hates religion. When we are Spiritual, we searve God sort of in a way that has no limits. I can run through a troop, leap over a wall, I can do anything, no limits at all!

I love to speak in Tongues, shout, run around and doing it all paising God and I do not care if people see me. This is being Spiritual. I am Spiritual!

This is typically a cop-out answer for someone who considers themselves a "Christian", but doesn't go to church or observe the "Christian" religion in any way other than Christmas Trees and Easter Eggs. (Neither of which are "Christian", btw.)

Well, they may be afraid of persecution on there, so more people will like them... a lot of women are like that, not all of them, but a lot of them.

What I know is the truth, no longer making it a religion, but making it a fact. That Christ is all that can save man from his wicked ways. That only by giving your life to him can you be saved from the pits of hell. I pray that if you haven't, that you give your life fully to Christ.

I have read that also and I don't understand what that means. Also, some say they are spiritual but talk about drinking and smoking also. I don't know!

Being religious means going through a bunch of rituals on a regular basis to try and please God.

Christians know that we can do nothing on our own to please God. We also know that Jesus Christ did the work for us, so that if we will accept His work as a free gift, we will become pleasing to God.

It's called infallible succession: Christian to Deist to Pantheist to Agnostic and finally Atheist.

So take your pick: Christian or Atheist.

I don't put any stock into 'Lonely Hearts'.

The person is basically saying they don't know.