ON BEING A SPIRITUAL PERSON RATHER THAN A RELIGIOUS PERSON

TRANSCRIPT
Nigel Bovey.  Rowan, we’re talking about prayer and spirituality tonight. I notice, and perhaps you’ve noticed as well, there’s been a trend in recent years for people to describe themselves more as being a spiritual person than as being a religious person. is there a difference between the two? And, if so, with what is the difference?”

Rowan Williams.  I guess that when people say they’re spiritual or not religious, the main thing they want to do is to say they’re not particularly keen on religious institutions; they don’t want to sign up; they don’t want to be involved with an institution, which often looks as if it’s creaking a bit of the seams. But they’re aware that there’s something they want to relate to that isn’t just the rational world around them.

The problem is, I think, that, very often, that can mean, “Well, I’m looking for something that makes me feel spiritual, but I don’t much want to be involved with other human beings in that quest, or with a tradition or a discipline, a community.” And I suppose that’s where I have some questions about this trend. I understand the feeling: people want to step back a bit from the institutions, but, I think, we’ve got to be a bit careful about how we use the word “spiritual”, especially since in the Bible words around “spiritual” and “spirit” almost always mean something to do with connection with relationship. And, if it’s just an individual thing, it’s perhaps not really “cutting the mustard.”

Nigel.  So is it a reflection of a society that has moved more, or is moving more towards individualism than the notion of society and community?

Rowan.  Yes, I think it’s certainly an index of that trend in our society and it’s not something that can be ignored because, again, there’s a valid thing here. People want to say, “Well, it’s no use you’re talking to me about a religious set of beliefs that don’t somehow correspond to the world I know I live in, and the questions I know I’m asking.” And when people say that too much time is spent by churches giving perfect answers to questions that nobody is asking (You know, we do have to think hard about that.) So I’ve got some sympathy. But equally, if the Christian faith means anything, it does mean a real challenge to individualism and asking people to step outside their comfort zone there.

REFLECT

Any insights or take-aways?

What does this mean or imply: “Well, I’m looking for something that makes me feel spiritual, but I don’t much want to be involved with other human beings in that quest, or with a tradition or a discipline, a community.”?  I think it implies that the person speaking wants to figure things out for himself, to discover what makes him feel good, what speaks to the core of his being.  I think that is a good starting point, but men and women have been doing that since Adam and Eve, and a lot of intelligent people have come up with some pretty insightful ideas. How different are we than they?  Should we not compare what we think “fits” with what already has been discovered and, if we can, build on it?

What’s the place of institutions in our lives? What do they add to the individual’s life? . . . to society – local and global? How do they aid and curtail the individual?

What’s the place of the Church and the parish in our lives? What do they add to the individual’s life? . . .  to one’s family’s life? . . . to society – local and global? How do they aid and curtail the individual?

Sister Loretta