Two acquaintances walking home from a bus stop…

x – I’m spiritual but not religious.
y – Really? What does that mean?
x – Primarily, I don’t believe in organized religion.
y – You’d rather have disorganized religion?
x – No silly. I believe in some higher power, but I am in touch with my feelings and inner self. I meditate, do my yoga daily, and eat vegan.
y – I hope you’re in touch with your outer self too.
x – Like I said, I’m spiritual but don’t like man-made religions.
y – Me neither. I would never be part of any man-made religion.
x – Good, than we can both be spiritual together!
y – Not so fast. We are all spiritual by virtue of being human. We’re a composite of physical body and spiritual soul.
x – Don’t get all philosophical on me.
y – Developing one’s spirituality is important, but without the structure of Revealed religion, this tends to become an exercise in self-centered pride.
x – You want to follow rules made by men in funny hats? Not me!
y – No. I want to follow God, who at times speaks and acts through men in funny hats. What I’m trying to say is that my religion is God-made, not man-made.
x – All religions are man-made.
y – Not true. Christianity is about God reaching down to us, and establishing a Church for our salvation and eternal life. On the other hand, when someone says they’re “spiritual but not religious” it usually means they want to create their own moral code to live by. When Eve succumbed to the serpent, deciding not to submit to divine Authority, she became ‘spiritual but not religious’. It’s a way of trying to feel good about oneself while attempting to be one’s own god.
x – Nonsense. I am liberated from oppressive traditions and male dominated institutions!
y – Do you really believe your “spirituality” and cliches taught to you by shallow left-leaning professors are liberating? Are you truly happy?
x – Sure, if I remember to take my prescription meds each day, I’m okay.
y – God established a Church to offer divine Truth and divine Life to a world that so desperately needs it – liberating us from the effects of our sin. Sure, the Church is made up of imperfect sinners, but our hope is in the divine nature of the Church and the promise of Christ, not its temporal human element. Let’s talk more about this later, and how one cannot be spiritually good without being religious.
x – Don’t know about that, but okay, meet me in Starbucks tomorrow and we’ll share a latte and veggie burger.
y – I’ll order my own food, thanks. Just come with an open mind and an unselfish heart.