Spiritual Not Religious?

[Tom]

I think this topic must have come up on the forum before, but I'm not aware of it. I've been doing a little reading online today about being "spiritual not religious." Believers have various interpretations, but atheists seem to think they're the same saying anybody who believes in the supernatural is just superstitious. 

Here are five definitions from the Concordant Publishing Concern concordance.

The word "spirit" from the Greek "pneuma," literally "blow-effect," by implication means the imperceptible, intangible power of action, life, and intelligence.

The word "spiritual" from the Greek "pneumatikon," literally "blowic," means having the quality of spirit.

The word "religion" from the Greek "deisidaimonia," literally "dread-teach," means superstition.

The word "religious" from the Greek "deisidaimon," literally "dread-teach," means superstitious.

The word "demon" from the Greek "daimon," literally "teach," means a superhuman spirit being, almost always used in a good sense in previous profane Greek, but in the Septuagint it is used disparagingly of the gods of the nations, an evil spirit which has the power to obsess mankind.

It's amusing that the Greek "daimon" translated "demon" is part of the Greek "deisidaimon" translated "religious." It kind of makes you think religion is a doctrine of demons. I think that may have something to do with why Christ put down the religious leaders and embraced those the religious leaders put down who were led by the spirit to follow him.

Here are a couple of definitions from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

su·per·sti·tion noun \ˌsü-pər-ˈsti-shən\
: a belief or way of behaving that is based on fear of the unknown and faith in magic or luck : a belief that certain events or things will bring good or bad luck

Full Definition of SUPERSTITION

1
a :  a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation
b :  an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition
2
:  a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary

Origin of SUPERSTITION

Middle English supersticion, from Anglo-French, from Latin superstition-, superstitio, from superstit-, superstes standing over (as witness or survivor), from super- + stare to stand — more at stand
First Known Use: 13th century

su·per·nat·u·ral adjective \ˌsü-pər-ˈna-chə-rəl, -ˈnach-rəl\
: unable to be explained by science or the laws of nature : of, relating to, or seeming to come from magic, a god, etc.

Full Definition of SUPERNATURAL

1
:  of or relating to an order of existence beyond the visible observable universe; especially :  of or relating to God or a god, demigod, spirit, or devil
2
a :  departing from what is usual or normal especially so as to appear to transcend the laws of nature
b :  attributed to an invisible agent (as a ghost or spirit)

I think of myself as more spiritual than religious because I associate religion with the church which is what I have a problem with due to its distorted doctrine, but I realize that atheists and even some church folks would consider me to be religious. Atheists say I'm superstitious, but church folks say I'm misguided simply because I prefer scripture accurately translated to church doctrine.

I saw part of a show on tv the other night talking about how some folks have a God gene and others don't which causes the brains of different folks to react differently to spiritual or religious information. It made me think about Christ saying, "the kingdom of God is inside of you" (Luke 17:21). I think he was referring to the spirit, but I considered the possibility that the God gene is the way it's determined who has faith and who doesn't because I believe God is the programmer of our DNA.

I saw a part of another show on tv last night about atheists claiming the universe created itself spontaneously from nothing, and I couldn't help wonder how they are deceived into thinking that intelligence came to be without an intelligent source. It is their pride in their own intellect that blinds them to the source, but I believe that is according to the will of God. God prefers to use the ignoble and contemptible to repudiate those who are proud of their worldly wisdom.

"18 For the word of the cross is stupidity, indeed, to those who are perishing, yet to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I shall be destroying the wisdom of the wise, and the understanding of the intelligent shall I be repudiating.
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the discusser of this eon? Does not God make stupid the wisdom of this world?
21 For since, in fact, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom knew not God, God delights, through the stupidity of the heralding, to save those who are believing,
22 since, in fact, Jews signs are requesting, and Greeks wisdom are seeking,
23 yet we are heralding Christ crucified, to Jews, indeed, a snare, yet to the nations stupidity,
24 yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God,
25 for the stupidity of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For you are observing your calling, brethren, that there are not many wise according to the flesh; not many powerful, not many noble,
27 but the stupidity of the world God chooses, that He may be disgracing the wise, and the weakness of the world God chooses, that He may be disgracing the strong,
28 and the ignoble and the contemptible things of the world God chooses, and that which is not, that He should be discarding that which is,
29 so that no flesh at all should be boasting in God's sight." (1 Corinthians 1:18-29)

I believe it's also according to the will of God that some believers are blinded by church doctrine to the truth in scripture about universal reconciliation, and we have been chosen as messengers to enlighten them. It's sad that our own brothers and sisters claim we are preaching a lie simply because we believe the word of God, but God has his reasons for showing some and not others just as some have not been given faith at all. I believe there are believers who are saved who just don't understand the full truth of the evangel yet. All we can do is keep telling the truth, and let God convince them in his own time. Sooner or later all will come to know the truth even those who have no faith now.

[WhiteWings]

Just want to add something about the word religion..

"Re-ligion" is Latin;
re– means "go back", start again,return.
"Ligare" is the second part, meaning "bind"; related to the word "ligament", which "binds" our bones together.
So, it would appear that even the Latin word "re-ligion" carries the idea that something became unfastened!
It was man and his Creator.

:Peace2:

[WhiteWings]

The word "demon" from the Greek "daimon," literally "teach," means a superhuman spirit being, almost always used in a good sense in previous profane Greek, but in the Septuagint it is used disparagingly of the gods of the nations, an evil spirit which has the power to obsess mankind.

Dunno it's off-topic for the what you intend with this thread but I think demons are the ghosts of dead nephlim.

It's amusing that the Greek "daimon" translated "demon" is part of the Greek "deisidaimon" translated "religious." It kind of makes you think religion is a doctrine of demons.

In that case you should ad atheism too. Religion itself isn't bad. The bad part is that most religion teach false truth. But still, religion is at least an attempt to seek God. How would things be without religion? I think God's Word would have been totally lost. There would be no Bibles because they are all written and financed by religious groups. So my view isn't that religion isn't without flaw, but would we really be closer to God without it?

[Tom]

The word "demon" from the Greek "daimon," literally "teach," means a superhuman spirit being, almost always used in a good sense in previous profane Greek, but in the Septuagint it is used disparagingly of the gods of the nations, an evil spirit which has the power to obsess mankind.

Dunno it's off-topic for the what you intend with this thread but I think demons are the ghosts of dead nephlim.

It's amusing that the Greek "daimon" translated "demon" is part of the Greek "deisidaimon" translated "religious." It kind of makes you think religion is a doctrine of demons.

In that case you should ad atheism too. Religion itself isn't bad. The bad part is that most religion teach false truth. But still, religion is at least an attempt to seek God. How would things be without religion? I think God's Word would have been totally lost. There would be no Bibles because they are all written and financed by religious groups. So my view isn't that religion isn't without flaw, but would we really be closer to God without it?

The Hebrew word for "nephilim" translated as "giants" in the King James Version is translated as "the distinguished" in the Concordant Version. I believe they were just humans. I think demons are simply evil spirit beings operating in the terrestrial realm whose specialty seems to be obsessing mankind.

I get atheists upset when I tell them they're religious because man is their god. I believe it is the distorted evangel of church doctrine that is the doctrine of demons as was the distorted doctrine of the Pharisees invalidating the word of God with their tradition.

"...And you invalidate the word of God because of your tradition.
7 Hypocrites! Ideally Isaiah prophesies concerning you, saying,
8 This people with their lips is honoring Me, Yet their heart is away at a distance from Me.
9 Yet in vain are they revering Me, Teaching for teachings the directions of men." (Matthew 15:6-9)

Christ didn't put down "the law," only the hypocrisy of the religious leaders.

[WhiteWings]

I think demons are simply evil spirit beings operating in the terrestrial realm whose specialty seems to be obsessing mankind.

That's true. But what sort of evil spirits?

[Tom]

I think Christianity was hijacked by the Roman Empire and merged into its pagan religions for political expediency, and now the world perceives it as a religion of supposedly immortal souls ruled by a three headed god who intends to torture most of mankind in fire forever. The word of God says, "there is one God, the Father, out of Whom all is, and we for Him, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom all is, and we through Him" (1 Corinthians 8:6) who will "reconcile all...whether those on the earth or those in the heavens" (Colossians 1:20) and ultimately "be all in all" (1 Corinthians 15:28). That is not the false religion of church doctrine. It is "the word of truth of the evangel" (Colossians 1:5).

[marie glen]

What a great thread guys.. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

..."they are deceived into thinking that intelligence came to be without an intelligent source. It is their pride in their own intellect.."

and such were most of us who believe.. perhaps (likely?) all humans..

from Micah 6:8 (YLT) - ...what is Jehovah requiring of thee, Except.. ..to lowly walk with thy God?

footnote in my KJ: "humble thyself to walk with thy God.."