The idea that someone is “spiritual, not religious” is rooted in a sharp distinction between religion and spirituality. Generally speaking, religion is here viewed as a man-made institution that has done a lot of evil over the centuries. Spirituality, however, is seen as not having this “baggage.” Out of a desire to disavow themselves from the evils associated with religion, some people sharply distinguish religion from spirituality. In this way the idea of “I’m spiritual, not religious” was born.
There are many problems presented by the “spiritual, not religious” ideology.[1] To keep it simple though, we should consider the “spiritual, not religious” phenomenon in terms of the “New Age Movement.”
The Influence of the New Age Movement
The New Age Movement arose around the mid-twentieth century and proposed a variety of spiritual beliefs and practices that offered an “alternative” to authentic Christian spirituality. Christian spirituality was then in decline in many places owing to the spread of materialism throughout the western world. Instead of rediscovering and re-committing to authentic Christian spirituality, many people chose the New Age Movement. This contributed, in part, to their distaste for “organized” religion.
Subsequently, the interest that the New Age Movement gained deeply impacted the “spiritual, not religious” ideology. Religion was already seen as something detrimental to human development, but now there was a wealth of writings and teachings that upheld and lauded the virtues of spirituality-without-religion. No one wanted to lose these virtues, and this fact played a role in the further development of the “spiritual, not religious” ideology. What exactly, then, is the New Age Movement?
The “New Age Movement” is difficult to define because there are many New Age teachers and few of them promote consistent teachings, either amongst themselves or with others. Some, for example, believe in reincarnation, others a heavenly afterlife, still others perhaps a mixture of both. It is, however, not as difficult to explain what attracts people to New Age teachings. So, let’s talk briefly about what New Age teaches and what people find attractive about it.
New Age beliefs are a combination of primarily East-Asian religions, especially 12th and 13th century Hinduism, and some Buddhism (at least as these were perceived by their western purveyors).[2] This interest, unfortunately, arose in our time due to increasing secularization, materialism, as well as improper catechesis and religious teaching. We see this influence when people talk in seemingly innocent terms about “sending good vibes from the universe” to a friend in need.
Many New Age beliefs are touted as being more evolved and spiritually advanced than the ancient Catholic faith. As if there was something missing from Christ’s revelation, or as if Christ is not enough, some Catholics do not have a problem with this thought. Catholics steeped in their faith, however, know that there is no connection between what modern spiritualists assume and what God has revealed. What, then, would draw a Catholic to accept the New Age?
A primary attraction of New Age systems of belief seems to be their malleability. The New Age enables one to adopt whatever beliefs he likes and which conveniently affirm his opinions on politics, spirituality, recreation, etc. The New Age does not make the same demands on one’s life as Christianity does, but still offers a sense of meaning in an age of atheistic materialism. It is the classic example of wanting one’s cake and eating it too. No radical conversion is necessary, no amending of one’s life.
The Fullness of Revelation
As with all heresies throughout the history of the Church, there are glimmers of truth and goodness even with New Age beliefs. We must remember that heresies primarily operate by expanding one truth at the radical expense of others. For example, Arianism is the heresy that teaches Christ’s humanity but denies Christ’s divinity. There is truth in Arianism, but what’s left out is what counts against it. Christ’s divinity is critically essential to the Christian faith.
There are at least three commonly-held beliefs among New Agers that are deeply irreconcilable with Catholic teaching. These include:
- Belief in pantheism instead of monotheism.
- Belief that Jesus was a wise moral teacher, but not the unique divine Son of God.
- Belief in “universalism”: that all religions are fundamentally the same.
Let’s look more deeply at why these particular beliefs are irreconcilable with Catholicism.
Philosophical arguments and scientific evidence stress the falsity of New Age conceptions of God. As we covered in One Good Reason for Atheists, human reason has the power to show that God transcends physical reality and is responsible for its creation. Science also supports this conclusion, since modern astrophysics confirms that physical reality came into being some 13.8 billion years ago. So, the universe is a created being, but if the universe itself was God then it would have created itself, which is nonsense. New Age beliefs about God are simply, and demonstrably, false.
New Age beliefs about Jesus are demonstrably false. Jesus was, historically, a Jew. He claimed to be the Jewish Messiah and people called Him “Rabbi.” He preached from the Torah, taught with divine authority (“You have heard it said, but I say…”), and forgave peoples’ sins. Furthermore, He was crucified for blasphemy — for claiming to be the Divine Son of Man. While such a claim would not be strange in a New Age context, Christ was not a New Ager. He was — and is — the Divine King of Israel. Christ came not to abolish the Jewish law or the prophets, but to fulfill them.[3]
Finally, the contention that all religions are fundamentally the same can be swiftly dispatched. We have seen that the teachings of The New Age and Catholicism are frequently in contradiction with one another – if one is true, the other is necessarily false. So, not all religions can be true, or the same.
One might here reply that religions are only superficially different, but fundamentally the same. This objection is actually the precise opposite of the truth. World religions are (at most) superficially similar but fundamentally divergent. Compare Buddhism with Christianity: Buddhism does not acknowledge a personal God.[4] Christianity, on the other hand, affirms a personal God. This is not a superficial matter. It is taken very seriously by both sides. It is only a result of New Agers not paying enough attention to the claims of world religions that leads them into the faulty assumption that all religions are fundamentally the same.
But there is also a more sophisticated New Age belief. A person may recognize the fundamental differences between religions. Instead, however, of saying all religions are true or fundamentally the same, they may take the position of saying all religions are false, and yet all point to some transcendent truth or source of all things. This particular New Age belief, is of course, in need of argumentative support, because it is really a person just claiming that their particular spiritual beliefs (sophisticated New Age) are correct, whereas what the Christian or Muslim or Hindu believes is incorrect. So while the sophisticated New Age position is not as clearly false as the naive New Age position, it’s adherents should not ignore the available evidence and arguments for Christianity.
With New Age, people risk not only remaining in their sin but finding spurious spiritual reasons to justify their sins. Holiness and friendship with God is almost entirely avoided and replaced with a hodgepodge collection of eclectic spiritual attitudes and occult practices: Yoga, tarot cards, psychic readings, etc. Catholicism has always rightfully condemned such practices since they reject (or neglect) God’s actual revelation and instead experiment with the demonic elemental forces of the universe. The New Age is frequently a person wanting to have religion their way, instead of God’s.
Of course, everything already stated about God’s revelation and the indefectibility of the Church applies forcefully to the New Age, because it denies the core Christian belief that Jesus is Lord and gathers a people to Himself. But the specific New Age spiritual beliefs of pantheism, radical individualism, and religious pluralism should also be challenged directly. They, too, undermine the core of the Christian faith and are not only false, but spiritually hazardous.
Catholics who embrace elements of the New Age and spiritual-not-religious Catholics are often confused in their understanding of Christian teaching. They need to be made to understand the importance of right doctrine for a healthy spiritual life.
Example Dialogue
Now that we’ve discussed the dangers of being “spiritual, not religious,” let’s see what it might look like in a real-life conversation.
[Evangelist stands near a street corner with rosaries in hand. He smiles and says hello to passerby.]
Evangelist: Would you like a rosary?
Passerby: Nah, I have plenty of those at home already.
E: Oh, you’re Catholic?
P: Yeah, pretty much, for the most part anyways.
E: For the most part? What does that mean?
P: Well, I grew up Catholic, but now I would say that I’m more spiritual than religious. I still go to Mass sometimes but I think the Catholic Church is missing out on some things.
E: I didn’t get your name, by the way, I’m Dan.
P: I’m Bob.
E: Nice to meet you. So you were saying?
P: Yeah, nice to meet you too. I think there’s a lot of things the Catholic Church dismisses, like other religions. Look at Islam and Buddhism. Why isn’t what they believe valid? It’s like the Church has this very narrow view and they want us to all fall in line without questioning anything. I’m on my own spiritual journey, you know? And who’s to say that I can’t pick something up from these other religions?
E: Sure, yeah, can you tell me more if you have a few minutes?
P: Yeah, I’m here with my girl, but she’s over there doing something else. I’ve got a couple of minutes I guess. It basically comes down to, some of the stuff in these other religions speaks to me, and I think they all have fundamentally the same purpose: be a good person, treat others how you want to be treated. You know, the golden rule, and we’ll all be good.
A: I agree with some of that, we do have a lot in common with other religions. But I also think there’s a whole lot of differences.
P: Like major differences though?
E: Yeah. Take Buddhism and Christianity, for example. Many Buddhists are atheists, they don’t believe in any god at all, because in Buddhism that’s not necessary. Lots of them also don’t think there’s a heaven or a hell. Christianity and Buddhism are completely different on those points. So, if Buddhism is right, then Christianity is wrong. See what I mean?
P: I guess, but does that matter if you still treat each other with love and respect?
E: I think so. If God really does exist, and if He’s like what Christianity says, then I want to follow Him and not some man-made religion like Buddhism.
P: Yeah I’m against man-made religion too. What are you saying, Catholicism isn’t a man-made religion?
E: Yeah, that’s what I’m saying. Can I give you one good reason why I believe that God established the Catholic Church?
P: Yeah, please.
E: It’s because of Jesus. He claimed to be the divine Son of God, and he started the Catholic Church, right? If you look at any other religion and they were all started by human beings. Martin Luther and John Calvin started other Christian faiths. Buddhism and Islam were started by human beings too. Only Catholicism goes back to God.
P: Okay, I see what you’re saying. But do you really think God cares if a person is Catholic?
E: Yeah. I think He started the Catholic Church to continue His mission, provide us with His grace, and save us from sin. If He started it, I think everyone should join it.
P: Well, I know some Muslims who have a pretty close relationship with God. And I get a lot out of books by people like Eckharte Tolle and Deepak Chopra. Are you saying they’re all wrong?
E: No, not all wrong. I haven’t read those guys but I’m sure they get a lot of stuff right. Almost every religion gets some stuff right. But only the Catholic Church was started by God, and Catholic spirituality, like the Mass, the sacraments, the prayers — those are things that God wants for everyone. He built the Catholic Church so that He could come to us through the Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist! I mean, that’s truly Jesus’s Body and Blood. What could be better than that?
P: What if Jesus wasn’t God? There’s an awful lot of people in the world who don’t believe He was God. Maybe he was just a wise moral teacher, like the Dalai Lama.
E: Lots of people say that, but let’s look at some historical facts. Jesus was crucified for blasphemy. He claimed to be God. He said He could forgive sins, even when they were committed against other people. A good man wouldn’t do that, he would tell you to go apologize to the person you sinned against. Can you imagine if Deepak Chopra hosted a seminar and said he was God and acted like he was the main person offended every time someone sinned? People would think he was insane! But that’s what Jesus said and did, over and over again. It’s why they killed Him. I don’t think we can lump Him in with other teachers. The things He said and did were too radical!
P: Hmm, I’ve never thought about that.
E: Well, it’s something to consider. Do you think it’s disrespectful for me to say that Catholicism is true? Shouldn’t I be able to talk to other people about what I believe?
P: Yeah, we should be able to have those conversations.
E: I agree! In fact, God says in the Bible that we should do that. He says to make disciples of all nations, and that includes you. We’re just out here trying to do our part.
P: Well I appreciate this conversation, you’ve definitely given me something to think about. Anyway, I’ve got to get going.
E: Sure, no problem, it was nice talking to you. Can I give you something to read more about Catholicism?
P: Sure, are you going to be here later?
E: Well, why don’t I just give you my email?
Concluding Thoughts
Remember that people who subscribe to New Age beliefs frequently labor under a marvelous panoply of doctrinal confusion, so always begin by asking questions to assess where a person is coming from, and to invite genuine conversation. Also, keep in mind, that many people latch onto New Age beliefs because they are emotionally appealing, so be sure to highlight the beauty and goodness of the Gospel, and be willing to share your personal testimony.
[1] The “spiritual, not religious” ideology fails to consider that much of the vision that forms the contemporary understanding of various controversial periods of Catholic history (such as the Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition) is based upon biases from the 18th century Enlightenment. We shall not consider this perspective in the present segment.
[2] For some resources from Catholic authors on the New Age, see the Resources section below.
[3] Matthew 5:17.
[4] Cf. Barbara O’Brien, “The Role of Gods and Deities in Buddhism.” Learn Religions (April 7, 2018).