unTapped Topic: Spiritual but Not Religious?

There are many people that justify their lack of participation in an organized religious group (church, synagogue, mosque, etc.) by saying that they are more spiritual than religious. They are able to find their spirituality within themselves or alone in the woods, or by some other means. For them, organized religion is more of an interference than a facilitation.

Pastor Lillian Daniels is certainly not crazy about such a position. She writes about her views on a deeper religious experience within a community of believers. She believes that the whole notion of an exclusively  personal spirituality is a symptom of 'self-centered American culture.'

Being privately spiritual but not religious just doesn't interest me. There is nothing challenging about having deep thoughts all by oneself. What is interesting is doing this work in community, where other people might call you on stuff, or heaven forbid, disagree with you. Where life with God gets rich and provocative is when you dig deeply into a tradition that you did not invent all for yourself.

So, what do you think? Can you be a spiritual person without a group?

Join us at Short's Brewing Company, Thursday at 7pm to discuss spirituality and relationships.