Spirituality often lacks a clear, universally accepted definition, leading to confusion and misconceptions. Many associate it with religion, but spirituality can also exist outside religious frameworks. By considering secular definitions, we can gain a broader understanding of spirituality that emphasizes personal growth, inner peace, and a deep connection to life and the universe.
A single, widely accepted definition cannot define spirituality. It is, however, frequently defined as “connected to the soul” or an “appreciation of the divine“. Spirituality is also often seen as a religious term, but it should not be confused with religion or a belief in a God.Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality.
If you are religious, you can define spirituality in whatever way you wish within the context of your religion. I am more interested in a secular definition of spirituality—a concept and a feeling that anyone can own regardless of their beliefs—deist, theist, humanist, agnostic, or atheist.
Here is one definition of spirituality slightly adapted from Wikipedia
Secular spirituality is the adherence to a spiritual philosophy without adherence to a religion.
It emphasizes the personal growth and inner peace of an individual, rather than a relationship with the divine.
Secular spirituality is made up of the search for meaning outside of a religious institution; it considers one’s relationship with the self, others, nature, and whatever else one considers to be the ultimate.
Often, the goal of secular spirituality is living happily and/or helping others.
Credit: Adapted from Wikipedia
I define it a little more concisely:
Spirituality means a deep appreciation, respect, and love for the universe, the world, all life, and humanity — a sense of connectedness, awe, wonder, and curiosity — a deep understanding of being human and alive.
Anthony de Mello’s definition of spirituality resonates with me because it captures the essence of awakening to the fullness of life. He describes how many people go through life on autopilot, missing the profound beauty and wonder around them. This idea of “waking up” emphasizes the transformative power of awareness, inviting us to break free from routine and distractions, to truly engage with life, and to appreciate its depth and beauty. By cultivating this awareness, we can live more fully, with a greater sense of curiosity, awe, and connection to the world and ourselves.
Spirituality means waking up.
Most people, even though they don't know it, are asleep.
They're born asleep, they live asleep, they marry in their sleep, they breed children in their sleep, they die in their sleep without ever waking up.
They never understand the loveliness and the beauty of this thing that we call human existence.
To deepen our understanding of spirituality, we can reflect on what it means to us personally, beyond religious boundaries. We should consider how it connects to our experiences and values. By engaging in practices that nurture inner peace and a sense of connection, we can explore what brings us meaning.
Resources
- Psychology Today: Secular Spirituality by Marty Nemko
- Article: Secular Spirituality: A Brief History by Michale S. Horton
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Your newsletter post and the pieces here got me thinking. I think rather than framing spirituality as a religious term, I think the taxonomy should be in reverse, i. e. religion being a sub-class spirituality.
Without scientific basis, just top of my head, I would define spirituality as
the longing or effort to expand one’s life into the non-physical, metaphysical, unseen.
This could be anything like bona-fide spiritualism, searching the druidic magic making nature tick, religion or less organized forms of contact with the divine, or cultivation of the mind or the soul by means of meditation.
Hi Ernst, thanks for your comments – I quite like the idea of framing religion as part of spirituality – I will reflect some more on it.