Spiritual but not religious...just what does that mean?

I read an interesting article on CNN today.

Many folks on FB list their Religious View as being "spiritual but not religious".

I guess you'd add me to that group, although I say "Christian" on my various profiles. Here's my take on Religion versus spirituality.

First off, I think most Religions are man-made. Groups of folks got together and decided how to worship their deity. Typically, some early leaders who probably were a bit more eloquent in their speech and writings were able to persuade others to follow them in their own interpretations of ancient texts. This continues today, as various denominations actually get together and vote on their particular take on either the Bible, or Koran, or whatever physical record exists of Buddhism, Shintoism, Hinduism or other belief system.

Many times, the persuasiveness of the supposed scholar can lead to perversion of any said text. Fundamental Islamists believe quite differently than the average Muslim. The Catholic Church believes quite differently from most forms of Protestantism. Some groups who embrace Christianity (the KKK for example) focus on mere "sound bites" from the Bible instead of the whole picture. Daivd Koresch, Jim Jones, and Fred Phelps were able to persuade groups of folks that their views held some "special" ordained righteousness.

Throughout history, Kings, Popes, and others have decided what "The Bible" should be. Some books accepted by earlier Christians were kept in while others were kept out.

Here's my take. We are all gifted with an inherent sense of what is right and what is wrong. It's called a conscience. It is up to us to seek a personal relationship with a higher power as we define it (mine is Jesus Christ) through prayer. Without that constant contact through prayer, we will stray from the spiritual path we should follow.

I believe it is good to seek fellowship with others to keep us strong spiritually. I also believe most of all that it is that personal relationship that guides us through the day-to-day trials we face.

I think when seeking fellowship with others, it is equally important to keep both an open mind on spiritual matters, yet also a discerning eye and praying for individual guidance. Christ himself said in the end times there would be many false prophets.