There are three general avenues to satisfy our spiritual needs: religion, mystical spirituality, and secular spirituality.
1. Religion: Structured Doctrine and Institutional Frameworks
Religion is a system of belief centered on supernatural forces—such as deities, spirits, or divine beings—and is typically defined by formal doctrines, sacred texts, institutional hierarchies, and organized rituals. Major world religions—including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Many consider Buddhism a religion not because of supernatural doctrine, but rather due to its formalized belief system, ritual practices, and institutional structure.
2. Mystical Spirituality: Eclectic and Individualized Practice
Mystical spirituality encompasses contemporary movements that emerged prominently in the 1970s, drawing from a wide range of esoteric, mystical, and holistic traditions. It is based on belief in supernatural or metaphysical forces—such as karma, reincarnation, spiritual energy, or a generic higher power—but lacks formal doctrine, institutional authority, or standardized practices.
This form of spirituality emphasizes personal experience, self-empowerment, and individualized paths. Common practices include meditation, channeling, crystal healing, astrology, and yoga. It is often described as eclectic, with practitioners combining elements from diverse traditions to form personalized spiritual frameworks.
A significant subset of mystical spirituality is the “spiritual but not religious” (SBNR) identity. Many people who were raised in religious environments no longer identify with formal religious institutions but retain the underlying belief in a higher power or divine force. This is a rejection of religion doctrine while maintaining the supernatural elements. The spiritual beliefs of SBNR individuals are typically shaped by cultural norms, family traditions, or personal experiences rather than formal doctrine—similar to how other mystical and supernatural powers are understood through cultural frameworks rather than institutional teaching.
3. Secular Spirituality: Creating Meaning and Purpose
Secular spirituality refers to a non-supernatural approach. It does not involve belief in gods, spirits, or metaphysical forces.
Unlike religion or mystical spirituality which assume a preordained purpose or divine plan, secular spirituality is centered on the individual’s active role in creating meaning and purpose. It is not based on the discovery of a transcendent or divine order, but on the intentional construction of meaning and purpose based on an intellectual understanding of reality and the world at large.
AI Disclosure: The ideas and content of this article are my own but the text was written and refined using artificial intelligence tools. While the core concepts reflect my original thoughts, the phrasing and structure has been optimized by AI.