Debunking the Myth: "I Define Myself as Spiritual, Not Religious" – Possible or Self-Deception?

Research in the field of psychology shows that spirituality brings mental well-being. The Jewish neurologist and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl writes in his book "Man's Search for Meaning" that there is an additional dimension in humans beyond the physical and mental - the spiritual dimension, which grants meaning to life. Without it, a person will suffer from "existential void." Without spirituality and a sense of meaning, one will suffer from barrenness and emptiness, leading to depression and further mental issues. It is a natural human need to find meaning in life. However, there is a concurrent drive to live life without constraints, which draws a person to remain in their comfort zone and not to acknowledge the divine reality. Since divine reality and religious observance require a person to live life within frameworks and boundaries, the way to avoid this is through denial and unawareness. Therefore, the non-belief approach seeks to incorporate spirituality into human life without religious constraints and thus defines spirituality through humanistic ideas, such as the development of art, culture, and science, as well as connecting with the self, nature, and humanity.

Some of those seeking non-religious spirituality see a higher self-awareness connection as an answer to the spiritual dimension within humans demanding life meaning. As a result, awareness and demand for various practices aimed at mental benefit, such as mindfulness and meditation, have expanded. Others find this connection through knowledge or activities they view as meaningful. But the big question is whether spirituality truly exists when devoid of religious faith or if it is merely an illusion meant to obscure the existential void of those searching for non-religious spirituality?

The spirit, as its name suggests, resides in a realm beyond the physical and mental world of humans. As defined by psychological research as one of the building blocks of the term 'spirituality': "A recognition of the existence of a reality transcending that which is perceived by the senses." Conversely, philosophical methods claiming spirituality without belief in divine reality or the existence of an eternal soul define themselves as approaches offering meaning to human existence without belief in the existence of a transcendent reality. In other words, they contradict transcendent reality and only exist within a limited sensory reality, creating an inherent paradox.

Beyond the inexplicable paradox that this philosophical approach has built for itself, we ask ourselves: Can we truly endow the very essence of life with meaning when there is no belief in the spiritual dimension beyond our earthly lives?

If the end of earthly life is indeed the final stop, if our entire life here has no goal on a level beyond life itself, if there is no overarching and eternal purpose beyond our earthly lives here, then what is the point of living, and where can there be any meaning?

Initiatives, activities, or the creation of new works – in the scientific, ideological-ethical, artistic, or even philanthropic domain – at a level that ends and sums up in our 120 years, or at most in the 120 years of future generations, still lack eternal significance. Every initiative, discovery, or personal/general development certainly impacts our lives and those of others, but once the dimension beyond this world doesn't exist – where is the true meaning? Everything turns into an attempt to create temporary life on earth that can be passed on as smoothly and pleasantly as possible, but true meaning ceases to exist.

Even those active in political battles for certain values, regardless of whatever opinions behind them, operate so that they and others can live their lives according to their worldview. Yet, ultimately, these are lives with an expiration date, both for them and for all humanity. As such, where is the eternal meaning in that? When there is no belief in a separate eternal consciousness from bodily life, namely a soul, there is no true spirituality or authentic life meaning. Everything starts and ends in our earthly lives on this earth. Don't get me wrong, many are people without religious faith who act for others in various aspects, out of a good heart and a psychological need to live meaningful lives, but there is no eternity and there is no spirituality here. There are just 120 years of people replacing one another.

When life is conducted according to values and ideals, views, and opinions that are human-made, life will remain forever in the human and earthly realm alone. They will never belong to a spiritual realm, to eternity, or to something greater and higher than life itself. Therefore, for example, a limited human life lacking action is perceived by that philosophical approach of spirituality-without-belief as meaningless, while faithful spirituality views such lives as having eternal significance.

Religious belief perceives earthly reality as a temporary and highly limited reality compared to the spiritual reality present in our world. It transcends human ideas and concepts and guides us towards connection with the supernatural realm. Thus, our lives here transform into lives that break beyond human boundaries, the dimension of time, and earthly space. Our lives here become lives of superhuman consciousness, with genuine meaning that doesn’t conclude at 120 years.