What does being *Spiritual* mean? What is Spiritual? and how does it help you?

Being spiritual is very good, and every Christian is spiritual at least to some extent. If we walk in the Spirit we do not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Gal. 5:16). No way to walk in the spirit except by having the fruits of the spirit which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Yes, I'd rather say I'm spiritual than say religious because the non-Christians have distorted the word religious completely so that it has no good meaning at all. The Catholics, too, (many of them) think that being religious is a virtue, when knowing the Lord and following Christ is the virtue, not being religious! Jesus rebuked the religious Pharisees many times which is one reason that they were angered against him, but some had the discernment to see that he was a true prophet at least and maybe the Messiah. Not even his disciples were completely sure he was the Messiah most of the time. Romans 8 explains it:

Romans 8:1-17 (New International Version)

Life Through the Spirit

1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Honestly, that term can be used to describe most any faith out there today.

I prefer the term "Godly" as defined by Holy Scripture

Tts 2:11 ¶ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Tts 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Tts 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Tts 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Tts 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Main Entry: 1spir·i·tu·al

Pronunciation: \ˈspir-i-chə-wəl, -i-chəl, -ich-wəl\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French espirital, spiritual, from Late Latin spiritualis, from Latin, of breathing, of wind, from spiritus

Date: 14th century

1 : of, relating to, consisting of, or affecting the spirit : incorporeal <spiritual needs>

2 a : of or relating to sacred matters <spiritual songs> b : ecclesiastical rather than lay or temporal <spiritual authority> <lords spiritual>

3 : concerned with religious values

4 : related or joined in spirit <our spiritual home> <his spiritual heir>

5 a : of or relating to supernatural beings or phenomena b : of, relating to, or involving spiritualism : spiritualistic

— spir·i·tu·al·ly adverb

— spir·i·tu·al·ness noun

great question i never understood that either. you can call yourself a Christian and not be religiously affiliated so why not just call yourself a Christian if you believe in God?

It means that my questions always get categorized in r&s.