SBNR and Hinduism.

[Vinayaka]

The SBNR crowd is interesting. If you encounter it, and you notice how much of it sounds so much like Hinduism, what do you say, if anything?

Spiritual but not religious - Wikipedia

 

[SomeRandom]

Considering the vast majority of Hindus I know personally outright reject the term "religion" and prefer terms like spirituality, not much at all. Although the SBNR crowd sound more like hippies to me.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Would not work for me. I would not leave my cultural heroes and heroines and would not adopt any from other religions. Will have friendly relations with heroes and heroines from other pagan religions. No truck with Abrahamic religions.

 

[Vinayaka]

Considering the vast majority of Hindus I know personally outright reject the term "religion" and prefer terms like spirituality, not much at all. Although the SBNR crowd sound more like hippies to me.

I've only met one person in real life who actually said that to me. He'd been coming to out temple for quite some time, and I asked, "So do you feel like a Hindu yet?" and he just said, "No. I consider myself spiritual, but not religious." He was no hippy, but that term has evolved to a rather vague catch-all too. It was kind of odd. Hence I asked this question here.

 

[Vinayaka]

Would not work for me. I would not leave my cultural heroes and heroines and would not adopt any from other religions. Will have friendly relations with heroes and heroines from other pagan religions.

Aup, is it at all common in India, or is this a western phenomena primarily? Are those westerners going to Rishikesh to some yoga ashram calling themselves SBNR? Do Indians ever say it?

 

[SomeRandom]

I've only met one person in real life who actually said that to me. He'd been coming to out temple for quite some time, and I asked, "So do you feel like a Hindu yet?" and he just said, "No. I consider myself spiritual, but not religious." He was no hippy, but that term has evolved to a rather vague catch-all too. It was kind of odd. Hence I asked this question here.

Could just be a Sai Baba thing

 

[Vinayaka]

Could just be a Sai Baba thing

The guy I was talking to was a Sai guy, but over here in America/Canada it goes far beyond Sai Baba.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Aup, is it at all common in India, or is this a western phenomena primarily? Are those westerners going to Rishikesh to some yoga ashram calling themselves SBNR? Do Indians ever say it?

We may say it at times, like we say that there is only one God. But when it comes to worship we will go to a Ganesha temple and a Hanumana temple. Going to one will not suffice. We may say things that we do not really mean and may not say things which really mean to us.

 

[Vinayaka]

We may say it at times, like we say that there is only one God. But when it comes to worship we will go to a Ganesha temple and a Hanumana temple. Going to one will not suffice. We may say things that we do not really mean and may not say things which really mean to us.

Thank you. Yes, I certainly get a sense that a lot of people use the catch phrase without delving very deep into what it might mean. In dharmic faiths, 'spiritual' and 'religious' are practically synonymous for many.

 

[Aupmanyav]

What it all really means to us is something quite personal and we don't think it necessary to insist or advertise it. And Vinayaka, you are perhaps the best example of not insisting, not advertising.

 

[Valjean]

Jai, SBNR!

 

[SomeRandom]

The guy I was talking to was a Sai guy, but over here in America/Canada it goes far beyond Sai Baba.

Hmm, I dunno. I'm pretty ambivalent at best about most things. And this is one of those things.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

I don't know. Sometimes SBNR sounds like a cop-out or laziness for people who don't actually want to risk getting into debates about what they actually do and don't believe.

I get particularly irritated when people express beliefs that are definitely Hinduism but they appear to have no idea that is the origin.

I feel like saying "Agnostic" is more honest. It acknowledges an intuitive feeling without claiming absolute certainty which at least comes with humility. SBNR makes someone sound wishy-washy to me. Sorry if that sounds harsh, that's just how it strikes me.

 

[Valjean]

I don't know. Sometimes SBNR sounds like a cop-out or laziness for people who don't actually want to risk getting into debates about what they actually do and don't believe.

I get particularly irritated when people express beliefs that are definitely Hinduism but they appear to have no idea that is the origin.

I feel like saying "Agnostic" is more honest. It acknowledges an intuitive feeling without claiming absolute certainty which at least comes with humility. SBNR makes someone sound wishy-washy to me. Sorry if that sounds harsh, that's just how it strikes me.

But perennial philosophy isn't the sole property of Hinduism.

 

[Jainarayan]

I equate SBNR with deism... pandeism, panendeism, polydeism, agnostic deism. I was there for a long while. I believed in the existence of God(s), and saw God(s) in everything, but I did not worship.

 

[sayak83]

Thank you. Yes, I certainly get a sense that a lot of people use the catch phrase without delving very deep into what it might mean. In dharmic faiths, 'spiritual' and 'religious' are practically synonymous for many.

Not necessarily if one uses the word "satvik" for spiritual and "dharmic" for religious. In Indian language a dharmic guy is one who cares a lot about rituals and puja and ceremonies and going to sacred places and shrines and a satvik guy is has an aura of simple heartfelt belief and leads a simple life with empathy and love for people and nature. The traits may or may not coexist in the same individual.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

But perennial philosophy isn't the sole property of Hinduism.

I agree! I think though, the SBNR answer is all too often used to avoid such philosophical discussion. Very rarely does anyone elaborate on what they mean by saying "I'm SBNR". At least in my experience. There are some popular swamis I can think of that strike me as SBNR but they have a strong philosophical standpoint that they can express. I appreciate that because I can at least learn something about that person.

 

[Aupmanyav]

In Indian language a dharmic guy is one who cares a lot about rituals and puja and ceremonies and going to sacred places and shrines ..

Dharmic is much more wider than rituals, puja, ceremonies and pilgrimages. It includes social and political responses too.

 

[Shantanu]

Being spiritual is just trying to be a very decent person like @sayak83 has said (sattvic) but if you bring dharma into your way of life and above all, God into your psyche, it becomes religious from spiritual.