You’ve heard the call, “I’m not religious, but I am spiritual.” What does that even mean? And, why are so many people running from organized religion, but flocking to some amorphous and ambiguous claim to spirituality that often extends not further than a sense that you yearn for something more? And, is that okay? Or, are we leaving something behind? And, if so, what? Is it a part of ourselves? A sense of wholeness and belonging? How do we reclaim a feeling of connectedness and expansiveness and ease, without also surrendering to the strictures of organized religion that, too often, integrate tribalism, separateness and disconnection from our lived, modern experience?
These are the questions we dive into with my guest today, Rabbi Rami Shapiro. Rabbi Rami is an award-winning author of over three dozen books on religion and spirituality, such as Judaism Without Tribalism and Perennial Wisdom for the Spiritually Independent. He received his rabbinical ordination from the Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion and a PH.D. in religion from Union Graduate School. Now, as a congregational rabbi for over two decades, Rabbi Rami is also a professor of religious studies, a rabbinic chaplain with the USAF, and the co-director of the One River Foundation. Plus, he’s a Contributing Editor at Spirituality and Health magazine, where he writes and hosts the magazine’s bi-weekly podcast, Spirituality & Health with Rabbi Rami.
In our conversation today, we explore why so many people are leaving organized religion, the distinction between religion and spirituality, the evolution of God and religion, and much more.
You can find Rabbi Rami at: Website | One River Foundation
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