Spirituality vs. Religion: A Contemporary Distinction

Pat Tillman, the pro football player who gave up that celebrity career and joined the military after 9/11, was killed by so-called "friendly fire" in Afghanistan in 2004. His mother Mary has published an account of his death and how the military and government, at first, misrepresented his death for propaganda reasons. Her book Boots on the Grounds by Dusk sheds light on how and why the authorities hid the truth about her son's death.

One of the many tragedies of this story involved a superior officer, an avowed Christian, who after learning that the family did not wish a chaplain at the final service, disparaged the Tillman family. His mother responded that her son was very spiritual, but not religious.

In my estimation Mary Tillman did not have to explain to anyone, including said superior officer, about her family's memorial choice. Hadn't her fallen warrior son died on behalf of a large freedom, that includes complete freedom of religion?

This little anecdote also points out the contemporary distinction between spirituality and religion. Increasingly I hear people say, "I'm not religious. But I'm spiritual."