You’re Not “Spiritual But Not Religious,” You’re Catholic and Don’t Know It Yet | Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress & Fr. Patrick Briscoe
April 10, 2026
“I’m Spiritual, Not Religious”
In this episode, Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress and Fr. Patrick Briscoe explore the cultural phenomenon of identifying as “spiritual but not religious.” They unpack its rise among millennials, its recent decline, and what it reveals about the human desire for meaning, truth, and belonging.
The friars argue that while this mindset reflects real spiritual instincts—belief in God, desire for morality, and longing for transcendence—it ultimately falls short. Rooted in fear of commitment and radical individualism, it isolates rather than fulfills.
They propose that the answer to this “restless spirituality” is not less religion, but deeper encounter: authentic community, meaningful worship, and the fullness of truth found in the Catholic Church.
Why “Spiritual But Not Religious” Became So Popular
For years, especially among millennials, many rejected organized religion while still holding onto belief in something more.
- A higher power? Yes.
- Moral truth? Probably.
- Commitment to a Church? Not so fast.
This mindset allowed people to keep spirituality without the demands of religion—no obligations, no authority, no structure.
But as the friars point out, this isn’t a final destination.
It’s a middle ground… a place of tension… a restless search.
Why Spirituality Alone Isn’t Enough
The problem isn’t spirituality—it’s incomplete spirituality.
When faith becomes purely individual:
- Truth becomes subjective
- Worship becomes optional
- Community disappears
- God becomes… manageable
But real faith doesn’t shrink God down to our preferences.
It draws us out of ourselves.
From Spirituality to Fullness
Catholicism offers what “spiritual but not religious” cannot:
- A real community (not isolation)
- Shared worship (not self-designed spirituality)
- Objective truth (not relativism)
- Sacraments that elevate and transform
It’s not either/or.
It’s both/and.
The quiet sunrise.
And the solemn liturgy.
Personal prayer.
And communal worship.