Spiritual but not Religious-Are Millennials Missing the Plot? 

I believe that another reason why millennials call themselves spiritual but not religious is because they see the division that some religious beliefs have caused. So, being an Indian, I think, I see more of this than people living in other countries. I've seen parents tell their children to stay away from a bunch of people because they do not belong to the same caste or religion. So, this year we had an all religion dance in our school and this girl, around 8-9 years old, came running to me crying, I asked her why and she said that she was she was asked to dance in the dance of another religion (normally the children are divided randomly, they don't get to choose) and I was like, what's wrong with that and she said that her mother wouldn't like it. I was scared, not because she was put in another religion but because this is what the kids these days are taught. Imagine, she was just 8-9 years old and she already had this view of a religion being bad. She wasn't old enough to write a paragraph but she was old enough to know which is the right religion and which is the wrong one (according to her parents). That day I realised what a blessing it was that my parents were Bahá'ís, as they never taught me to hate people or a religion, they taught me to accept, respect and love everyone because, no matter what, at they end of the day they are all creations of God.

This is one of those times that RU-vid needs a love button. You have no idea what a solace this is. Baha'is often attract spiritual friendships, but not everyone gets adherence to these perfect teachings. Sometimes the journey is lonely, in a world where God Himself is receiving blame for the 'unwisdom'' of some religious adherents.

I love it, a Baha'i and a Muslim doing awesome things together!!! He is right, people fail you, Jesus didn't. Also true you will know them by their fruits, very beautiful people are the Bahais.

Everything I heard from baha'i faith or baha'i person always amezed and blew my mind Baha'i faith is beautiful ❤️

Spirituality is about "me" and religion is about all of us together. Wow! Fabulous description. Yes! I am going to use this youtube in my upcoming fireside with college students. Thank you

I feel like i finally found my tribe..^^

9:06 this guy is inspirational, great analogies.

its great conversation. i have to disagree on justin`s "definition" of spirituality. spirituality its not about self... its realizing the self is an illusion, and that we are all one. there is no separation. spirituality is becoming aware of the body as a case for the soul, and understanding the soul as the rays of the sun, the sun being god. so god is within everyone. and we are all god. we are all one... i don´t believe in religion because of the harm these religious institutions have done to humanity. i see religion as the back wheels of a kids bike. i dont need it anymore. i do not respect the institution. It was a necessity back in the time, it was useful, and good, but to me its totally outdated. if i were to have ANY RELIGION, that would be LOVE.

This is a brilliant discussion. It reinforces for me why I chose to become Baha'i rather than continue seeking and keeping what I like and setting aside what I don't.

I think you can't talk about one topic without the other side. You need some millenials.

Interesting topic! Justin hit it pretty good! It is actually intellectualizing religion which in reality is impossible. Blessed Beauty says "too much freedom is self destructing".

I feel like there's a lot of things not being addressed. They forget that we become spiritual yes because of the people. And in those religions you are supposed to fellowship with others. Well if they failed you then how are you to actively participate in that religion? You can't. So you take those teachings and what resonates with your spirit and you go from there. Just because you don't have a religion doesn't mean you are without rules and regulations or spiritually deficient. It almost sounds like they equate being spiritual and not religious as basically being an atheist. Which couldn't be further from the truth. I mean I found parts of this very intriguing. However I believe they perceived us as being lost when we are more in tune with our souls than our parent's generation. We're seeking truth and The Creator, building that relationship and bonding with others who feel the same. There isn't a ME. You know you are connected to everything and everyone. So not sure where they are getting these soulless young people from.

From what I've read about this faith, it would probably be attractive to many millenials. I see some good values and beliefs espoused by it. Also, I read that Baha'is places greater importance on your relationship with God but less emphasis upon certain types of religious rituals. I read there's no sermons, worship rituals, clergy, sacraments or initiation ceremonies which is more attractive to people who want less enforced ritual. It kind of sounds like Unitarian Universalism because during worship services, people read scriptures from many different faiths. But I know there are major differences between UUism and the Baha'i faith. I agree with the speakers, in terms of what they perceive to be the reasons why many millennials reject organized religions today. I would add that being influenced by political and sociocultural changes, personality factors, personal values or preferences, learning about all wrong things done in the world in the name of religion, and past negative or unhealthy experiences within oppressive faith backgrounds combined with other traumatic life events. At the end of the day, certain kinds of people prefer to adhere to certain kinds of ideologies, lifestyles or worldviews. Their life experiences, personality traits, political affiliations and knowledge base influences their attitudes toward religion and spirituality. I tried reading about the history of the Baha'i faith. It has roots in Babism. And Babism broke away from Islam in year 1844, where it flourished in Persia until it continued in excile in the Ottoman Empire. Babism was a type of Islamic messianic movement. When you look at some of the Baha'i faith's beliefs (especially the unity of diversity and humanity, equality between men and women, elimination of all forms of prejudice, independant investigation of truth, universal compulsory education, elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty, etc.) it kind of sounds good on paper. But when you look at its social prohibitions, you notice its Islamic roots. They point out that many people simply don't want to live their lives according to religious authority when they think its mean oppressive authoritarianism and unwanted restrictions on what many people consider to be personal freedoms. My point is, "So what?" No one wants to adopt a worldview that goes against a preferred way of life or value systems. I don't agree with them associating individualistic pursuit of your own worldview and beliefs as self-centered. Many religions promote authoritarianism and lack of tolerance for people who'd prefer to believe differently, which are not attractive philosophies for many people. But many people value the tradition, rituals, rules or regulations that provide structure, rigid, moral absolutes in a world full of uncertainty and relativism, collectivism, community or values that this faith upholds. That's great for them, but many people simply don't share those values and they don't need to. Religious beliefs, practices and traditions are not always a force for good, obviously. There have been 17 reported cases (since year 2000) of male infants contracting genital herpes after undergoing a metzitzah b’peh (MBP), or orogential (mouth to genitals) suctioning of blood from the penis of an infant male following circumcision, within a section of ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities. The ritual is done by a mohel. So an adult male who directly uses hia mouth to suck blood from the circumcision wound of male infant penises is constitutionally protected. It's disgusting, unnecessary, and has been shown to cause medical problems in some infants. So far, one infant died after contracting herpes and suffering from encephalitis as a result. Another infant suffered from permanent brain damage. Maybe the cases could've been prevented if the mohels had used more careful sanitation methods but nevertheless it's religious beliefs and traditions (not spirituality) that drive this disgusting and potentially dangerous practice. Under Sharia Islamic Law, certain practices like adultery are punishable by death. Even though it's claimed that Islam doesn't support honor killings, zina (Islamic legal term for unlawful sexual intercourse) has been used to justify honor killings. And zina is also not mentioned in the Quran but jurisprudence and the Hadith says it's ok to stone an adult, free, have been married Muslim for committing zina. During the Algerian Civil War, Islamist insurgents assassinated women suspected (but not proven) of so-called loose morals. The Taliban have executed suspected adultresses using machine guns. I know that it's partly because those cultures tend to devalue women in extreme ways anyway. I'm saying that it's partly their culture and exrremists' interpretation of the culture's predominant religion that causes the problem. When people read about religious or cultural traditions causing these kinds of problems, that's parlty why they reject religion and develop a personal spirituality that doesn't promote stoning people for alleged sexual offenses, for example. Because it doesn't make sense. However, I think there are good moral teachings in many different faith backgrounds that do actually make sense. Spirituality is about the kind of individualistic pursuit of truth that this Baha'i faiths supposedly supports, so it's not about being self-centered. It's about thinking about spiritual things on your own terms.

You should have had an atheist on your show. I would have some serious rebuttals to this panel that would have deserved explanations instead of all this head nodding and agenda pushing

Loved this

I think that all beings who came forth to spread goodness in this world, came to teach us about our own greatness and connection to the divine. We are all capable of accessing that divinity within ourselves, of getting the same information or wisdom they had access to. We just need to devote the time and energy and be consistent with the use of the tools for accessing that wisdom such as meditation, connection or just being present and kind. We can find processes that work for us and it does not have to mean following a particular religion or belief. If the teachings that led to the religion resonate with you then by all means follow them but we must never make someone else feel bad for the ways they choose to remember their connection to God. Also, as young children, our parents play an important role in our lives when it comes to respect for others and ourselves, how to give and receive love and right from wrong. They play the most important role when it comes to instilling morals. My parents were a part of every religion but never followed any in a strict sense but by way of their own actions I learned the importance of kindness, honesty and respect for others.

Dude in the hat has it together.

Great discussion

Exactly who embraces spirituality. i see hordes of millennials becoming atheists who do not consider spirituality to be a real thing.

Justin is the best.

I think you need both

In this day and age alot of people pounder what came first the chicken or the egg and it's the same question in theology. What came first spirituality or religion? For a long time we never really got that answer unless your into Hinduism but here in the west that wasn't really an interest. All these questions but no answer and the only response is just pray about it and the answer will come now since the internet has came were getting those answers. Spirituality is not just the self it's looking deep within anything including religion. When you break religion down it's just tradition based on what the tribe did back then up until now, it's makes you great person you read whatever book your religion tells you and come to some worship ground give thanks and peace but what did that come from what is the base to all these abrahamic religions. When you look into the base you find out all the religion has the same God or God's depending on your background cause has more or less, they all fought because of these God's they all deal with Equinox and the sun. Religion came from Sumer there is no doubt about it but so did spirituality before it was clogged and plagued with tradition, ideaology, and was about the self being a better person eating better treating others better before all these religion came into play. And that's why these "Millineials" are becoming sbnr not because they rejecting religion but they're returning back to there roots. Everything goes back to full circle this is the age of aquarius I would generally say learn more of what you can.

Mam-yassin said it all i am done with the video lol NOt really but she said it all. I don't think i will take on the label of Bahai Simply because don't want to fight with anyone about who taught me how to love. I am very spiritual and love GOD. I will take the teachings wholeheartedly and grow from knowing them. I am grateful to GOD for putting this in my path. I did join a church. I had not been in a church family for over 10 years. SO i know about that 2 year old tendency. i would have not found this faith to seek the teachings if i had not joined the church. And i teach Religious Education at the church (world religion to be exact and i had not heard of the bahai faith ever before joining this church) and the teachers were talking about Bahai and i remembered the Bahai woman i had met at an event at the church and they knew so little and were so belittling i was dismayed since they were supposed to be so inclusive and accepting. So i did a serious search and i found this. and months earlier i shared a video of Justin I think from a ted talk or this platform and his words then were inspiring. So thankful and greatful. religion must be upgraded. THANK YOU for the update.

Do people Pray to Baháu'llah as if he was the Beloved?

Great

A-MEN BROTHER,,

MISHA!!!!!!!!