Knowing that God is there for me in everything, the good, the bad and even the ugly. Depending how I look at the gift it could be any of the three.

Spirituality means taking the man-made views out of my communing with GOD in our consensual way.
It means talking with GOD through each day so I can get through each remembering who and what is most important in my life. It means knowing that I can't be wrong if my life is guided by GOD and respect everyone in my life.

Spirituality to me means that I've been blessed in being able to find God in everything. Knowing that He's always there for me, and that He gets me through the toughest times. He has given me an inner peace. Because I've had such a deep relationship with God, I know that someday, I'll be able to see the face of God, and bask in His love. If you look for Him, you'll always find Him. I've also found that in times of trial, if I open the Bible with a question, I'll always open it to the place where there's an answer for me. He does work in wonderful ways!

spirituality to me means find the beauty in the most ordinary and simple things. it is the space between, it is the pause, it is the love for all living beings, the planet, and the universe.

I found it very interesting that the article highlighted both Evangelical Christianity and Catholicism, which are actually the same religion - Christianity. Although each differs in their expression of their belief in Christ, they are both based on the same Truths.

Every week a new book on religion or belief becomes a bestseller. A devout Christian chooses Agnosticism, just before turning 80. I believe in a higher power, have been at sometime or other - a JuBu AgAthHyp. I think for now I will stay with my belief in "mathematical probability."

Spirituality is the natural tendency all humans have to be drawn to a higher being and even a world beyond our own; a 'home' where our spirit (soul) yearns to be. Our spirituality is both internal (spiritual reading, prayer and meditation give strength and insight), and external (structured in history and tradition, and active in the community). But without a community for that spirit--and for me it is my Roman Catholic Faith. It has shown me how to live and how to love. I believe the spirit is always seeking and wandering until grounded in a home. Organized religion was invented for a reason and as humanity has become more civilized, religion has too. Jesus Christ told Peter to 'build His church' which is the most valuable thing left to us by Jesus. Over many centuries, the Holy Bible was complied by the church, not the other way around. Through reading sacred scripture and belonging to a vibrant faith community, I have an outlet for my spirituality to grow and flourish. From there I am motivated to participate in to help others wherever. This is the external 'work' of spirituality, and essential purpose of my human existence.

Roman Catholic & Zen Buddhist

I was born and raised Roman Catholic. During my senior year at my local Catholic prep school, we took a Comparative Religion class. This was my first substantive exposure to Eastern Philosophy and I remember being especially interested in Buddhism.

After I finished undergrad, and began my career as a scientist, I became troubled by the reluctance of organized religions, including the Roman Catholic Church, to accept science discoveries, deferring instead to their comfortable dogmata.

This was especially evident in my own Roman Catholicism during the Scientific Revolution (Copernicus, Galilei, Kepler). Poor Galileo was excommunicated in 1633 by the Inquisition for daring to use observed scientific data to defend the theory that the earth revolved around the sun, despite having the open support of Pope Urban VIII and Cardinal Robert Bellarmine SJ – now a Saint. His “conviction” wasn't overturned for 359 years; in 1992 by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger – who is now Pope Benedict XVI.

What drew me into Buddhism was its absolute lack of dogma: its instance on not accepting anything on blind faith, its emphasis on self-reliance, and its unparalleled willingness to accept new (scientific) ideas. Since Buddhism is the only major religion that does not have a Creation Myth, Buddhists thus have no ideological problems accepting the 4.5 billion-year age of the earth or 13.7 billion-year age of the universe.

Today, my wife and I are raising our two young children in the same Roman Catholicism in which we were both raised. However, I am also a practicing Zen Buddhist. I find these two philosophies and religions to be complimentary not contradictory, like Brother Thomas Merton OCSO before me. Contemporarily, Robert Kennedy in New Jersey is a Jesuit Priest and Zen Roshi, and Kevin Hunt in Massachusetts is a Trappist monk (like Merton) and a Zen Sensei.

I would have liked to have seen an agnostic/athiest point of view in the spirituality article. I'm betting there are quite a few of us out there, who have rejected traditional religion and are quite content with relying on reason and love for their fellow man and the planet without the authority or control of organized religions.

I grew up in a "church-going" family. Sundays were all about church at 9:00; Sunday school for the kids while the grown-ups worshipped in the sanctuary, then coffee, punch and cookies in the gathering room. When we got home, we lounged around on the living room floor reading the funnies until the pot roast and potatoes were ready at 2 pm.

Years later, after graduating from college, moving to Seattle to work and then attending law school, I met Barry. He was in most of my classes. I also saw him at the coffee shop and in the book store and occasionally even in the library(!) One Wed in springtime, he had a smudge on his forehead. I thought it was a bruise. He unabashedly explained that the Catholic church marked parishioners with ashes for Ash Wednesday. So touched was I by this seemingly out-of-character observance of his faith, I think I might have fallen in love with him that day. I remained spiritual, true to my upbringing, but was not a member of a congregation.

Barry and I were married during our second year of law school. When we met with the priest, in preparation for our marriage, he got to know us and declared that I did not have enough time to become Catholic before our scheduled wedding. We were married in the cathedral where Barry attended church during law school, but we could not have a full Mass, because I was not Catholic. During the preparations, I swore that I would raise our children in the Catholic faith.

We moved to a small town in central Washington state after graduation. We had good jobs, a cute rental home, and student loans. After a year in our new home, our first child, Megan Grace was born. She died a week later. It was Thanksgiving week. I didn't have much for which to feel thankful.

Megan Grace's funeral was in the chapel of the Catholic Church we were attending. I had still not become Catholic; life was too busy for evening classes.

Megan Grace's life and death began my journey to a deeper faith. I had participated the rituals; the kneeling; the crossing; the sign of peace for so many years without really understanding what I was doing, or even why. Megan Grace showed me why. I needed the solid; the everlasting; the unconditionaly promise that I would hold her again, even as I hold her in my heart now.

I became Catholic. I needed the solid, the rote, the steadfast, the knowledge that ever where in the world, on "any given Sunday" the same scripture was being read in every Catholic church throughout the world. I needed to know that even though my arms were empty, my heart was full of the promise that I would hold my child again.

Barry and I now have been blessed with two sons, Nathan and Nicholas. Their "older baby sister" is their angel. She has given wings to our belief that live lives, even after the living are gone. Nathan and Nicholas are, as are Barry and I, Catholic. I kept my promise.

I grew up in a "church-going" family. Sundays were all about church at 9:00; Sunday school for the kids while the grown-ups worshipped in the sanctuary, then coffee, punch and cookies in the gathering room. When we got home, we lounged around on the living room floor reading the funnies until the pot roast and potatoes were ready at 2 pm.

Years later, after graduating from college, moving to Seattle to work and then attending law school, I met Barry. He was in most of my classes. I also saw him at the coffee shop and in the book store and occasionally even in the library(!) One Wed in springtime, he had a smudge on his forehead. I thought it was a bruise. He unabashedly explained that the Catholic church marked parishioners with ashes for Ash Wednesday. So touched was I by this seemingly out-of-character observance of his faith, I think I might have fallen in love with him that day. I remained spiritual, true to my upbringing, but was not a member of a congregation.

Barry and I were married during our second year of law school. When we met with the priest, in preparation for our marriage, he got to know us and declared that I did not have enough time to become Catholic before our scheduled wedding. We were married in the cathedral where Barry attended church during law school, but we could not have a full Mass, because I was not Catholic. During the preparations, I swore that I would raise our children in the Catholic faith.

We moved to a small town in central Washington state after graduation. We had good jobs, a cute rental home, and student loans. After a year in our new home, our first child, Megan Grace was born. She died a week later. It was Thanksgiving week. I didn't have much for which to feel thankful.

Megan Grace's funeral was in the chapel of the Catholic Church we were attending. I had still not become Catholic; life was too busy for evening classes.

Megan Grace's life and death began my journey to a deeper faith. I had participated the rituals; the kneeling; the crossing; the sign of peace for so many years without really understanding what I was doing, or even why. Megan Grace showed me why. I needed the solid; the everlasting; the unconditionaly promise that I would hold her again, even as I hold her in my heart now.

I became Catholic. I needed the solid, the rote, the steadfast, the knowledge that ever where in the world, on "any given Sunday" the same scripture was being read in every Catholic church throughout the world. I needed to know that even though my arms were empty, my heart was full of the promise that I would hold my child again.

Barry and I now have been blessed with two sons, Nathan and Nicholas. Their "older baby sister" is their angel. She has given wings to our belief that live lives, even after the living are gone. Nathan and Nicholas are, as are Barry and I, Catholic. I kept my promise.

"Choosing my Religion", Dec 2007, states that Beth Davidson left the Catholic Church because she is pro-choice. I was not aware that Judaism allows for abortion. I think that if Beth had truly learned about the religion of her childhood, she would have seen the wisdom and beauty of caring for all human life.

I grew up Catholic, attended Catholic schools and always went to Mass. At 23, I met my Protestant husband and moved far away from my home city and state. I didn't attend Mass for about 7 years. When my son was born, I didn't baptize him immediately because I felt hypocritical, not practicing my faith. A year later my sister had a son. We discussed baptism and she thought it was okay to baptize her son despite not being practicing Catholics or active in any church. I wanted to baptize my son, so I went back to the Church during Lent and have been devouring my faith ever since. That was 11 years ago and since then I read everything I can get my hands on, attend Mass weekly, am active in faith and scripture study groups and am more aware of my faith as a Catholic, woman , wife and mother. I feel blessed that I have spiritual teachers and guides in my life to keep me on the right track.

As a child I was required to attend church at our Episcopal church in town, usually twice a month. Though my father, a somewhat cynical doctor and intellectual, knew more about the stories in the bible than anyone I knew, he was actually an atheist. He went to church for the music and sang in the choir for many years but my mother was more of a Christian. She felt that it was important to expose me and my 3 siblings to religion so we could make up our own minds as to which direction to follow in life. Our church was very active in musical productions and so we were exposed early on to classical music and how inspiring and beautiful it sounded in church. After High School I stopped going to church for about 15 years until I was married. Then when our first child was born I felt he needed to be baptized. I needed that collaborative feeling that someone was helping look after him in life other than just me and my husband. I was still a bit skeptical about religion and hesitant to commit but we found a great church in our community that had a mid-evil feel and a very interesting and open-minded minister so we started going to church again. My husband soon joined the choir, which spurred me on to go more often as well. We had 2 more children and I continued going mostly because the church added to my support network. Church became an extension of my family, a community, where I could volunteer my time, where we could all meet new friends while at the same time guiding the children with wholesome values and opening their minds to a broader view on the world that would help them make good decisions in life. My turning point came when I realized being an Episcopal meant I could believe in a higher being but that there are no answers in religion and we’re all trying to figure it out together. For my mother, church was a quiet place to slip into and away from the sometimes chaotic moments of raising children and, after many years of refusing to realize it, I decided I needed a place to reflect on things too, a place to share ideas, give support to others and receive it in return. Every day I am reminded that it takes a village to raise a child and my church has become an important part of that village. Over the years, through teaching Sunday school, becoming more involved in outreach activities to help people beyond our local community, thinking more about and discussing with my children some of the life lessons the stories in the bible teach, and being exposed to some beautiful music, my church has touched my spirit in more ways than I could have imagined. No matter what religion my children choose in life, I hope they will always feel nurtured the way I have felt at our Parish.

All throughout my childhood and into my teen years, I was shy--shy to the point that if I saw someone I knew at a store I would go to the next aisle to hide.

Then the summer before my junior year in high school, something happened. Actually, several things happened. My mom fell into a depression--which made things at home a hard to deal with. Then, towards the end of the summer, I was told by my closest friend that the group we hung out with thought I was clingy and didn't want me hanging around any more. And, our family started going back to church.

At church, I heard things I had heard many times before--that God loved me and had sent his son, Jesus, to die for my sins. These were things I had believed since I was little. But I realized something that had never sunk in before--that if God loved me THAT MUCH, what others thought of me didn't really matter. It was at that point that God became real to me in a personal way.

Then, the last day of the summer at a youth group meeting, when they asked for prayer requests I asked for confidence.

The next day I came to school, knowing that I would have to walk the halls alone with no friends to walk with me. Though I didn't mind being by myself, being by myself in a crowd was always terrifying to me. But I walked the halls that day and did not feel alone. It was truly like Jesus was walking with me.

I would like to say I have felt that presence ever since. I am just beginning to climb out of a long, long valley where God has seemed very un-real and far away. And yet even in these times He has given me moments of light to remind me that He is still here, walking with me.

We are atheists and have chosen to be so through great research, reading and many visits to various churches. Spirituality does not have to be religious, nor does a moral education. We celebrate the earth, the changing of the seasons, the gifts and talents we each have individually and as a family, science and the marvel of DNA and evolution. Our son knows right from wrong, is a good friend and makes choices in his life based on his internal morality, not fear of eternal damnation.

I grew up in a Christian family, and even though we went to church every Sunday, going to church didn’t make us any more Christian than standing in a garage would have made us a car. My parents only cared about making money, they didn’t like Muslims, my father cheated on my mother with other women in the church, and when a close friend of ours died in a car accident, our pastor told us that God just needed another angel in heaven. I was not satisfied with that answer because it didn’t make sense to me that God who created us, and wants us to live happy lives, would take us away. I prayed for the truth. I hated the hypocrisy I saw in my family and in a church that claimed to follow God. Then one day, my prayers were answered.
One morning a couple of months ago there was a knock at the door, and it was two Jehovah’s Witnesses. My pastor said to stay away from them, but they were friendly and listened to my concerns. They offered me a free home Bible study at a time that was convenient for me and I was overjoyed at what I found. They showed me from my own copy of the Bible why bad things happen, why God allows, not causes, suffering, and how he’s going to remove it in the near future. They showed me the scripture at John 5:28 and 29, where Jesus promised a resurrection of our dead loved ones and I was so happy to find out that my friend was not in pain and that she would be brought back to life one day in perfect health. The things I learned showed me just how blinded I was. If only people would give Jehovah’s Witnesses a chance! They are trying to share a wonderful message from the Bible with people of all backgrounds and ethnicities. I even went to their Kingdom Hall. It’s nice and clean, there are no images on the walls or rock concerts. The little kids were friendly, everyone sits together in the same room and it’s conducted like a classroom discussion of the scriptures. Not like my old church where people just rambled and twisted things to fit their personal taste and never used the Bible. And no one made me feel awkward or put me on the spot. I’d never seen such an encouraging example of true Christianity, a true brotherhood at work. I still study with Jehovah’s Witnesses and I’m so glad that I now have a real hope for the future; one of a peaceful life on earth when this selfish, hopeless, materialistic society is gone.

Spirituality means everything to me! I believe that we all have a soul, and much like we care for our physical bodies, we must care for our spiritual bodies. I believe that our souls last forever, and we must choose what will happen to our souls, what really makes up the essence of us, when we die. Like April in the comment below, I am a born again Christian. I have the peace and joy of knowing that not only will I be in heaven with God someday where there will be no more suffering, pain or sorrow, but I have God's presence and guidance through the Holy Spirit with me here and now as I walk here on earth. I have the comfort of knowing that my faith and future is secure because of Jesus' sacrifice for our sins.

I grew up going to church, but to me, God was always a distant being who was always scowling at me and waiting for me to mess up, so he could strike me. Because of this, I lived my life, even as a child, to try to earn his favor and make everybody else think I looked good.
When I was 14, I was honest with God for the first time and I told him that if he really loved me, as I had been taught, he would have to show me because I did not beleive it.
It did not come to me instantly, but throughout my freshman year of high school, I came to understand in my heart what I had been taught as a child. I realized that though I was not good enough to earn God's favor (as none of us are), I could have forgiveness, peace and joy by beleiving in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross and ressurection. I could not earn this, but God gave it to me out of His grace and love.
Life is not easy and is not always safe, comfortable and happy, but in the 12 years since Jesus Christ found me, He has always remained faithful to bring me supernatural peace and joy that often goes beyond my understanding.

I'm a witch - and the majority of people that I know and interact with are witches whether they know it or not. So many religions impose rules and use guilt to modify behaviors that otherwise make sense to the individual. So when you're faith is based on the idea "Do what you will and harm none" it allows you to base your decisions on what feels right to you and as long as you're making yourself happy you're a happy person.

To me spirituality isnt so much a concept, dogma, or even a set of beliefs. It's simply realizing that we are as much a spirit as we are a physical body. If you allow yourself to just be- in spirit and in body, that's all the searching you need.

I didn't learn this until I started researching the history of the Bible, the Koran, Dead Sea Scrolls, Witchcraft-you name it. Years of research land cross-referencing led me to that single truth: I am an individual Spirit and as such, I can respect that my spiritual journey is mine alone and is naturally, different from anyone else's.

I was raised Catholic - going to Catholic schools until my second year in college. I started looking at other denominations in early adulthood because of some of the restrictions of Catholicism and also because they did not encourage reading the Bible. I was a member of different Christian churches over the years occasionally going back to Catholic churches expecially at times of crises and stress.
This year (I am 63 years old)I have felt the need to reconnect with my spriitual side due to some eating disorder issues and some addictive behaviors that have surfaced. I started in the familiar, a local Catholic chruch and have found comfort and the feeling of "coming home" I am comfortable and renewed with this choice and am finding strenth and healing.

I was raised a Southern Baptist and was at the church each time the door was opened. Unfortunately, the ministers I encountered, including my father for a time, knew little about love and joy; guilt and fear were their tools and they became my constant companions. Going to services on Sunday became more about seeing friends, sharing gossip, and avoiding punishment at home than about anything remotely spiritual. During college, I left the Baptists for the Catholics because I had a friend who was one and because they got to the lunch line at the cafeteria sooner. I left the Baptist church for good in 1971 when a visiting committee prayed for me to see the error of my ways for attending Catholic mass on the Sundays I had to go to work early. For 20 years, religion was a sporadic influence on my life. I taught high school, married a man for whom the church meant nothing, and only occasionally darkened the door of any church.
But in 1991, I attended a local Episcopal church and knew that I had found a home. What the priest said that day made me know how much I missed the presence of an organized faith in my life and the joy of belonging to a faith-based community. This church recognizes that I have a brain, that I can think for myself and that sharing God's love brings great joy. Guilt and fear don't rule my life; joy and lofe have taken their place. My God doesn't wait for me to screw up so he can punish me; He knows my faults and failures and accepts and loves me anyway. What more could I ask for?

Hi there,
I was very happy to read about the women and their feelings about spirituality in the December issue of Real Simple.

My choice for religion is Paganism.
I didn't grow up in a Church, Mosque or Synagogue. The great outdoors of my childhood set me at ease and taught me a lot of who I wanted to become when I grew into womanhood. Today I am a mother of two great open-minded girls so it's best for me to teach my children to contiue to think outside of the box. I too looked for a spiritual home for my daughters and myself. Paganism is just right for us.

I love this Earth Based Faith! It helped me to understand the importance of caring for the planet for my children and my children's children. Also the fact that this religion focuses on a female Goddess figure as the one with power, strength,love, beauty and respect was enough for me to read more about it.(I'm a single mother) Planting trees and recycling are vital for future lives on this planet. I have always been a nature girl growing up. Bare foot all of the time I love and feel the significant energies of my mother, the elements, all animals, gardens, trees and the wilderness. All of my life I have loved LIFE of all kinds. Practicing the original faith feels right for me. Re-connecting with the Earth is a must for our survival.