Episode 1106: What Is Spirituality Really?Episode 1106: What Is Spirituality Really?
Take 12 Recovery Radio
WHAT IS SPIRITUALITY REALLY? This episode of the Came to Believe Recovery Podcast explores the tr...
50:42•17 Jun 2026
What Is Spirituality Really? Sobriety, Faith, and Labels Under the Microscope
Episode Overview
- The word spirituality has become so broad that it can describe almost anything, so it often needs careful definition in recovery conversations.
- Biblical spirituality is presented as a relationship with God and His Spirit, rather than a self-directed mix of feelings, nature, and personal wisdom.
- "I'm spiritual, not religious" is described as a common way to avoid talking about God or accountability, unless someone is willing to explain what they mean.
- Labels like Christian and religious carry cultural baggage, so the hosts sometimes prefer phrases like follower of Christ when working with people in early recovery.
- Finding solution-focused meetings or churches may take effort, and it’s okay to "shop" for a home where the message aligns with genuine spiritual growth.
“How long do we allow people to bash or change the definition of something that we hold sacred to where we won't even identify as that anymore?”
How do people cope with the challenges of staying sober while wrestling with words like “spiritual” and “religious”? This episode of Take 12 Recovery Radio’s *Came to Believe Recovery Podcast* tackles that head-on, with plenty of humour, honesty, and some gentle toe‑stepping.
Host Monty “the Monty’man” Meyer and co-host Tom Williams kick off with their trademark banter before moving into the main theme: what people really mean when they say, “I’m not religious, I’m spiritual.” Both admit that phrase raises a red flag for them, because it so often seems like “a defense mechanism” or a way to shut down any talk of God.
The conversation unpacks how “spirituality” has become so broad it can cover anything from yoga and mantras to vague nature vibes, while biblical spirituality is rooted in “a relationship with God and his Holy Spirit.” They note that feelings, nice as they are, can’t carry an entire recovery: a faith grounded in God’s word is described as a more stable base than “spiritual experiences alone.” They also wade into tricky labels like “Christian” and “religious,” pointing out how both have picked up heavy cultural baggage.
As Tom puts it, many use spirituality as “a way they can shut the conversation” rather than clarify what they actually believe. Monty asks bluntly, “How long do we allow people to bash or change the definition of something that we hold sacred to where we won’t even identify as that anymore?” Tom explains why he often prefers phrases like “follower of Christ” when working with people in early recovery.
Along the way they answer an email from Jay in Southern California, talking honestly about solution-focused meetings, old‑timers, and the reality that you sometimes have to “shop around” for a spiritual home in both recovery and church settings. If you’ve ever said “I’m spiritual, not religious” or felt put off by labels, this conversation might get you asking yourself a brave question: what do those words actually mean to you?
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