Faith and Prayer: The Difference Between Being Religious vs Being “Spiritual”

“Yes I believe. Increase my faith and hope and love.”

There’s a phrase often tossed around in today’s culture: “I’m spiritual, but not religious.” It sounds enlightened. Open. Free from dogma. But what does it really mean? And more importantly—does it bring us closer to God?

Let’s take a deeper look at what it means to be spiritual versus religious—and why prayer and faith are not just concepts, but a lifeline to God Himself.

“I Do Believe—Help My Unbelief”

In the Gospel of Mark (9:14–29), a desperate father brings his suffering son to Jesus. The boy is tormented by a mute spirit, and the father, exhausted and afraid, pleads:

“But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

Jesus replies with a challenge:

‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.”

The father cries out:

“I do believe—help my unbelief!”

This cry could be the anthem for many of us. We believe—or at least we want to—but our belief feels shaky. It’s not always easy to trust. The chaos of life, the suffering we witness, the silence of God in moments of crisis—all of it can shake our faith.

But here’s the truth: faith and prayer are inseparable. And Jesus responds not to polished prayers or perfect belief, but to sincere cries—even ones tinged with doubt.

Faith Begins Where Prayer Is Born

You cannot separate faith from prayer. Jesus Himself says that *“this kind” of evil—this depth of suffering—*can only be overcome through prayer.

“This kind can only come out through prayer.” (Mark 9:29)

Faith grows in the soil of prayer. If you want to believe more deeply, pray more consistently. Ask boldly. Seek persistently. Knock daily.

Jesus promised this in Matthew 7:7:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

And saints throughout the ages have clung to this promise:

• St. Alphonsus Liguori said: “If you pray, you are saved. If you do not pray, you are lost.”

• Karl Rahner, SJ echoed this truth: “I pray, therefore I believe.”

Prayer is the breath of the soul. Without it, we lose our way.

To Be “Religious” Is Not a Curse Word

There’s been a movement in recent decades to abandon religion in favor of a more ambiguous “spirituality.” And while it’s true that religious practice without love or sincerity can become hollow, it’s also true that spirituality without structure often becomes vague and self-referential.

Being religious, when rightly understood, is about worshipping God not just with your heart, but with your life—your time, your habits, your community, your discipline. To worship is to order your entire being toward the living God.

“Worship is not something God needs—it’s something we need. It rightly orders us, interiorly and exteriorly, around what really matters.” - Bishop Robert Barron

Religion roots us in community. Prayer roots us in God. Faith grows through both.

Let These Be Your Daily Cries

Make this your spiritual rhythm. Repeat these cries each day:

1. Yes, I believe. But increase in me faith, hope, and love.

2. Teach me to see Your love in everything that happens.

3. Help me to surrender like a child in its mother’s arms.

Your faith will deepen. Your heart will soften. Your soul will breathe.

The Spiritual Life Is Not a Solo Journey

Spirituality is not about vague feelings or detached belief systems. It’s about entering into a relationship with a living God who speaks, listens, heals, and responds.

If you want to grow in that relationship—pray. And pray not just when you need something, but every day, in all things.

“Pray always. Pray everywhere. Pray about everything.”

In doing so, your spirituality will become more than just a sentiment. It will become a deep, abiding faith—one that can move mountains, cast out darkness, and lead you to the fullness of life Christ promised.

“I came that they might have life—and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Yes Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.

—————

“As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, John

and approached the other disciples,

they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.

Immediately on seeing him,

the whole crowd was utterly amazed.

They ran up to him and greeted him.

He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”

Someone from the crowd answered him,

“Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit.

Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down;

he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid.

I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.”

He said to them in reply,

“O faithless generation, how long will I be with you?

How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.”

They brought the boy to him.

And when he saw him,

the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions.

As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around   

and foam at the mouth.

Then he questioned his father,

“How long has this been happening to him?”

He replied, “Since childhood.

It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him.

But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

Jesus said to him,

“‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.”

Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”

Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering,

rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it,

“Mute and deaf spirit, I command you:

come out of him and never enter him again!”

Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out.

He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!”

But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.

When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private,

“Why could we not drive the spirit out?”

He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”

• Mark 9:14