Being cool Quote by Criss Jami
“In societies where coolness and being cool is a top priority, the religious replace the word 'religious' with 'spiritual' to make their faiths seem less extreme.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Cultural Commentary, 2018
People often rebrand religious language as “spiritual” to appear less extreme, reflecting a desire for social acceptance while maintaining core beliefs.
In simple terms: Religious groups may adopt “spiritual” to seem less dogmatic.
Recognize language shifts and their social motives.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- media analysis
- interfaith dialogue
- social research
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do people prefer “spiritual” over “religious”?
- How does this rebranding affect public perception?
The term “spiritual” can be vague and may obscure real doctrinal differences.