There is no inherent reason to fear the word religion or the concept of organized religion itself. The problems arise from how certain religious systems are weaponized by reactionary powers—not from the existence of religion or its organization.

Spirituality is fundamentally about the individual’s personal relationship with the sacred, the mysterious, or the moral dimensions of life.

Religion is simply the social expression and formalization of this impulse—it organizes shared symbols, stories, ethics, and rituals to foster community and continuity.

Religion becomes “organized” when these shared understandings are systematized into institutions. But this doesn’t mean it is by nature coercive or hostile. Spirituality is the personal connection, religion is the structured way of maintaining and deepening that connection, often with others.

Many people today, especially those harmed by rigid or authoritarian branches of Christianity, Islam, or Judaism, recoil at the term religion. They often adopt a “spiritual but not religious” stance because of real trauma inflicted by institutions that used dogma to control, exclude, or punish. Historically, conservative and fundamentalist versions of these faiths have enforced conformity, suppressed dissent, and justified oppression—against women, LGBTQ+ people, and countless others.

However, progressive expressions of religion exist within every major tradition. They center compassion, justice, and mutual aid, and reject proselytism as an act of domination. Many progressive Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Pagans, and others actively build interfaith solidarity and work for the flourishing of all people. Their religious practice is organized but rooted in care, liberation, and reciprocity, not coercion. These communities show that organized religion can be a force for good—nurturing belonging, guiding ethical action, and providing support in the struggle for a better world.

There is no need to fear religion itself; what deserves scrutiny and resistance are the ways reactionary powers hijack religion to maintain hierarchies. We should not abandon the language of religion to them. Instead, we can reclaim and reshape it—whether through progressive congregations, radically inclusive temples, or new emergent spiritual communities that organize around love, justice, and collective thriving.