Have you ever seen the image of two fish—one confined to a fishbowl, and the other swimming freely in open water?

It’s a popular metaphor in today’s culture. The fish in the bowl represents religion—restricted, confined, and controlled—while the fish in open water represents spirituality—free, expressive, and limitless.

At first glance, it feels obvious which one we should choose.

And that’s exactly why this idea has become so powerful.

More and more people are distancing themselves from religion, viewing it as a system of rigid rules, outdated expectations, and limitations that suppress individuality. In its place, many are embracing what they call a “spiritual” life—one that rejects structure in favor of personal truth and self-expression.

But here’s the real question:

Is that actually the kind of freedom we were created for?

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Religion vs. Spirituality: A Cultural Narrative

The narrative that religion is restrictive and spirituality is freeing has been widely accepted—but rarely examined.

In many cases, “spirituality” today is defined by the absence of boundaries. It promotes the idea that truth is personal, that structure is limiting, and that ultimate freedom is found in doing whatever feels right.

But when everything becomes subjective, what anchors truth?

Without structure, without foundation, without alignment to anything higher than self, “freedom” can quickly become confusion.

And confusion is not freedom.

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What Did Jesus Actually Come to Do?

When we study the life of Jesus Christ, we don’t see someone who came to abolish everything that existed before Him.

We see someone who challenged what religion had become.

He confronted systems that had drifted from truth—systems that were heavy, performative, and disconnected from the heart of God. He addressed the misuse of religion where it had become more about appearance than transformation.

But He didn’t replace it with chaos.

He didn’t promote a life without structure, accountability, or truth.

He came to restore alignment.

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Freedom Is Not the Absence of Structure

Scripture gives us clarity on what true freedom actually is:

Galatians 5:1
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

This kind of freedom is often misunderstood.

It is not freedom from all structure.
It is freedom from bondage.

It is freedom from sin, from confusion, from cycles that keep us disconnected from God. It is not permission to live without direction—it is an invitation to live aligned with truth.

Because without truth, what we call “freedom” can easily become another form of captivity.

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The Misconception About Christianity

Many people assume that Christianity is just another restrictive system—a modern-day fishbowl.

Rules. Limitations. Boundaries.

But that perception often comes from misunderstanding what Christianity actually is.

Christianity is not about empty rules.
It is about relationship.

It is about transformation.
It is about alignment between belief, identity, and lifestyle.

Jesus did not come to eliminate what God established—He came to fulfill it, clarify it, and restore its intended purpose.

What He established was not confinement, but clarity.

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The Righteous Outlaw

Here’s where the tension comes in.

When you choose to live according to truth in a world that rejects it, you may not fit in.

You may be misunderstood.
You may be labeled.
You may even look like the “outlier” or the one going against the grain.

In many ways, living righteously in today’s culture can make you look like an outlaw.

Not because you are wrong—but because you refuse to conform.

And that’s the paradox.

The very thing that looks like restriction to the world…
is actually freedom in Christ.

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So, What Is True Freedom?

Is Christianity a cage?

Or is it the very thing that frees us from everything that was quietly holding us captive?

The fishbowl vs. open water analogy may not be as simple as it seems.

Because what if the “open water” isn’t freedom at all—but exposure, instability, and lack of direction?

And what if what appears to be structure is actually protection, clarity, and life?

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Listen to the Full Episode

Take a listen to this week’s episode of Fortify the City as we challenge the cultural narrative around religion and spirituality—and uncover what true freedom in Christ really looks like.

Because in Jesus, we are not confined.

We are set free.

Highlights

• The cultural metaphor of the fishbowl vs open water—and what it really represents
• Why many people are walking away from religion in favor of “spirituality”
• The misconception that Christianity restricts freedom and self-expression
• How Jesus challenged religious systems without abolishing God’s truth
• The difference between bondage to religion vs freedom in Christ
• What true freedom actually looks like according to Scripture
• Why Christianity is not a cage—but a realignment to God’s original intent

Scripture for Reflection

• Galatians 5:1
• Matthew 5:17 (supporting scripture)

credits

Artwork design & logo by Dana Givens

Original music produced by SweatBeatz

About Podcast

Fortify the City is a weekly empowerment podcast assessing intricate ideologies, fallacies, and pop culture topics through a bold Christian lens.

Hosted by Sadé Graham | The Cultural Activist, the mission is to bridge the gap between Christianity and the world—one hot topic at a time.