Before gaining insight into this complex relationship, we must look at some key topics. Spirituality is broader and more abstract than religion. Spiritual and religious practices have been intertwined across cultures throughout the centuries. | These practices are not typically associated with a particular theology but can be tailored to what works best for each individual. Spiritual practices such as meditation, yoga, silence, and contemplation allow you to make conscious contact with more expanded states of consciousness, thus helping to experientially validate the teachings rather than accepting them on faith alone. Spirituality allows individuals to explore their inner selves, developing a deep understanding of who they are and how they interact with the world around them. In the study, the researchers asked participants to denote their religious affiliation, either as (1) traditionally religious, (2) nonreligious but spiritual, or (3) neither religious nor spiritual. Religion: On the whole, a formal religion is often an objective experience. It is primarily concerned with finding, experiencing, and embodying ones true spiritual nature. Neither of these scenarios is fair. Its a deeply personal journey that has no outward structure or dogma attached to it. As a pacifist by nature, it hasRead more . While spirituality does not threaten punishment for a life lived in contrast to a set of rules, it often addresses karma. They are merely general markers meant to better explore the qualities between two equally valid approaches to seeking the truth. Both of these are routes to discovering the divine truth. In this case, wisdom means a deep and integrated knowing that is expressed through how we live our lives. Or as Christina Puchalski, MD (leader in trying to incorporate spirituality into healthcare), puts it, Spirituality is the aspect of humanity that refers to the way individuals seek and express meaning and purpose and the way they experience their connectedness to the moment, to self, to others, to nature, and to the significant or sacred.". For thousands of years, humanity has passionately pursued the Truth with a capital Tthe ultimate answers to life and the universe. Sometimes aspects of it get split up and parsed out among the other categories. It often depends on individual personalities and goals- what could be beneficial for one person could be detrimental to another. See additional information. Among religiously unaffiliated adults, those who say they believe in God or some other higher power are considerably more likely than those who do not to consider themselves spiritual but not religious (medians of 34% vs. 7%), although majorities among both groups say they are neither religious nor spiritual (59% and 91%, respectively). ), Spiritual Meditation: 11 Ways to Enlighten Your Mind. He or she observes the rites and practices, such as regularly attending church services on a Sunday for Christians, observing the Sabbath for Jews, and fasting during Ramadan for Muslims. While often closely linked and used interchangeably, these two concepts are not the same and carry distinct characteristics for individuals, groups, and globally. I have directly experienced both spirituality and religion in their most toxic states, and Ive also experienced the benefits of both. You can belong to a religious group and still be spiritual, and vice versa. Please consult your doctor before taking any action. Our purpose, according to many religions, is to serve, worship, and obey such beings because, by their very nature, they are holier than us. Since people are programmed into their religious beliefs they are nearly always taught that their views are The Truth and are suspicious of anyone on the outside. Mark Travers, Ph.D., is an American psychologist with degrees from Cornell University and the University of Colorado Boulder. Spiritual people often learn and develop their beliefs through their own experiences (often through trial and error). The fear of punishment for one's actions is often a principle factor in religion. Ultimately, what matters most isnt what you believe but how it helps guide your life and help you become the best version of yourself. In either case, there are professionals within each religion who act in positions of leadership and who represent formal aspects of the institution. A way to practice both in a healthy manner will take some adjustment. Do you count on an institution to organize your beliefs for you, or do you pick and choose what you want to believe? These are important questions to consider when you are trying to determine if you are religious or spiritual. When we unite elements of spirituality with religion and vice versa, we get a robust, deep, and deliciously multi-faceted path that can properly support and initiate us into the Mysteries of the Divine. Spiritual aspirants heed the advice of Japanese poet Matsuo Basho, Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. On the other hand, a religious person accepts the truth as defined by his or her religion, and these truths are often documented and shared with others. For example, churches are slowly accepting LGBTQ acceptance into their congregation, which before was unheard of. Peace comes within the soul of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness, with the universe and all its power. As your spirituality grows, the more you understand that there is something greater out there, even if you dont see or understand it. The authors hope their work reduces negative stereotypes and stigma surrounding non-traditional religious practices and affiliations. Religion requires one to worship so they will be rewarded later on. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land, the Whadjuk people of Noongar Boodjar. Were encouraged to find the truth within ourselves. Want More Abundance In Your Life? But instead of seeing things in black-or-white terms (which creates division and therefore fear), I see that religion and spirituality can be like sisters, brothers, or friends that support each other harmoniously. However, spirituality encourages people to focus their energy on positive things and to act based solely on love. The word religion comes from the Latin word religionem, which means, respect for what is sacred, reverence for the gods; conscientiousness, sense of right, moral obligation. (1) Religion is connecting to the Divine through someone elses experience. They are twins that can form one Whole if we are open to that possibility. Being spiritual doesnt mean you have the responsibility of worshiping a God. Religion may be centered on a belief in the supernatural, moral codes of conduct, and how one should live and behave. Also, try our spiritual awakening test to see if you are experiencing an awakening! Whereas within religion, self-sacrifice, devotion, and service to others support us in feeling like we have a mission or greater purpose. Learn how to tell the difference between religion and spirituality. Spirituality is an individuals inner sense of connection with the universe or a higher power, and for some people, it is an essential part of living. Those who are spiritual but not religious are about evenly split between men (47%) and women (53%) in stark contrast with those who say they are neither religious So, when asking the question, Can you be spiritual and religious? the answer is yesif your true beliefs fall in line with a certain religion. However, many who are spiritual believe that everyone's ultimate truth is the same, despite any differences among them. First up in the types of spiritual personalities is the mystic. Spirituality: Spirituality, however, leans more toward self-referral or the internalization of your awareness of your soul. For example, that might be Shiva, Buddha, Mother Mary, Kali, Quan Yin, Avalokitesvara, etc. This empowers people to discover their own truths without setting any limits as to the depth of one's understanding. Religion tends to believe that punishment is the only way if one sins, while spirituality believes in karma, the belief that what comes around goes around, and that well reap what we sow. Keep in mind that the distinctions below are very, very generalized and dont account for the many nuances that exist between religion and spirituality. Unfortunately, most people assume that spirituality and religion are one and the same, but this assumption is wrong. The details of their lives as holy or highly evolved beings have been carried to us across the mists of time through oral tradition and written scriptures. Others seek the meaning of life through their connections to nature or art. Its not that their experiences dont make sense or are hare-brained. 5. You are part of the universal hologram, all gods and goddesses in disguise. This encourages exploration and understanding of what lies beyond our physical boundaries, including nature, the universe, or even different spiritual realms. WebTraditional religion involves accountability and responsibility; spirituality has fewer requirements. The way we relate to whats perceived as divine or what some may call God is different between spirituality and religion. WebSpirituality implies an attachment to matters of the spirit, rather than the physical, material world. However, each practice serves as a vehicle to lead you closer to the truth you seek. For others, there's a related sense of love and connection that comes from spirituality. Spirituality vs. Spirituality: By contrast, spirituality is more often based upon the practical application of the founders teachings. Therapytips.org, November 9, 2021. The Chopra Renew & Restore Detox Kit is a gentle and effective 7-Day cleanse rooted in the wisdom of Ayurveda and backed by science. These findings provide evidence that, at least psychologically speaking, non-religious spirituality and traditionally religious participants may be more similar than different.. If you have found any comfort, support or guidance in our work, please consider donating: document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I'd like to receive your latest weekly newsletter! Religion is faith. Spirituality vs Religion #1 Personal / Community-oriented While spirituality focuses on the personal connection with the Divine, religion encourages a community They are flexible in their beliefs. Religion: Religions are most often based upon the lives, teachings, and beliefs of a historical or archetypal figure (e.g., Christ, Buddha, Moses, Krishna, Muhammad). As someone who was raised in a fundamentalist Christian faith (and kissed that goodbye years ago! Alternatively, a religious individual learns or develops their beliefs based on the experiences they are told about their religious founders or through parables. While both participate in certain practices and rituals to achieve this, the two groups have some key differences. Use this space for describing your block. Religious people lean on gathering with others, to reach a unison connection with God, but spirituality develops their own belief system. Spirituality embraces a consciousness-based worldview that supports all human beings on their path to awakening in unconditional love and kindness. Spiritual Experience; The foundation of religion is faith. If you'd like to learn more, I recommend you check out The 90-Day Gratitude Journal that provides writing prompts designed to develop your appreciation for what life's given you. Final Thoughts on the Differences Between Religion and Spirituality. A third omission is that of the dishonesty and self-deception found within both of these groupthink systems. If you feel called toward specifically spirituality or religion, youre in your every right to do that. Ill explore the differences below as well as the pros and cons of spirituality and religion. Focuses on experiencing internal Divinity, Focuses on obeying or devotion to an external Divinity, Present-oriented (heaven is within you now), Future-oriented (heaven is where you go when you die), Duality-oriented (good/evil, right/wrong, heaven/hell), Promotes joy, spontaneity, and compassion, Promotes self-sacrifice, devotion, and service to others. Being spiritual involves holding one's personal set of beliefs and practices and searching for the purpose of life. I often straddle the line between religiosity and spirituality knowing that each has its own strengths and weaknesses. The content produced by YourTango is for informational and educational purposes only. For example, since accepting fate can be seen as an inner personal struggle, some define it as Person vs. Self instead. A spiritual person cares about people, animals and the planet. Spirituality leans heavily on the personal experience of one's soul. If you're interested to learn more, check out The 90-Day Gratitude Journal that contains writing prompts designed to deepen your appreciation for what you have in life). Are you a spiritual traveler? Instead, spirituality helps others focus not just on their own well-being, but for others, nature, or any sacred being. Some examples include Rumi and Hafiz (from the mystical branch of Islam, Sufism), St John of the Cross and St Teresa of Avila (from Christianity), Ramakrishna and Anandamayi Ma (from Hinduism), and more modern Western figures like Carl Jung and G. I. Gurdjieff. In religion, there is often a promise of punishment or reward for maintaining beliefs or following rituals. For Life, 3 Ways To Turn A Simple Daily Task Into A Spiritual Breakthrough, 10 Things Every Type-B Person Really Wishes You Understood, 4 Simple But Spiritual Ways To Deeply Connect With God Without Going To Church, The 3 Things People Immediately Judge You On When You First Meet Them, 5 Immediate Signs Of A Toxic, Passive-Aggressive Person, 10 Little Habits That Make You IRRESISTIBLY Attractive. There are many people who do not practice a religion, who do not meditate, pray or belong to any group, who are very spiritual people. WebWho is a spiritual person? Spirituality is personal; religion is institutional. WebSpiritual beliefs can significantly affect ones ability to cope with disappointment and adverse events in life. Religion generally involves participation in organized rituals such as prayer or meditation and attending services at places of worship. When someone is spiritual, they do what they feel is right, despite any potential consequences. As you can see, there are noticeable distinctions between spirituality vs. religion; however, these comparisons arent meant to be absolutes or an attempt to polarize one against the other. And if they can be salvaged, which path do we walk (if any)? Usually one has access to a priest, bishop, rabbi, monk, nun, etc. Whereas the word "religion" generally refers to organised forms of worship and a wider faith community, "spiritual" often describes people's private individual beliefs. The following characteristics differentiate a spiritual person from a religious person. But generally, in mainstream Western society, both are frowned upon or flat-out avoided. We have a path of integration, depth, and tremendous power for good. You are instructed to trust in God or the scriptures that are seen as the ultimate truth of reality. Most people dont really find religion; rather, its programmed into them from either a very early age or from a vulnerable place. Belief vs. It has caused wars and major conflict between ecocentric groups and countries. While one truth is being defined, the other is being discovered. You can belong to a religious group and still be spiritual, and vice versa. By Sofia Stewart Updated on Feb 11, 2023. Spirituality: Definition, Types, Benefits, and How to Practice This unites people who share a religion, as they share character traits and outlooks on life. Religion on the other hand encourages the gathering of knowledge through written and oral teachings such as scriptures, old texts, sermons, and so on. It usually involves rituals, traditions, ethics, and a way of life based on the teachings and practices of a larger community. For example, Christians are encouraged in the Bible to build a community of believers, gather together to pray and worship, and observe certain holidays or holy days. One is HOW we find religion vs spirituality. 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