Iconic singer David Bowie famously described spirituality vs religion in the following brilliantly irreverent way: Religion is for people whore afraid of going to hell. She is the author of hundreds of popular articles, as well as numerous books and journals on the topics of Self-Love, Spiritual Awakening, and more. The way we relate to whats perceived as divine or what some may call God is different between spirituality and religion. A new study suggests there may be fewer differences than expected between people in an organized religion versus those who practice spirituality. Let go of perfection. Being spiritual doesnt mean you have the responsibility of worshiping a God. Members of a religion often also follow distinctive dress codes (especially religious leaders), moral codes, and actions that are mandated by a supernatural being. Religion includes a preacher or religious leader who defines what the truth is to their congregation. They can also be experienced Heres how you can unite spirituality and religion (instead of spirituality vs religion) into your life: 1. According to Pew Research Center, about 27% of U.S. adults consider themselves as spiritual but unaffiliated with any traditional religious group, demonstrating an increase of 8% in just the past 5 years.. Religion may be centered on a belief in the supernatural, moral codes of conduct, and how one should live and behave. While often closely linked and used interchangeably, these two concepts are not the same and carry distinct characteristics for individuals, groups, and globally. A beach will do. Are you a spiritual person or a religious person? You can belong to a religious group and still be spiritual, and vice versa. In fact, some may find that their spirituality is closely linked to a religion, while others may have their own personal relationship with a higher power. Others seek the meaning of life through their connections to nature or art. Spirituality: Spirituality though, breaks free from the restrictions and rigid structure sometimes associated with traditional religion. Most people dont really find religion; rather, its programmed into them from either a very early age or from a vulnerable place. Comment below! With spirituality, self-discovery has no boundaries. There are mystics who exist in all religions and spiritual paths. For example, you may know people who consider themselves spiritual, but not religious. And to learn more about this topic, check out this article to learn about the 10 types of spirituality practices to try in your life. Spirituality is broader and more abstract than religion. Also, try our spiritual awakening test to see if you are experiencing an awakening! Take well-being with you wherever you go with the Chopra app. Humanity is all one, with love being at the core of everyone's being. However, each practice serves as a vehicle to lead you closer to the truth you seek. People may reject traditional religion but consider themselves spiritual. There's no questioning it. And at religions most infantile form, it can be a force of destruction that creates more division and suffering. For spiritual practitioners, find a source of accountability that will help to keep you focused and committed. Forty-two percent (42%) of spiritual people meditate when stressed rather than overeat or indulge in unhealthy coping If you feel these definitions get blurry and cross into each others territory, youre not alone. Ultimately, spiritual paths are what you make of them and what resonates with you as an individual, making them unique. Looking at four age groups (rather than two) reveals even more clearly that religious service attendance and age have not always correlated perfectly in the United States. Each person's own definition of spirituality can vary throughout their lifetime, adapting to individual experiences through personal study and self-reflection. Being a spiritual person is synonymous with being a person whose highest priority is to be loving to yourself and others. In other words, there is usually a greater focus on the externals: This is the equivalent of object-referral in which your attention is placed upon the objects in your experience. Aletheia is a prolific psychospiritual writer, author, educator, and guide whose work has touched the lives of millions worldwide. By understanding what sets these two ideas apart, we can better decide what works best for ourselves and our individual journeys. Spirituality and religion are two distinct concepts with important differences. Theres no one else to tell you where youre going wrong but yourself. Religious people score much higher on those they view [them] as much more relevant for being moral compared to the disbelievers." When it comes to using the mind, spirituality focuses on cultivating wisdom. This means that one who lives with good intentions and practices good deeds will experience happiness in the future, while living with bad intentions may lead to future suffering. 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. But for spirituality, the reward is just one's own inner peace. Spirituality and religion go hand-in-hand: they are mutually arising. This kind of statement perfectly summarizes the kind of (rightfully justified) cynicism and disillusionment that we carry toward the popular patriarchal notion of a white dude sitting in the sky, judging all our actions. It's about a search for our life's significance and allows us to feel part of something. For a religious person, the concept of God is predetermined, named, and comes with an established method of how to worship that God. So, what is the difference between religion and spirituality? In the words of Nietzsche, the well-known German philosopher who essentially prophesied the crumbling of religion in the West (God is dead): What do we do with a human God, when we turn to God, precisely because were disgusted by mankind? And yet, regardless of where we stand as a species, we all have an innate drive to seek something higher and greater than ourselves whether that be God, Enlightened Consciousness, our next-and-best consumerist purchase, or a dogmatic belief that Science is the only true way of seeing the world. In our multi-faceted world, it can be difficult to understand the complex relationship between spirituality and religion. 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. Whereas within religion, self-sacrifice, devotion, and service to others support us in feeling like we have a mission or greater purpose. As someone who was raised in a fundamentalist Christian household, then left and became agnostic, then adopted new age spirituality, then became a practitioner of the occult, and has finally committed to a mystical path, Ive been on a merry-go-round when it has come to spirituality and religion. | Where the two overlap is each person's individual experiences that impact how they think, feel, and act. You do you. It suggests that those with strongly held convictions in their Christian faith, or who held no-religious belief, strengthened belief in their positions following the pandemic's onset. WebHistorically, the words religious and spiritual have been used synonymously to describe all the various aspects of the concept of religion, [1] but in contemporary usage spirituality Religion is based upon traditional beliefs and teachings that may impose very strict interpretations and limitations, often excluding people of certain communities. For example, they may believe in God while asking for positive energy through their journey of self-discovering. Religion generally involves participation in organized rituals such as prayer or meditation and attending services at places of worship. In fact, he says, while religious people are more likely to volunteer or give to charitable causes related to their beliefs, atheists appear to be more generous to a wider range of causes and dissimilar groups. What are your thoughts about spirituality vs religion? 1) The mystic. You can belong to a religious group and still be spiritual, and vice versa. You can create a hybrid of the two concepts, allowing what resonates with you individually to be your guide. Final Thoughts on the Differences Between Religion and Spirituality. 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. Im not there to change that. Religion: Traditional religious beliefs, sometimes based upon rigid interpretations of key teachings, can create an exclusive worldview that isolates those who may not share their views or interpretations. Please consult your doctor before taking any action. First up in the types of spiritual personalities is the mystic. Regular community service can serve as a buffer against the effects of stress, thus leading to longer lives. It doesnt necessarily require any rituals or practices. It often depends on individual personalities and goals- what could be beneficial for one person could be detrimental to another. On the other hand, spirituality is less about what you do and more about what you achieve inwardly through practices such as meditation, mindfulness, and introspection. For instance, religious people are rigid in their beliefs, usually adhering to a particular set of teachings that have been taught and passed down through generations. The foundation of spirituality is a pure spirit of unifying force. Are Zoomies a Sign of a Happy Dog or a Crazy Dog? Thats where my experience, reflections, and discoveries can help. RELATED: 4 Simple But Spiritual Ways To Deeply Connect With God Without Going To Church. Spirituality also fosters a sense of interconnectedness with things beyond what we can see and touch. Spirituality is more personal. 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