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. You are part of the universal hologram, all gods and goddesses in disguise. Religion often has a hierarchical system in which God is seen as the ultimate authority and the one who should be worshipped, obeyed, and revered above all else. Spirituality and religion are two distinct concepts with important differences. Please do your own research before making any online purchase. The fear of punishment for one's actions is often a principle factor in religion. But while they arent diametric opposites, neither are they the same. But how can we make sense of this dichotomy? Keep in mind that the distinctions below are very, very generalized and dont account for the many nuances that exist between religion and spirituality. The foundation of spirituality is a pure spirit of unifying force. In spirituality, one may ponder, Where do I find meaning in life, and what are my true values? Meanwhile, in religion, common questions might be What is the truth? and What is right and wrong?. Religion is the belief of another mans experience written down in sacred scripture, but spirituality is the belief of ones own experience. This isnt necessarily a bad thing. For example, churches are slowly accepting LGBTQ acceptance into their congregation, which before was unheard of. Im that weird outlier whos hanging out on the outskirts holding up a sign that says BOTH are good and BOTH are bad folks.. Provide social and emotional support. People are inclined to think that these two lifestyles are the same, and on the surface they are. Spirituality is a solitary experience of the divine, while religion involves a group of people brought together by their common faith or beliefs about the divine. A religious person is committed to following the guidelines set by his or her religion. 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. For example, while Christians may focus on the story of Moses and the 10 Commandments in detail, someone who is spiritual may take away some broader messages from the story, such as being grateful for the things in one's life or always being honest. We respect all Whadjuk Elders both past and present, and any First Nations people. Religious institutions conservatively guard their practices and values, holding rigidly to the past and the original interpretations of the founders teachings. Our purpose, according to many religions, is to serve, worship, and obey such beings because, by their very nature, they are holier than us. Is It Better to Be Spiritual or Religious? They are flexible in their beliefs. Theres no black and white here. That is to say, 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. Conversely, there can be individuals who are devoutly religious but are not what most would consider deeply spiritual. Spirituality Spiritual people are more flexible in their beliefs and often draw from multiple teachings and practices to create what works best for them. Want More Abundance In Your Life? Sunday services and disciple groups help religious people study the Bible together to understand scripture. There are many ways to increase your happiness (in fact, in this article we talk about 54 strategies), but one of the top methods that stands out is to go to church. Those practicing religion fear the consequences of the way they live their lives after they die. In the recognition that pure spirit is a unifying force, no one is left out. Thats where my experience, reflections, and discoveries can help. Spirituality: Definition, Types, Benefits, and How to Practice 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. A spiritual person looks within themselves to do the right thing and a religious person looks to the outside for guidance. These are mere beliefs that are treated as truths and that can (and sometimes does) lead to unsavory outcomes. This exploration is not necessarily constrained by any organized faith or doctrine- rather, it gives someone space to grow into who they are on a personal level. Ultimately, spiritual paths are what you make of them and what resonates with you as an individual, making them unique. Religious people lean on gathering with others, to reach a unison connection with God, but spirituality develops their own belief system. A spiritual persons set of beliefs evolves as they learn more through their personal study of their own spirituality. Have any thoughts to share? However, each practice serves as a vehicle to lead you closer to the truth you seek. Master meditation and learn how to give others their own personalized mantra. The spiritual aspirant recognizes that he or she is on a pathless path of self-discovery. While spirituality does not threaten punishment for a life lived in contrast to a set of rules, it often addresses karma. I have directly experienced both spirituality and religion in their most toxic states, and Ive also experienced the benefits of both. Religion: Despite the best of intentions, religions can sometimes contain a subtle (or not so subtle) undercurrent of fear woven into their teachings. Spirituality: Spirituality, however, leans more toward self-referral or the internalization of your awareness of your soul. Whether you choose to explore your spirituality or your religion, what matters most is what brings meaning and purpose to your life. (Meanwhile, the habit of gratitude can also increase your long-term happiness. Staying Single: What Most People Do If They Divorce After 50. 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. For example, if a person is more religious, they run the risk of becoming socially dependent on their church peers. It is primarily concerned with finding, experiencing, and embodying ones true spiritual nature. Both those who received support from their medical team or from their religious community were more apt to transition to hospice care and to decline aggressive treatment, she said. 1. A spiritual person cares about people, animals and the planet. Both can enrich or demoralize our human experience. How Creative Expression Promotes Self-Love, Art as Meditation: How Painting Landscapes Can Promote Healing, To an external practice, object, or figurehead. Its more about what resonates and feels right for you personally. ), and has been on the spiritual-but-not-religious path for over a decade, I find myself in the middle. Religion generally involves participation in organized rituals such as prayer or meditation and attending services at places of worship. Somatic Bodywork: 7 Types For Psychospiritual Healing, 7 Vagus Nerve Exercises For Nervous System Healing, How to Begin a Spiritual Journal (Start Here! Being too spiritual may also cause long-term separation from loved ones or more concern for their own issues, instead of trusting a higher being for tomorrows worry. A spiritual person knows that we are all One, and consciously attempts to honor this Oneness. This empowers people to discover their own truths without setting any limits as to the depth of one's understanding. Spirituality is more personal. Spiritual people often develop their own beliefs as they explore what resonates with them. 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. Religion is based upon traditional beliefs and teachings that may impose very strict interpretations and limitations, often excluding people of certain communities. Sadly, this religious in-group mentality can be used to justify the exclusion of minorities or those deemed unworthy of Gods favor. Spirituality teaches us that All is One (non-duality), that there is ultimately no separation between the spark of Divine within us and the Divine that pervades everything. These figures are the subject of worship and devotion and form the foundation of religious practices and rituals in a community. Bear in mind that there are no absolutes in these distinctions. Spiritual people often learn and develop their beliefs through their own experiences (often through trial and error). Spirituality, on the other hand, doesnt necessarily involve worship at all. One is HOW we find religion vs spirituality. You can belong to a religious group and still be spiritual, and vice versa. Religion includes a preacher or religious leader who defines what the truth is to their congregation. Youve probably heard people say theyre spiritual but not religious when describing their faith, and wondered what it truly means. The way we relate to whats perceived as divine or what some may call God is different between spirituality and religion. As you can see, there are good and bad things about spirituality and religion. That is to say, belief in something based upon unconditional acceptance of the religions teachings. Spirituality is a part of humanity thats seeking a purpose in life. Resource for mind-body health, meditation, personal growth, nutrition, and more. The content produced by YourTango is for informational and educational purposes only. Whichever path or combination of the two you follow is the personal and subjective expression of your journey of awakening. Spirituality: Spirituality, on the other hand, connotes an experience of connection to something larger than you; living everyday life in a reverent and sacred manner. Their worldview can isolate people who don't see it that way. 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.". A spiritual person, on the other hand, turns inward to find his truth and finds God within himself and all life. It often depends on individual personalities and goals- what could be beneficial for one person could be detrimental to another. Spirituality: Spirituality though, breaks free from the restrictions and rigid structure sometimes associated with traditional religion. For spiritual folks, try finding an image of the Divine outside of yourself that you deeply admire and look up to. There's no questioning it. 1) The mystic. Although some spiritual traditions offer theories and practices to help people on their journeys, they are not meant to be adopted as a set of beliefs. Spirituality in Clinical Practice. You can create a hybrid of the two concepts, allowing what resonates with you individually to be your guide. Those rules encourage them to develop discipline to grow closer to God. Lives in the present moment and grateful. Being spiritual involves holding one's personal set of beliefs and practices and searching for the purpose of life. A person will tend to lean on one side instead of balancing both. For example, they may believe in God while asking for positive energy through their journey of self-discovering. 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.. The key distinctions between them mostly involve what each is at its core. The mystic experiences spiritual growth and discovery in unorthodox ways and isnt big on intellectualism. Through experience and self-reflection, a spiritual person will express a different aspect to reveal their version of the truth. The difference between a spiritual and religious person boils down to how they see God. Usually one has access to a priest, bishop, rabbi, monk, nun, etc. They do not hold on to their memories which may bring you down. Spiritual and religious practices have been intertwined across cultures throughout the centuries. Spirituality focuses on spreading love and selfless acts. 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. A spiritual atheist is someone who, unlike a religious person, does not believe in any God. (To learn more, here are 10 ways you can be spiritual.). You know something because you have tasted the experience yourself and have allowed it to resonate, as opposed to taking the word of another. A spiritual person cares about people, animals and the planet. WebWho is a spiritual person? Religion is centered around the theoretical; its about learning, understanding, and devoting oneself to a certain belief system. Despite any possible ideological differences, all humans are the same consciousnessthey are just expressed in different ways. 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. The leaders often carry out certain rituals regarding the core beliefs of the religion, which lay the foundation for how one's life should be lived. We recognize their continued connection to the land and waters of this beautiful place and acknowledge that they never ceded sovereignty. If you notice, others abuse religion to inflict fear into anothers mind. There are no rules because the spiritual path is entirely self-directed in an informal, go-at-your-own-pace process. Neither of these scenarios is fair. But if you seek more depth, more enrichment, more support, more ensoulment, why not try to walk this third way? Religion: By definition, religion is a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices; the service and worship of God or the supernatural. Unfortunately, most people assume that spirituality and religion are one and the same, but this assumption is wrong. Take a deep dive into Ayurveda - the centuries-old proven health and healing system. It is a structured, frequently rule-based construct that to some degree governs the behavior of its members. Regardless of whether were religious or spiritual, the human psyche, the human soul, innately craves for something greater than itself. God is an infinite circle whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere. Religion on the other hand encourages the gathering of knowledge through written and oral teachings such as scriptures, old texts, sermons, and so on. Spirituality does not feature such characteristics. This post may contain affiliate links. Spirituality: By comparison, spirituality is often less focused on the rigidly traditional approach and often favors an evolutionary mentality. Both of these are routes to discovering the divine truth. Are you a spiritual person or a religious person? In previous, more uncertain times, the rules and dogma of organized religion helped to give society a sense of certainty and helped to guide and comfort those whose faith was lacking. 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. Your life path is your own and I encourage you to pursue that which calls to you. 3. Spiritual people listen to their hearts and their own conscious mind in order to do what is right for their unique self. Its focused on internalizing different teachings about the Divine, and is, therefore, more theoretical and thought-based. Religious People and How They May Differ, Create A Mindful Morning With A Morning Routine Chart For Kids, Increase Your Spiritual Energy Levels With These 9 Habits, 7 Excellent Stretches To Perform Before Meditation, 27 Soul-Searching Questions About Spirituality To Help You Grow, Spirituality Vs. Those practicing religion fear the consequences of the founders teachings depends on individual personalities and goals- what could detrimental... Pathless path of self-discovery ( meanwhile, the human soul, innately craves for something greater than.... Impose very strict interpretations and limitations, often excluding people of certain communities what are true... Describing their faith, and on the outskirts holding up a sign that says both are good and are... What each is at its core be detrimental to another people assume that spirituality religion... Find myself in the middle doesnt necessarily involve worship at all own truths without setting any limits as the! 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