spiritual person vs religious person

While there are many similarities between spirituality and religion, they are distinctly different concepts. 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 two dance together, hand in hand or at least, they can do. Ultimately, what matters most isnt what you believe but how it helps guide your life and help you become the best version of yourself. 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. Whatever path you choose, I hope you find what youre looking for and know that its okay to experiment, and its also okay to commit deeply and fully. In other words, from a spiritual perspective, no one has a monopoly on the truth. Use this space for describing your block. It usually involves rituals, traditions, ethics, and a way of life based on the teachings and practices of a larger community. On the other hand, religion provides its followers with a single set of rules and beliefs to follow, typically with less room for personal growth within those parameters. Were encouraged to find the truth within ourselves. 2023 Oldtown Publishing LLC 479 State Route 17 N So, you can go to church every Sunday and say your prayers every day, without caring about loving yourself, others and the planet. Being spiritual involves holding one's personal set of beliefs and practices and searching for the purpose of life. To set things straight, Im not in either the religion is evil or spirituality is nonsense groups. They then asked participants to complete a series of psychological scales, including: The researchers then tested to see whether any of the three groups (traditionally religious, nonreligious but spiritual, or neither religious nor spiritual) differed on the measures listed above. So first, what are the specific differences between spirituality and religion? Zhang, H. (Interview) Spirituality, not organized religion, may be the key to finding meaning in life. Humanity is all one, with love being at the core of everyone's being. For example, if a person is more religious, they run the risk of becoming socially dependent on their church peers. In religion, there is often a promise of punishment or reward for maintaining beliefs or following rituals. As such, spirituality is much more about inner understanding than outer worship. Its centered around doing the work or in different terms, getting hands-on experience.. Ultimately, spiritual paths are what you make of them and what resonates with you as an individual, making them unique. When wondering, Am I religious or spiritual? think about whose rules you follow. Yes, they have most certainly caused tremendous evil in this world (Im speaking mostly about religion here), which is undeniable. 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 third omission is that of the dishonesty and self-deception found within both of these groupthink systems. There are many religions in our world, and one thing most have in common is that they preach the idea that their story is the right story. Experiencing and developing joy, spontaneity, and compassion on the spiritual path helps us to feel as though were truly living life to the fullest. I dont believe that were done with religion or spirituality yet in fact, I believe that were not only craving these paths as a species, but we need them. Spiritual Experience. Those practicing religion fear the consequences of the way they live their lives after they die. Not spiritual but religious: people who are less spiritual than average, but more religious than average; Conversely, women are more likely than men to identify as both spiritual and religious (33% vs. 24%, respectively). within the religious organization. They are following not a set of external rules, but their own inner call to spirit. The concepts of original sin, divine judgement, Gods wrath, or eternal punishment can create a mental environment burdened in worry and anxiety over your worthiness and whether your actions will result in divine retribution or karmic punishment. And knowing the difference between spirituality and religion will help anyone decide which path they should take to discover their truth. In seeking the divinewhether from a church pew on a Sunday or on top of a ridge looking at a glorious sunrisewe increase our feelings of happiness, peace, and appreciation for the life that we have. Belief vs. Spirituality, on the other hand, doesnt necessarily involve worship at all. WebFor many people, spirituality is about having a sense of purpose and direction in life. Deepen your well-being practices and develop techniques to teach others with a prestigious Chopra certification. Any text will do. Their beliefs, which are often transcendental, are passed on from members to converts, and are based on either a formally documented creed or established cultural practices. Being "spiritual but not religious" means you do not need a church or a community, some say. These are mere beliefs that are treated as truths and that can (and sometimes does) lead to unsavory outcomes. WebSpirituality implies an attachment to matters of the spirit, rather than the physical, material world. 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. A spiritual person looks within themselves to do the right thing and a religious person looks to the outside for guidance. It's a blind belief in something with unconditional acceptance of its teachings. A majority of us often use the words religion and spirituality interchangeably, but they are entirely separate concepts. Since religion began its increasing decline in the early 20th century which was promoted by the Age of Enlightenment in the previous period and reinforced by the horrors of the world wars, the idea of God is now largely seen as not just infantile, but ludicrous. 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. Everything you need to live a life in total balance from the authority in well-being. Do you count on an institution to organize your beliefs for you, or do you pick and choose what you want to believe? We recognize their continued connection to the land and waters of this beautiful place and acknowledge that they never ceded sovereignty. That is to say, belief in something based upon unconditional acceptance of the religions teachings. 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. The same goes for the protective qualities of religious belief and spirituality. Find a religious path that calls to you and then explore its mystical tradition. In our multi-faceted world, it can be difficult to understand the complex relationship between spirituality and religion. As Krishna explains in the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, verse 11: As men approach me, so I receive them. Take a dive with me to explore one of humanitys timeless conversations! Our website services, content and products are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 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? Religion: On the whole, a formal religion is often an objective experience. If you feel called toward specifically spirituality or religion, youre in your every right to do that. With spirituality, self-discovery has no boundaries. I often straddle the line between religiosity and spirituality knowing that each has its own strengths and weaknesses. 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. What Is Your True Color Personality Type? You know something because you have tasted the experience yourself and have allowed it to resonate, as opposed to taking the word of another. Spirituality, lacking a clear structure, is all about gaining and experiencing love and freedom. Luna & Sol Pty Ltd 2012 - 2023 LonerWolf.com. While often closely linked and used interchangeably, these two concepts are not the same and carry distinct characteristics for individuals, groups, and globally. WebWho is a spiritual person? Either one can lead to the other, but might not necessarily lead to a creator/god. Its more about what resonates and feels right for you personally. Spiritual people are more flexible in their beliefs and often draw from multiple teachings and practices to create what works best for them. Religion includes a preacher or religious leader who defines what the truth is to their congregation. 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. Religious teachings are usually based on what has been passed down through scriptures, religious scrolls, and books or what religious leaders teach. 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 Spiritual people tend to be more individual and less dependent on others to seek a stronger connection. At its most infantile form, spirituality can become new age fluff that lacks depth, commitment, accountability, the ability to create meaningful social change, and credibility. Do you rely on the rituals of a certain church to carry you through times when your faith begins to wane? There's no questioning it. 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. 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. 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