What is the difference between 'Spirituality' and 'Religion'?

Answer 1

Spirituality: The state, quality, manner, or fact of being spiritual.
Additional references

Religion: . Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe. b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.

Answer 2

Sorry if this is too simple of answer . . .

Spirituality is the faith one has in God or whatever deity they worship. Religion is the explanation of a certain Spirituality/spirituality. Some people, because they feel good about themselves, say they have a very spiritual life.

The Bible tells us how to live, tells us how we can please God, and tells us what the benefits of living by them are. Without the Bible, we'd just come to our own conclusions and wouldn't reap the rewards of being Christian.

Other religions treat spirituality differently. For Buddhists spirituality is their religion. They think if they gain enough understanding about the world around them, they'll reach a higher plane.

Again, this is a much too simple answer. You should focus on finding the truth . . .

Answer 3

If you look at dictionary.com, the answers are:

Religion:
Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.

Spirituality:
The state, quality, manner, or fact of being spiritual.
The clergy.
Something, such as property or revenue, that belongs to the church or to a cleric. Often used in the plural.


To me, the word "religion" can have such a negative connotation. When you say it to many people, they have this picture of "rules and regulations", a bunch of "Thou Shalt Nots...". It becomes something one "does", rather than what someone "is."

For me, my faith is not a "religion", its a way of life. I don't live by what I "can't" do, I look at all of the freedom I have. I'm free to love people equally, rather than being judgemental based on race, status, or someother insignificant factor. I can eat what I want, rather then wonder if its "kosher" or my great great grandfather. There are definitely morals that I stick to, but I don't see them as being "restrictions". Instead, they allow me to live my life to the fullest.

Answer 4

You can be spiritual without being a part of a religion just by worshiping God (or whatever) Religion is an actual organization or Church that you belong to. Um, it's kinda difficult to explain.

Answer 5

Religion is organized worship, spirituality is the inherent need we have to serve God. That's why everyone has spirituality but not everyone has religion. Most men have deep spirituality but don't like organized religion, seeing it as hypocritical and overdone.

Answer 6

Spirituality is "an inner sense of something greater than oneself. Recognition of a meaning to existence that transcends one's immediate circumstances."

Religion is "a system of beliefs and practices concerned with sacred things and or symbols uniting individuals into a single moral community."

One is more of a personal thing and the other is when things are organized and often involve a group of people (if not physically, then in ideas).

Answer 7

Religion is an institution created by men, spirituality is a relationship with God. some spiritual people are religious but few religious people are spiritual.

Answer 8

A religious man goes to church, and sits
impatiently and day dreaming of fishing. A spiritual
man goes fishing, and day dreams of God. Religion runs
on guilt,fear,sin and is mind driven. Spiritualism
runs on truth, peace, and joy, and is Heart driven.
Spiritualism is a life style religion is a learned
from a book and folk lore you're born spiritual!!!!

Answer 9

IMHO, spirituality is just knowing there is some kind of higher power guiding you along and living your life the best way you know how.
Religion is a set of rules you have to live your life by and each religion has a clear idea of who their higher power is.

Answer 10

religion has boundaries that spirituality does not,for an example religion is organized,you have certain rules that must be followed,as spirituality is felt.