What is the fundamental different between Christian Spirituality and Christian Religion?

Question

I say they are completely different, but why are they?

Answer 1

Religion is outward show
Spirituallity is personal and real

Answer 2

What definition are you using for "Christian spirituality?" What, exactly, does that mean? You need to know that before you can compare them, and I'm not sure you can, anyway, because they're not the same type of thing.
BTW, I don't think a definition should contain the word you're defining, like someone saying spirituality is the state of being spiritual. That sounds very nice but it doesn't say anything useful.

Answer 3

religion to me is from one's perception on how you should live, and spirituality is The state, quality, manner, or fact of being spiritual.

Answer 4

They are different.
Religion has to do with traditions of a specific denomination of the church.
Spirituality has to do with a relationship with Christ.
One has no power the other has all power.

Answer 5

Money, Power, and Control.

Answer 6

"They"?.

http://www.mechanicsburgnewchurch.org

Answer 7

money

Answer 8

The majority of “religious” people on planet earth don’t have a clue about what true religion is all about. Nowhere in all of human experience is our fellowman more ignorant, than on the topic of true religion.

That fact will become more evident as we continue our study … but just so we not appear to be intolerant or arrogant, let’s set some “ground rules” before we start digging around in another person’s religious passions.

First of all, this study is not a comparison of religions, to identify who is right and who is wrong. You can find that information in a zillion or more other web sites and books.

Second, we are not the world’s “enlightened gurus” with some new truth. Like you, we're ordinary people who are looking for the real truth so that we can deal with it the way we want to.

Third, like you, we demand credible evidence for what we believe … especially when it comes to our eternal life. We're not ready to follow some stray mule into the woods with no way out.

Finally...this study is not about religion…it’s about religion. Confused? Read on.

TRUE, MEANINGFUL RELIGION

Did you catch the inference to this section's title? It suggests that there could be a religion (or religious experience) that can actually be of some benefit to the human race … including you and me.

Notice, we are using the word “true” in our study. That’s a subtle hint that we acknowledge the presence of false religion lurking somewhere in our world … and that to have any hope of enjoying the best that life has to offer a person would need to identify and pursue true religion. So, maybe it would be a good idea if we identify what true religion is, and what it isn’t.

Religion is different things to different people…but that doesn’t mean everyone is right, even though that may sound intolerant. To some, religion is a private and personal spiritual experience in relating to a Deity. To others, it is an authoritative ecclesiastical organization through which a person finds spiritual guidance and public worship. Still, to others, religion is a set of psychological or philosophical principles for achieving inner strength to deal with life on earth…without any hope or concern for a future life beyond this one.

In short, religion has become a catch-all phrase for all kinds of stuff, some of which really has nothing to do with true religion. That’s what makes it so confusing to so many people. Religion, for many people, relates only to life on earth while leaving the possibility of a life after death to take care of itself. But is that the way we humans are to approach religion…or should we be looking for a more sublime and eternal quest?

The continuing questions heard by counselors reveal just how confusing the issue of religion is for many people…

If there is only one God why are there so many different religions? Can all religions have some value?

What is the difference between being religious and being spiritual? Can religion make me happy?

Will a person go to heaven without being religious? How can I trust any religion when they all have caused wars, persecution and human misery?

These, and other questions, reveal the ignorance of many people about true religion, and what the purpose of true religion is in our human experience. So, let’s clear up the confusion.

There are literally thousands and thousands of religions and religious cults throughout the world. Beyond the “major” religions are countless other groups defined as "cults" or "sects" that have split from one of the major religions. For this study we will avoid the cults and sects, as they provide no particular help toward our understanding of true religion.

Today, there are eleven "living" religions being followed …if we include Sikhism and Jainism that grew out of Hinduism. Some of these present day religions are limited to a small geographical location with a small group of followers. Others are more prominent and universal.

ALTERNATIVES

In defining true religion we are confronted with several alternatives that can affect our private judgment.

One alternative...all the religious teachings in the world are wrong. There is no God or eternity. We die, that’s it!

A second alternative...all the religious teachings in the world are acceptable. It doesn’t really matter what you believe…just as long as you are sincere. There’s some good in all religion and God will overlook ignorance in lieu of sincerity.

A third alternative...suggests that all religious teachings in the world are true…that God is the author of all religions as a way of communicating to different cultures and generations.

Alternative four...suggests that there are many Gods and religions. Just pick which God you want to worship and join up with his or her religion.

The fifth alternative is the most logical and credible. It suggests the existence of one God, one religion, one truth and one hope. This alternative suggests that our eternal salvation is dependent upon spiritual laws defined by one God ...the one Creator. Refer to book entitled The God Of Creation for a deeper discussion of God.

In our search for true religion and true religious teaching we need not defend or justify false religions or philosophies. That onus lies on the devotees of false religions, themselves. In this study we will look at the facts regarding the origin of the major religious scriptures, as well as verification of their claims.

As we review the origin and historical facts of various religious teachings the ultimate question that we want answered would be something to the effect…

“Does this religious teaching provide a proven credible foundation on which I can place trust for my eternal hopes?

We'll present the facts, you answer the question for yourself.

HINDUISM

Hinduism is the world's oldest living religion, dating back to around 1500 B.C. without any founding leader. It originated in, and mostly confined to India, with one of the world’s largest population of followers. It is a religion that has been historically complex and changing…with varying beliefs and concepts of Deity.

The current deity concept is "Brahma", although Hinduism has been involved in theism, polytheism and pantheism…and has worshipped any object they so defined for themselves. Historically, Hinduism has adhered to all standards of morality including almost no moral code at all.

The beliefs and teachings of Hinduism were preserved for centuries through memory before they were written down. Today, their written scriptures include the Four Vedas, Brahmanas, Upanishads, Laws Of Manu, The Bhagavad Gita, Epics and Puranas…all of which came from the memories of previous worshippers.

Early Hinduism - Nature-Worship (BEFORE 1000 b.c.)
Priestly Hinduism (1000-800 b.c.)

Philosophic Hinduism (800-600 b.c.)

Legalistic Hinduism (About 250 b.c.)

Devotional Hinduism (About 1 a.d.)

Popular Hinduism (About 1-250 a.d.)

JUDAISM

The word “Judaism” was first used in Graeco-Jewish writing around 100 B.C. to identify the religion of the Jewish (Hebrew) people. It is a word loosely used to describe the faith of modern Jews, as well as the faith of the Old Testament. Most, however, identify Judaism with the rabbinic religion that expanded around 200 B.C.

Judaism is considered a religion of a specific culture…and, as such, it is a “non-evangelical” religion…meaning, it is a religion of the Jewish people that is not actively engaged in pursuing new converts outside the Jewish community. But even though it so regarded…not all Jewish people are religious, to engage or identify with Judaism. Nor is the religion unified in its theology or worship principles. Today, there are three distinct branches of Judaism.

The religion of the Jewish people began with and is centered around two Old Testament era historical figureheads...Abraham and Moses. From around 1200-900 B.C. the religion became polluted with pagan (Canaanite) beliefs. This proved to be tragic to their religious beliefs as the Israelites gradually joined in the worship of idol gods to incorporate pagan beliefs into their religion.

Although directed by Moses to worship only the one true God, and not mingle with idol worship, the Israelite people began to observe various Canaanite idolatrous festivals to Baal and Ashteroth. This corruption of the pure religion given to Moses from God proved to be Judaism’s downfall. In the centuries to follow, the prophets of God warned Israel of their idolatry and of God’s judgments. The history of Israel since then has confirmed how accurate those Godly prophets were.

JEWISH RELIGIOUS LITERATURE

For more than 300 years prior to their Babylonian captivity, the Israelite people were educated in their religion by an assemblage of writings (first 6 books of the Old Testament) and by eight powerful preachers (prophets) sent from God. The basic teaching of this time emphasized ethical obedience to God’s laws rather than ritualistic animal sacrifices.

In 516 B.C. a second temple was built in Jerusalem to replace the one destroyed by the Babylonian uprising. Ezra, the scribe, expanded on a religious reform that began during the reign of King Josiah, a reform that emphasized moral codes defined by the law of Moses rather than those reformulated from the legal portions of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. This reformed code, known as the “Priestly Code”, became the legal edict of Judaism…to define the final expression of the Israelite people toward their loyalty to Jehovah. The primary focus of the code, however, obscured spirituality by focusing on external worship, ceremonial purification, rites and sacrifices associated with legalistic religion.

As a political and military inferior nation, the Israelite people were constantly harassed by other more powerful nations. This constant threat gave rise to an apocalyptic idea that looked forward to Jehovah’s sudden appearance (as Messiah) to deliver them from their political enemies. This apocalyptic thinking spread into a movement that sustained the nation of Israel in the midst of attacks from their political enemies. Their belief in the ultimate victory over their enemies by the liberating hand of God was the confidence and assurance of the Jewish people. This belief still exists in many Jewish minds, who see the nation of Israel as under the Divine protection and ultimate deliverance of the one eternal God.

The term “Judaism” is mostly identified with the religion of the rabbis that developed around 200 B.C. and more resolved after the Temple destruction by the Roman invasion in 70 A.D. After the destruction of the temple, the Jews no longer participated in animal sacrifices or acknowledged the priesthood. New institutions and ways of life defined a new rabbinic Judaism apart from the ancient Old Testament religion. Synagogues replaced the Jerusalem temple as houses of worship and study. The office of rabbi was installed, and is today recognized as the religious authority within Judaism.

Priests, prophets and kings no longer define the religion of Jewish thought. The rabbis, who currently establish laws and ordinances of faith, have assumed that authority.

Prior to the eighteenth century, rabbinic Judaism was basically united in religious thought. Now, that unity has been divided into three main “movements” (Orthodox, Reform, Conservative). These “movements”, however, should not be viewed as theological divisions, but rather as personal preferences centered around a rabbi’s viewpoint or synagogue geographical location. Each movement has a variety of religious adherences by different supporters. Within each movement are Jewish people who formulate their private definitions of Judaism, offering little harmony of theological belief on which Judaism can be defined.

The religious scriptures of Judaism are a collection of twenty-four documents that are arranged into three groups…The Law, The Prophets and The Writings (Hagiographa). These scriptures must all be read in orthodox synagogues in the original language they were written (primarily Hebrew, some Aramaic). These writings of Judaism have become widely known as the Old Testament of Christianity, where they have been reorganized into thirty-nine books. During its history Judaism has gone through various restorations, but its stern monotheistic belief in one God is Judaism’s most dignified contribution to world religious thought.

Refer to the book entitled "True Meaningful Religion" for an in-depth discussion of this topic.