Do the terms 'religion' and 'spirituality' conjure up thoughts of fundamentalist belief systems?

Answer 1

Not to me. When I hear "religion" I think of an organized body of people who hold certain common beliefs about God or gods. Not every organized religion is fundamentalist - some are far from it actually. When I hear "spirituality" I think more of an individual person's beliefs about God or god and also the individual person's prayer or worship practices. Sometimes this is in sync with an organized religion, and sometimes spirituality or "being spiritual" is a buzzword for someone who believes in God but doesn't want to belong to any organized religion.

Answer 2

They don't for me. Now the term 'religious', ironically, does. When I hear that someone is 'religious', it conjures up images of either stiff formality, or ranting zealotry. Go figure.

Spirituality, on the other hand, has a more positive conotation for me. It tends to denote seeking God in a slightly less formal way.

Of course, I'm sure that this says more about me and my particular journey of personal spiritual development than it does about the others who use the terms. There is nothing wrong with the terms 'religion', 'religious', or 'spirituality'; and nothing necessarily wrong with the people who use and identify with them.

Hoping the best for you...

Answer 3

Yes, absolutely. Well, 'religion' does. 'Spirituality' makes me think more along the lines of Wicca or Paganism or Buddhism or psychics.

Answer 4

Unfortunately yes.
Tammi Dee

Answer 5

Religion does, though spirituality can be neutral.

Answer 6

No. There is a vast diffrence between the two.

Answer 7

unfortuantly they do. religion and spritiuality are two different things. you can be religious without being spiritual and you can be spiritual without being religious.

Answer 8

Not really.

Just with things like islam.

Answer 9

not nessesarily