What is the difference between "religion" and "spirituality"?

Question

Can we explain it so that people who think atheists should not be here will understand?

Answer 1

SPIRITUALITY SAYS THAT GOD IS WITHIN US AND THAT WE DON'T NEED ANYONE ELSE TO MAKE THAT DIVINE CONNECTION FOR US.

RELIGION SAYS THAT WE ARE SEPARATED FROM GOD AND THAT WE NEED "THEM" TO MAKE THAT DIVINE CONNECTION.

SPIRITUALITY SAYS THAT WE ARE FREE TO MAKE CHOICES ON OUR OWN AND THAT WE MUST TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR ACTIONS.

RELIGION SAYS WE MUST MAKE THEIR CHOICES AND ACT THEIR WAY.

THE THEME OF SPIRITUALITY IS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

THE THEME OF RELIGION IS FEAR AND GUILT.

SPIRITUALITY DOES NOT REQUIRE US TO MAKE DONATIONS.

RELIGION HAS BECOME BIG BUSINESS.

SPIRITUALITY SAYS THERE IS NO HELL, NO JUDGEMENT, NO ANGRY GOD... THAT WE ARE LOVED UNCONDITIONALLY.

RELIGION SAYS THERE IS A HELL, GOD GETS ANGRY AND JUDGES US... THEREFORE, WE ARE NOT LOVED UNCONDITIONALLY.

SPIRITUALITY SAYS WE ARE FREE TO CHOOSE OUR OWN PATH TO GOD.

RELIGION COMMANDS US TO DO IT THEIR WAY.

SPIRITUALITY SAYS WE GO TO GOD TO LIGHTEN OUR BURDEN.

RELIGION HAS TAUGHT US TO FEAR THEIR GOD

SPIRITUALITY SAYS WE SHOULD NOT BE ASHAMED OF OUR SEXUALITY... THAT IT SHOULD BE A SACRED CELEBRATION OF LOVE

RELIGION HAS TAUGHT US TO FEEL ASHAMED, GUILTY AND DIRTY ABOUT OUR SEXUALITY

SPIRITUALITY TEACHES US TO HONOUR AND RESPECT MOTHER EARTH

RELIGION HAS TOLD US TO "BE THOU FRUITFUL, MULTIPLY AND SUBDUE THE EARTH" I REPEAT... "SUBDUE THE EARTH"

SPIRITUALITY REMINDS US THAT WE ARE ONE WITH GOD AND ONE WITH EACH OTHER

RELIGION TEACHES DISUNITY AND SEPARATION WHICH IS THE OPPOSITE OF GOD

SPIRITUALITY SAYS GOD IS WITHIN

RELIGION SAYS HE IS IN HEAVEN AND THAT "THEY" ARE THE ONLY INTERMEDIARIES FOR US

SPIRITUALITY SAYS WE ARE BORN IN INNOCENCE AND PURITY

RELIGION SAYS WE ARE BORN WITH SIN

SPIRITUALITY TEACHES THAT WE ARE ON A LONG SPIRITUAL ADVENTURE AND JOURNEY WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY END BY REUNITING WITH OUR SOURCE

RELIGION SAYS WE'VE GOT ONE LIFE TO GET IT ALL RIGHT AND THERE IS NOTHING BUT HEAVEN OR HELL AFTER THAT

SPIRITUALITY SAYS WE ARE FREE TO EXPRESS

RELIGION GAVE US THE DREADED INQUISITION

SPIRITUALITY TEACHES UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR ALL

RELIGION GAVE US THE CRUSADES IN WHICH MANY WERE KILLED AND SLAUGHTERED IN THE NAME OF GOD

SPIRITUALITY TEACHES THAT WE SHOULD LOVE ONE ANOTHER UNCONDITIONALLY AND ALWAYS HONOUR THE RIGHTS AND CHOICES OF OTHERS

RELIGION TREATED NATIVE AMERICANS, THE MAYANS AND OTHER INDIGENOUS CULTURES AS SAVAGE PRIMITIVES WHO "MUST BE SAVED"

SPIRITUALITY TEACHES PEACE AND HARMONY

RELIGION HAS CAUSED MORE WARS AND MORE KILLING THAN ANY OTHER REASON

SPIRITUALITY SAYS RESPECT ALL LIVING THINGS

I NEVER ONCE HEARD ANY RELIGION SAY STOP SLAUGHTERING MILLIONS OF TREES EVERY YEAR FOR CHRIST'S BIRTHDAY

SPIRITUALITY TEACHES US TO HAVE FAITH IN OURSELVES

RELIGION TEACHES US TO HAVE FAITH IN THEM

SPIRITUALITY SAYS WE HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS... THAT WE CAN FIND THEM BY "GOING WITHIN"

RELIGION TEACHES US THAT IT HAS ALL THE ANSWERS AND ONLY ITS ANSWERS ARE THE RIGHT ONES

SPIRITUALITY TEACHES US TO SEARCH FOR THE UNIVERSAL TRUTHS AND OUR HEARTS WILL TELL US WHEN WE HAVE FOUND THEM

RELIGION TEACHES WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO ACCEPT THEIR VERSION OF THE TRUTH

Answer 2

This is a charged question. Religion and spirituality have little to do with each other. That's not to say that someone who is religious is not spiritual, but when people toe any religious line there is usually a finality: "Either yer with us, or again' us!" That is the nature of religion. Exclusivity.

This is because religion was invented by Man to control other men. Most religions have the carrot and stick methodology for keeping people believing in the religion (most popularly, "heaven" and "hell" followed closely by "sin" and being cleared of "sin"). Also, religion tends to elevate people who espouse a religion or been "ordained" to preach the religion to the intermediary between the poor, dumb masses and a god, whatever that is.

Spirituality, on the other hand, is the state of being in tune with what I like to call the Universe or the Devine Oneness. Recognizing that each one of us is part of the Devine Oneness, that our thoughts and actions do have a direct effect on our quality of life and quality of rapport (communication) with the Universe, that we are all here to learn and to teach to enhance the overall experience of the Devine Oneness, that everything and everyone is perfect just as they are (or are not, according to our perception). Being in integrity with ourselves and the world around us is a huge part of it. Integrity is doing the right thing--even when no one is looking, even when it's much harder than being out of integrity.

Read Eckhart Tolle, the Dali Lama, Dan Millman, Wayne Dyer, and many others to create your own ideas about spirituality. And don't listen to what other's may say about how you think or feel. It's none of your business what other people say or think about you.

Answer 3

Spirituality is being in touch with the the other-world. A belief in spirits, perhaps, or an outer force that works with the inner-self.
Religion is a structured belief system that can help people to channel themselves to a specific set of spiritual beliefs.

Yes,atheists can be spiritual. Atheism simply means without the belief of God or gods. Many atheists I know have a strong spiritual life without belief in God.

Answer 4

Religion is a social movement based on spirituality. Religion begins as an attempt to explain spiritual things to people who have not had spiritual experiences. Spirituality is about the contemplation of the Unknowable, Mysteries. Eventually most religions decide they have Answers or even The Answers, which establishes dogma and turns it into a social movement. That's my spin on it anyways.

Answer 5

great question madhavi:) yOU know though these words sound synonimous but still there lies a "deep" difference !! Happiness can be found of things which may not even be beneficial to our spiritual or psychological aspect like we may go out & have our favourite dish & clothes etc., we would feel happy. But satisfaction comes from a kind of achievent, if we get good grades in studies we would get a positive feeling that says "hard word paid off" now thats more beneficial isn't it ;p[ Now peace.... I think it depends on what attitude we adopt towads the "activities" we do for "happiness" or either "satisfaction", peace actually exist in our self, it just has to be found by us. A person of ignorance might feel peace while a hard worker could be strresed. It can be even oposite to that . So peace needs to found by us.

Answer 6

Religion by definition is "demonstration of faith". How I demonstrate my faith is my religion. Organized Religion is a collection of people demonstrating the same way.

Spirituality is different, though not sepperate from religion. One needs to be spiritual to demonstrate their faith otherwise, they are just copying others. Someone can be very spiritual yet not into "religion" so to speak. My best friend is Agnostic for lack of a better word, he believes in a Supreme Being but wont commit to saying he knows Who that Supreme Being is exactly. He is very spiritual and feels connected when he is around nature but he doesnt go to church or perform any religious acts like Baptism or Communion.

Answer 7

Religion is the belief in 1 god or many.

Spirituality only deals with the SPIRIT world. Things like contacting spirits, or perhaps even just being aware of your own spirit and meditating like in eastern philosophy or possibly new age. Or for a Christian it would mean to explore what the Holy Spirit does in our lives after we accept Jesus. Spirituality focuses on matters of the spirit typically and not religion.

Answer 8

Religion is an organization based on a belief (usually in a divine being) that has rules, dogma, and heirachies. People who believe in religions aren't necessarily spiritual.

Spirituality is a belief, whether in a divine being or yourself, that assists a person in forming values of how they want to live and trust in the life. You don't need a religion to be spiritual.

Answer 9

Good question.

In my mind, there is no difference. Religion and spirituality are concepts relating to supernatural, intangible things. The moment you begin to believe that there are unseen "forces" at work in your life, you are relinquishing self-control. An atheist who says that he or she doesn't believe in god, but is "spiritual" is mincing words. You either believe in the real, tangible, HUMAN universe, or you believe in some form of hocus-pocus, magical nonsense. Saying you are spiritual is just like saying, "I believe in something god-ish, but certainly not god."

There are three answers to explain everything in the universe:

1) Facts - logical, rational explanations backed up by incontrovertible evidence.
2) Theories - hypothesis supported by debatable evidence.
3) Unknowns - insufficient (or no) evidence.

More often than not, spiritual "beliefs" fill in the blanks in numbers 2 & 3. That makes them no less suspect than religious beliefs, but some atheists (apparently) find them more "digestible."

Answer 10

From what I can tell, Religious people credit a higher being for existance and people who say they are spiritual mostly give kudos to their own spirit. May not be right but, that is what I see.

Answer 11

Spirituality means you understand that all religions come from The One Supreme Person titled God. And spirituality means you know he has unlimited names like Krishna Allah and Jehovah. HE is the Supreme Spirit and we are but little sparks of His splendor. There is no question of spirituality if you do not know whom which you emanate from. Its all very scientific go to http://www.stephen-knapp.com for spirituality and universal truths.