I read a tagline some time ago that said:
"Religion is for people who are afraid of going to hell; spirituality is for those who have already been there."
What do you think this statement means, and do you agree with it?
2007-01-26 05:34:39 · 3 answers · asked by View from a horse 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Religious is an adherence to a dogma that governs that church group or denomination. Dogma is the principles, beliefs, ideas and rules that are considered truth, God's truth. Every sect or church or religion has a dogma to guide the believers in thoughts and actions that should lead the believers to a connection with God through prayer and/or meditation.
Spirituality is the person connecting to God in a very personal way. This connection is profound and irrefutable in it's experience, not just wisdom as was suggested. It is much more. It is a direct connection spiritually with a Higher Being that loves profoundly, has guiding wisdom that is imparted when we open our minds to receive, sends us people to help us or sends us to places to help another, and so on. It is a direct connection that gives us our purpose and meaning to life where, before, there were many questions and semingly no answers. It changes one's life and often direction. Religion is there to instruct one, show one how to get to spirituality. Unfortunately, often times it just restricts one's ability to get there.
2007-01-26 13:14:43 · answer #1 · answered by shari w 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe this saying is speaking about the difference between knowledge and wisdom.
Religion is the book or the lesson, but that is not important unless you can put it to use in your life. Where as Spirituality is wisdom, you have lived it and know about it from experience.
The saying is a little dramatic, but I think that is so that people read it and think about what it means.
Having said this I think this saying means that people who only practice a religion but don't live it know only what they have heard or seen, and that a spiritual person does not have to be religious because they know better, and have lived and helped write the lessons religious people learn from.
2007-01-26 05:47:32 · answer #2 · answered by David H 2 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Religion is my guide, my help. Spirituality is my relationship with God.
2007-01-26 14:00:14 · answer #3 · answered by Mary W 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋