Fellow Theist Of Any Faith, Your Thoughts?

Question

I have asked a couple questions concerning people losing sight of their own religions philiosphy and that spirituality is often lost in the politics of religion.

I am a former Christian and a convert to Islam. My experience with a lot of Christians, not all of them, is that they are so caught up in the fact that they beleive Christ as their savior that they seem to lose sight of Christ's/God's teachings. Love your neighbor turns into love your neighbor so much that you must constantly remind them that they will go to Hell if they don't agree with your beliefs.

I beleive a lot of Muslims have the same problem. Too many get so caught up in the idea that they believe in One God and that they Have God's Final Messsage, that they lose sight of what it means to be a Muslim. Islam is more of a Verb than Noun. The Qur'an teaches that being a Muslim is more about your actions than thoughts.

So my fellow theists, is it more important to be Religious or Spiritual?

Please Explain,
Thanks

Answer 1

Some people join or continue in a religion for security, because they want to please or because it's expected of them. The existence of other faith traditions threatens the validity of their faith. So their behavior is directed more toward proselytizing others rather than living the values of their own faith. It's as if the more people I "convert", the safer I'll feel in my own belief.

But belief becomes the only criterion. Everybody gets a membership pin but nothing else in life changes. People are club members, pay their dues, expect to be edified by entertaining stories of admirable faith heroes, and that's it! There's no self-examination, no change of heart. The whole purpose of the faith, living, perceiving and acting under a new light, is lost. That's what Jesus meant when he talked about "whitewashed tombs". Only appearance matters, not the spirit within.

It's as if they expect the final test at the end of time to be a secret handshake, church attendance report and a Bible trivia quiz, not questions like, "Why did you not feed me when I was hungry, clothe me when I was naked, visit me in prison or comfort me when I was sick?" Those are the real evils in the world, not whether someone else sees God my way. Islam IS a verb, and so is Christ.

Answer 2

Amen! I am impressed! You hit the nail right on the head, brother. Spirituality is greatly lacking. I see it mostly among Christianity, since that is what I know best. Which religion you are is important, but it is also important to practice that religion wiht spiritual fervor. Another way to put it is that people are so wrapped up in "rational" religious thought and morality that they forget to worship the God whom they claim. Tragic! Therefore, I say spiritual religion is the best way. We need a limited amount of doctrine to be in unity, but overall religious people fall far short when it comes to being spiritual. Very unfortunate. I am glad you and I are not one of them. (We'd have even more in common if you were still Christian though)

Answer 3

I believe spirituality is the point behind religion. To me, religion is merely a path for spiritual fulfillment. That's where they differ. I think a lot of people get so into the "path" part, that they miss the whole point of the path being a means to spiritual fulfillment. I agree with you, action speaks louder than words or thoughts. But first you have to change the thoughts and words in order for you to change your own action. In my opinion, spirituality is the relationship between the individual and the God of their understanding. So that's far more important than the path one walks to get there.

Answer 4

Christ was much more spiritual than religious. I think that all the great teachers were. Religion is an exercise in politics, spirituality is a journey inward.

Answer 5

It's important to be both.

What you describe is common among every religion I imagine., and is netiher religious or spiritual. I call it "groupism." That's when doing actions to show your a part of a certain religious group takes the place of actually being pious and serving G-d.

When most of your religious actions are to confirm you are part of whatever group, rather than to demonstrate to g_d your commitment and devotion to Him, you've stopped being religious and started being a "Groupy."

On the other hand, people who say, "I'm blank." But don't kkeap any of the commandments of "Blank," because they say, "I'm not religious, I'm spiritual," are neither too. They are not spiritual enough to care that they are offending G-d. That's not spirituality, that's laziness.

Just my thought.

Answer 6

spiritual.
a spiritual person is at peace.
a religious person will go to war.

Answer 7

Knowing the TRUTH.
It seems your converted to Islam for all the wrong reasons.
http://www.bible.ca/islam/