Is religion and spirituality one and the same?

Question

Is religion the same thing as spirituality? You can be spiritual within your religion but can you have one without the other?

Answer 1

I don't believe they are the same... linked in some ways, yes, but they aren't the same. Going to "Church" (or Temple or Shrine) doesn't give you Spirituality. Reading a book doesn't do it either.
Yes, I believe you can have one without the other. I see a lot of people who go to "Church" yet don't really following anything they proclaim to be True from it. I've also seen other people who don't profess a belief in a God(s), yet do believe in the spiritual....

Answer 2

No. Spirituality is everything related to Faith and Belief in God, Saints, spirits or simply the power of the nature. Religion is the way we choose to interact with those things.

Many people might have a religion, but not be exactly involved with Spirituality.Others might not have a religion, but be very spiritual. One thing is not necessarily connected to the other.

Religion is something you choose, based on what makes sense to you, the teachings, the rituals, the language.

Spirituality is out there, no matter if you choose to believe it or not.

Peace!

Answer 3

Religion is a set of rules to follow that deal with spirituality, Paganism is a religion, Chrisiantiy is a religion but they both deal with spirituality differently, you can be spiritual without having a set religion as well, spirituality is more your beliefs then the rules you follow about them.

Answer 4

They can be mutually exclusive - and often are.

Most atheists I know are spiritualists, even the outspoken atheist Sam Harris is in favor of spirituality and such experiences recognizing that they don't need belief in an inconsistent and inaccurate old book - in fact studies on the subject have shown that most people following the judeo-christian faiths have trouble with spirituality and meditation.

Eastern religions and philosophies combined with meditation tend to be a great way to become acquainted with spirituality. Just be sure to open your mind and let go of all your preconceived beliefs - you will never achieve enlightenment if you narrow your "reality" to what you believe you know based on the bible/Quran.

Answer 5

For those with a religion and who practice that religion, it is one in the same.
For those without a religion, it is not the same. For those without a religion they can be spiritual without belonging to an organized religion.
For those who do belong to an organized religion, but don't practice it, they have religion, but not spirituality.

Answer 6

Religion and Spirituality are two separate things. You don't need to claim a religion in order to be spiritual and vice versa.

Answer 7

Not exactly, religion is a system of rites, rituals, and teachings of a spiritual system.

Spirituality is more of a state of mind and being usually associated with being "connected" to something greater than just the individual.

Answer 8

Religion, even tho it might start out well, becomes the business of worship, and becomes very controlling.
Spirituality is a word that is almost always used incorrectly in reference to God and Religion.
to clarify: if you are talking about anyone you know and mention their 'spirit', you mean their general emotional nature.
Somehow when we talk about God the word 'spiritual' changes to mean something religious. And very abstractly vague.
If you use the word 'spiritual' as it is always correctly understood when applied to people, i.e. 'emotional'. And use it the same way with God it makes more sense, and it also makes God seem more approachable. Actually, when God describes his 'spirit' in Galatians the sixth chapter he himself uses terms that are only emotional i.e. Love, Joy, Peace, Mildness, etc. etc.

In other words your 'Spirituality' is how you 'feel' about the way God 'feels', or restated "your emotions resonate with Gods emotions"

I think it makes it much more personal.

(shamelessly stolen from http://www.MusingsAboutGod.com
in the article "Uncommon Definitions of Common Words")

Answer 9

A religion is a set of beliefs and practices generally held by a human community, involving adherence to codified beliefs and rituals and study of ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith and mystic experience. The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to communal faith and to group rituals and communication stemming from shared conviction.

Spirituality, in a narrow sense, concerns itself with matters of the spirit. The spiritual, involving (as it may) perceived eternal verities regarding humankind's ultimate nature, often contrasts with the temporal, with the material, or with the worldly. A sense of connection forms a central defining characteristic of spirituality — connection to something "greater" than oneself, which includes an emotional experience of religious awe and reverence. Equally importantly, spirituality relates to matters of sanity and of psychological health. Like some forms of religion, spirituality often focuses on personal experience.

Answer 10

You don't need religion to be a spiritual.
You can be religious and have no spirituality.