What is the difference between Religion and Spirituality? Can you belieive in God and not Religion?

Answer 1

Spirituality = Your belief.
Religion = How you practice that belief.

If you are Christian, then you have to practice it to show the world.

Answer 2

Religion means community.

Your religion is your faith community.

There are many people for home religion is just a social gathering. They have no spirituality.

While hermits and anchoresses (solitary ascetic Christians) were at one time very popular - and are indeed making a return - it was always advised that they never live entirely alone. As it is too easy to fall wayward without the support of fellow believers.

There is a wonderful story about a priest who visits a man who has decided he no longer needs to go to church.

The priest sits by his fire and pulls out a single ember with tongs. The ember begins to dim. This is what happens when you leave your community. Putting the ember back, it glows strong again. This is what happens when you rejoin your community.

Your spirituality is what you hold in your heart. The language between you and God.

Ideally, the two should be linked. They are not always.

When one has no faith formation, as in from a 'religion,' one gets a lot of "cafeteria" action. Picking and choosing from different faiths to sort of make "religion salad" and call that your spirituality. God is not pleased with that.

Answer 3

This is, as far as I understand, a difficult question. But we should at least look at the fate of most Christian Churches. The original content (Spirituality), has almost disappeared, and in those Churches the rituals (which might be called Religion), has substituted the esoteric, mystical essence. I think that Spirituality is the father of Religion. But Religion has been, in many cases, been lost from Spirituality. I read in a book by a Christian monk (I can not remember his name), that the Christian Church had to die, to be born again. Perhaps Spirituality and Religion eventually will unite. I believe that you can believe in God and not Religion.
Best Wishes,
Sylfest

Answer 4

Technically, religion is about group practices, teachings, etc. and spirituality is more about personal experience. Lots of people, as you'll see here, believe in God but not religion.

Personally, I believe in religion but not the supernatural. Religion is a powerful force, created by people, and community discussion about how best to live ethically CAN be helpful and good. Unfortunately, we need more practice to how to really talk and listen to each other before that can happen in the mainstream.

Answer 5

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 6

There are two definitions for religion. We use the term as a general cover for all things relating to God such as how we worship and the things we dofor Him. The other is doing thing in a ritualistic manner for God but not really motivated by a love for God. You should do things because Jesus came and died for us and You love Him not because someone said so.

The law says the speed limit is (lets say ) 65 you can obey because you don't want to get in trouble or you can obey because you know it is safer for everyone. That is how i see the difference in Religion and Spiriuality.

Answer 7

Heck yes. I believe that god is the noosphere. It's a spiritual experience because I cycle energy with it. There may be a religion to cover this belief but I have little interest in finding out.

Answer 8

Religion means seeking God or gods. Spirituality means to seek that which is spiritual and not necessarily God. For instance, spiritualists contact demons and spirits.

Religion is the belief in 1 god or many. You cant claim to believe in God and not be religious.

Answer 9

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Religion is for the individual person and spirituality is for God.


The satisfaction from intellectual stimulation which most appear to be addicted to is remarkable separate from spiritual stimulation, one is dominated by the brain and the later of the heart. In theory, the brains activity my be at a low Eb or even by pass the brain(what a concept) when the heart is fully stimulated. A simple reading of the scriptures, can allow God’s spirit to enjoy you, which results in life.
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Answer 10

Religion is man made ideals As is spirituality, you can have religion or be spiritual, but still not be in the truth, Salvation is what over-rides these other two. Salvation is from God, A satan worshipper can be spiritual, but they are not walking in truth & neither do they have salvation. Salvation is an experince.

Answer 11

Religion is formed by traditions of men and their cultures and represents a theology of their beliefs as a group, organization, or cult etc.
Spirituality is ones individuale intellectual beleifs that an individule soul lets itself possess or others influence.
I beleive that God, is a goverment ordained dominion that rules over universal order of an advanced universal civalization and controls exsistance, reality, naturel order.
I beleive religion's are a man made system to control people and subject individules to bondage to their controlled beleifs.