Difference in Religion and Spirituality?

Question

Do you believe there is a difference in the two? If yes, how are they different to you?

Answer 1

Rachael G has come as close as anyone at best describing the difference.

When Jesus came on the scene he was trying to help those held by the hellish bonds of religion. Both those inside religion and those who were being kept out of religion.

Spirituality is your spirit relationship with God, no strings attached, no rituals, no illogical logic, nothing to do with the outside of yourself but what is on the inside and no body can touch that with any kind of reasoning or human logic.

Are their spiritual people within the walls of the church? Yes.
Are all church going people spiritual? No.

Answer 2

Yes I believe there is a difference. Religion is just the organization that helps to provide spiritual experiences. I believe that you can go to church and be active in your religion and not be spiritual. That is simply going through the motions. Spirituality is you connection and relationship with your deity. Many people are very spiritual and may not have a particular religion, but are still very spiritual. Many have religion, but don't have that divine relationship, they are just there. I believe the easiest way to be spiritual is to go to church, and read God's words, and pray. Just engross yourself in the ways of God and you will become more spiritual.

I guess Religion is just the tool to help us get to the spirituality. Don't misunderstand me, I think that religion is an important part to spirituality, it would be tough to be spirutual without religion, but it is possible.

Answer 3

re·li·gion(r-ljn)
n.
1.
a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion


Spirituality
An inner sense of something greater than oneself. Recognition of a meaning to existence that transcends one's immediate circumstances.

I think the difference is obvious.

Answer 4

I'm glad you asked how they are different to me. That makes a big difference, because it's how I believe them to be, but others may not think so. When I think of religion, I think of the church, that has let me down numerous times in my life. I think of the clergy and the people. But when I think of Spirituality, I think of my belief in a higher being, my thoughts and ideas that I came about from meditation, research and my love of God. I am spiritual, not religious.

Answer 5

I definitely believe, in mho that there is a difference between Religion and Spirituality.

I have experienced many different "Religions" seeking out to find the relationship and connection between myself and some sense of spirituality.

Religion is the organized "format" of in which individuals choose to participate how they practice their beliefs.

Spirituality, is the emotional connection that is made between the beliefs and person's intellect, (or lack thereof in cases of practicing things that are harmful to themselves or others) which provides the ability and choices to follow thru and practice their beliefs and incorporate those beliefs into their daily life.

One can have religion and not have spirituality. There are many who have religion: those who only go to church or confession to make themselves look good, but yet continue to do the things they just confessed and committed to "not do again". This to me, is hypocrisy. If you know the things you are doing go against your "beliefs", then are they truly your beliefs at all? If one has committed to live their life by a certain set of values, morals and standards, yet continue to do things that goes against those things, then it would seem they are not truly committed to those beliefs.

Spiritulaity is an emotional, mental and purposeful connection to the beliefs and convictions that one adheres to in their daily lives.

Christians have their beliefs, and if they are truly following their beliefs, live their lives by a set of standards, morals, values,

Others who follow other forms of religions: mormon, jehovah's witnesses, etc also have values, standards, morals, and beliefs in which they follow.

There are those may be searching and seeking and may have values and morals but not necessarily a set of beliefs they follow

And then there are those who don't necessarily have any beliefs at all since they do not belief in any sort of deity or religion (atheists).

Answer 6

Yes, there is a difference. Spirituality is a general belief in a supreme being. Religion means to have to wear a particular jersey in order to exercise your spirituality.

Answer 7

I do believe there is a big difference in the two. God even said He did not like Religion.
Religion is ritualistic in nature and is concerned with notions.
Spirituality to me is ones Faith, and is concerning your own personal beliefs and inner feelings.

I consider myself a Christian because I follow Christ (I am of no denomination and do not follow a religion) I have faith in God, His Son and the works of the Holy Spirit.

Answer 8

BIG, HUGE Difference in my mind.

Religion is about idiotic dogma created by greedy men. All religions are like that except maybe Buddhism, which is actually more of a philosophy than a religion.

Spirituality, to me, is about a relationship with God that involves respect, love, and curiosity. I believe He not only approves but applauds free thinkers who are independent and open minded people. He is not about judgment and vengeance.

Answer 9

Yes there is...religion is the practice of a set of beliefs invented by humans...spirituality is the way one looks inward to reflect on your life and it's purpose....

Answer 10

Very, very loosely speaking, "religion" implies a bureaucracy, an external Authority to whom one refers one's spiritual welfare. "Spirituality" has more of a democratic flavor.

Most "religious" people think of their religion as the medium, so to speak, of their spirituality.

Most people who identify instead as "spiritual" have wearied of religion with its pointless and arbitrary dogma and ritual, and have decided instead to "connect" with their spirituality on their own terms. Which religious people, of course, decry as "selfish" and "delusional," precisely because they've made their own cult dogma the benchmark of judgment.