There was a question asked here as to what is "Religion" being that I am not a very religious person but see myself as a very spiritual person, I would like to know what others veiws are on the differences between Religion and Spirituality?
2007-05-21 04:26:27 · 19 answers · asked by Shewolf Silver Shadows/Author 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Religion-man made imposed rules and restrictions on what humans "think" God wants.
Spirituality-we are all spiritual beings at our core, so this has been around since the beginning of time. As a spiritual, non religious person, I have a personal relationship with God and Iet the Higher Power guide me, not other human beings who "think" they know what God wants.
People who believe in spirituality don't believe in a jealous, vengeful God. Those are human attributes. What on earth would God have to be jealous about? That is just utter nonsense and God isn't about confusion, only humans are.
2007-05-21 04:34:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm very spiritual as well. The difference is, with Religion you're bound by man made rules and man made ideas that are supposedly God's rules and ideas. Persecution and bigotry exists with in the church and the chuch is always on some kind of witch hunt (today they're after the gays, 50 years ago it was the african americans....you see the pattern?). With Spirituality you're relationship with God is more personal and more fullfilling. You're not surrouned by bigotry. It's a more comfortable and more complete way to worship God. Instead of following "society" you're being an individual and following your own path with God.
2007-05-21 04:32:43 · answer #2 · answered by Water Witch 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To me, religion is the day to day practice of one's beliefs. Religion is how you express your personal philosophies. Your personal philosophies are expressions of your Spiritual side. To say you are spiritual says that you do consider your spiritual side as important, and you have personal philosophies. I think at that point you are living your own personal religion on a day to day basis, but it is easy as it is how you live by your own beliefs.
Religion should not be forced. It should be a private descision that we can live with conviction through our own beliefs... not someone esles.
Some use a personal expression and find a personal religion. Others prefer the company of others, draw on common beliefs to create common practices and find churches, covens, groves, temples, etc.
The common beliefs create a dogmatic system of beliefs held by a community. These in turn create a public ethical system that people feel the desire and need to live up to if they wish to continue to be part of the religious community they have chosen.
2007-05-21 04:34:06 · answer #3 · answered by willodrgn 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion refers to a set of beliefs. People of the same religion share the same beliefs. It is organized and fairly concrete.
Spirituality refers to personal beliefs in all things related to the spirit. They are individual to each person, and don't have to fall into the guidelines of a set religion. It can be about your personal spirit, or belief in a higher spiritual power.
To have religion, you have to have spirituality. But religion is not required for spirituality.
2007-05-21 04:32:46 · answer #4 · answered by smellyfoot ™ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Despite man and his Ego trips. Religion is simply the practical application of religious concepts into our daily lives.
Ritual, doing things routinely like spiritual exercises, associating with positive people. Reading or listening to motivational and inspirational material. And prayer, which keeps the lines of communication open to Spirit.
2007-05-21 04:32:09 · answer #5 · answered by THE NEXT LEVEL 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
religion I think refers to a structured institution with laws and what not that one must follow, I guess you could compare it to a government, it creates laws that the people of that religion must follow or be punished by "God" if they break them. Spirituality has more to do with your relationship toward God, Yahweh, gods, goddesses, or whatever "divine" beings you may worship/believe in. In simple terms, religion is the external while spirituality is the internal.
2007-05-21 04:37:51 · answer #6 · answered by MoonWater 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Religion is a set of rules and hoops to jump through, while spirituality can mean a lot of different things.
Learn everything you can about various beliefs, and make your own decisions.
2007-05-21 04:31:34 · answer #7 · answered by Joe M 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Religion, I feel was set in place as guidelines of social order, and to define for the collective, what life means.
Spiritual is a person's individual guidelines for what life means.
2007-05-21 07:12:26 · answer #8 · answered by shakalahar 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
According to wikipedia,
A religion is a set of beliefs and practices generally held by a 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 (see mysticism).
Spirituality may involve perceiving or wishing to perceive life as more important ("higher"), more complex or more integrated with one's world view; as contrasted with the merely sensual.
2007-05-21 04:34:10 · answer #9 · answered by God's Child 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion is dogma and condemnation. It is idiotic to me.
Spirituality is the feelings in your heart and soul. Spirituality enhances my life with love and, hopefully, a little understanding.
2007-05-21 04:33:22 · answer #10 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋