Can spirituality be attained without the support of religion?

Answer 1

The answer is Big YES

Answer 2

Religion doesnt support Spirituality. Spirituality supports Religion. So yes therefore you can be spiritual apart from being religious. However your not putting the spirituality to practicality without an outward show of faith. The works that follow are religious works. These works attempt to show what is on the inside. If your Religioius without the spiritual then the Religious work you do is just good work. Good work does NOT get you to Heaven. Having an experience with Jesus Christ does. Then the Holy Spirit comes in and the spiritual walk begins....works follow.

Answer 3

Since we are all spiritual beings, I do not see how being spiritual can be avoided. Religion is for those who feel that the spiritual realms have to be worked for, while spirituality is really just our normal state of existence that need to be realized and perceived. The use of language and meaning has created a situation where the truth must be either proved or believed in. Spirituality is very much like the air we breath, and regardless of whether you believe in it or not, you are still breathing it. Religion is very much like the question, what is out there that you cannot see? If you cannot see it and live in it, then you must believe in it. Spirit is life while religion is belief. Spirit is obvious while belief is ignorance.

Answer 4

Spirituality is an effort to go beyond that of the physical existence of the world. No spirituality is complete without the need to answer the following questions:

Why are we here?
What is my purpose?
Where did I come from?
Where am I going?

In a broader sense, spirituality is getting to the bottom of things, finding deeper meaning in life. There isnt much meaning in life if you dont believe in that which you cannot see, that which feeds everything in the universe. Some people call it God. I do for example.

You can sway away the path of religion but your search for the Source of all things, will eventually bring you to many other paths, some enjoyable and some not so enjoyable. Cults for example. Or people who are looking for followers. Chose your paths right.

Answer 5

absolutely dear!!!!!
Religion and spirituality are poles apart. They are the earth and sky. They can never be one. In religion, you limit yourself with what you see whereas in spirituality your imagination goes beyond this rational world. When you are established in spirituality, you no longer dwell in the physical plane. You see this world from another point of view. Absolutely everything around you appears beautiful. Religion is you and God equals two. Spirituality is you and God equals one. Religion is praying whereas spirituality is meditating. These are not the same thing at all !!!!

Answer 6

No,
Its the concentration which plys the important role in attening spirituality. Concentration could never be alone it requires the so called imaginary figure that has to be centrised as the power to be gained from. Its impracticable to achive this with out religions. As for knowledge, every religion is based on the same imagenary center. And the final goal of following the path of truth, honesty, ampathy, and simplicity comes from the same resourse which brings happiness to mankind and their deeds really keeps the universe smileing.

Answer 7

Well, I think one can be spiritual without a 'religion', but ultimately it's a matter of semantics.

In my view what is religion, but the commonality of belief (often with ritual/symbol/practice added in). If you choose not to 'share' your beliefs with others, or if your beliefs are solely your own, then while you are clearly spiritual it would be difficult to classify you as 'religious'.

Of course others may disagree. Which is fine by me. Dewcoons for example believes that I would need a 'God' and a 'Bible'. I disagree because I see the Universe differently and feel quite 'spiritual' without those things. Ultimately I don't believe that a book can tell me what I need to know. Only my heart can do that. Perhaps that's what dewcoons calls 'God'. Who knows.
.

Answer 8

YES! We are spiritual beings having a human experience. In fact in most cases I see the two as mutually exclusive. Spirituality means connecting with Mother/Father God and each other through our own higher consciousness. Religion usually states that you must go through a middleman, or do certain rituals in order to reach God.

Most religions are fear-based. I have no use for any of the monotheistic religions. (Christianity, Islam, Judaism)
First of all they negate the feminine principle of God. Second, they are mostly based in fear, not love, with a few exceptions like Unitarian and United Church of Christ.

To live in eternal fear of hell and damnation is not spiritual. This is an insidious form of slavery by other humans to keep the people under control, and of course take their money. Dogma is carefully controlled propaganda to keep people ignorant.

As far as studying various religions, yes, it is a great idea. We can learn about our human heritage and it is interesting to see that there is a common thread that binds us all together. It is the beginning of true spirituality, which is ONENESS.

Certain rituals such as prayer and meditation are helpful to bring a sense of inner peace.
Sacred objects such as a prayer shawl, prayer wheel, rosary or whatever can help a person to maintain their focus. They are a reminder of the purpose to make a connection with the Creator and the higher self.

I've read the Bible and other holy writings, and of course there are good moral teachings and parables in them. But I do not attach any supernatural significance to them. They are simply writings from people who lived over 1000 years ago, from a rather naive and superstitious point of view.

Humans are meant to evolve, not stagnate on the superstitions of the ancients. It's interesting reading, and a good glimpse into the psyche of our ancestors, but that's all. Why is the Bible any different from the book "Conversations with God" or any number of "channeled" messages from angels and extraterrestrials? All are interesting, with pearls of wisdom, but I take what resonates with me and leave the rest.

I like to think of myself as a spiritual seeker. I meditate using Buddhist techniques, and I find that Kundalini yoga helps open my higher energy centers (chakras) which strengthens my connection to the divine. I am very drawn to Native American spirituality, and often use rituals such as smudging to clear spaces and energies. I often feel that I am meant to be a shaman, or perhaps I was one in a past life. I strive to become a better human being, by following the example of the great teachers, including but not limited to Jesus Christ. I have come a long way, but I still have a lot to learn.

As with everything, spirituality is not about the destination, it's about the journey.

Answer 9

All religion is man-made. Spirit existed before man did.

Therefore spirituality exists with or without the support of man-made institutions such as religion.

Answer 10

Yes it can, but with out religion it is like water running with out a channel or stream bed to follow. Water tends to spread out and soak in until it is too thin and dries up. Religion is a way to keep your spirituality flowing even through the dry hot times with out it being depleted and drying up leaving you no better off than you were before you had it.

Answer 11

"Can spirituality be attained without the support of [man-made] religion?"

Yes.

"Can a person successfully worship God in their own way?"

Only if that one's way harmonizes --in its entirety-- with God's ways.