I have heard that religion is for people afraid to go to hell and spirituality is for people who have already been there.
2007-10-31 06:50:29 · 21 answers · asked by Richard P 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think religion is an organized belief system for connecting to a higher power and spirituality is a belief in a higher power not guided by an "organized school of thought"
2007-10-31 06:55:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Religion is a cultural/social organization that is organized around human spirituality. Religion is about man's ideas about our spiritual nature.
Spirituality is what religion talks about. Spirituality is the thing itself while religion is just other peoples ideas about it.
Human beings will invest their feelings of identity into the idea of spirituality. It is only an idea - not the thing itself. Then the individual will view the world only through the lens of their chosen belief system. Religion is untrue in as far as it is only concepts masquerading as the real thing. That is the basic error of the human mind.
Human spirituality is fluid and alive, it changes and flows with life. That is why it does not always follow the dictates of any particular religion. Religion is the human mind's attempt to hold spirituality still and capture it in order to enhance the individuals sense of self. This occurs whether the individual is the founder of a church, a pastor or just a member of the congregation. It is the human minds attempt to feel closer to God without having to actually risk getting closer to God. By accepting ideas about God in God's place the human mind can operate out of a safe haven where all it has to do is follow the rules and everything will be alright. The haven is safe except for those individuals who begin to try to express their own spiritual life when it does not correspond to the rigid dictates of the religion.
Spirituality can not be translated into words very clearly, all words can ever do is point to it. Each human being must go there on his own and to do so he must leave the thinking mind and it's words behind. Way too scary for most people.
2007-10-31 14:31:11 · answer #2 · answered by Tamara S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion is a way of life, that entails prayers, good works, socializing with people of like minds and Sunday/holy day Mass or services, its has rules and is centered.
Spirituality is more of a philosophy that believes that we are more than just a bunch of atoms colliding around the universe but there is sense and substance to it all. They do sometimes meet together but it can be a very personal thing, and you can be alone with your thoughts and come up with different ways of seeing things. Rare in rules and not centered on anything inparticular.
2007-10-31 13:56:00 · answer #3 · answered by Tapestry6 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A religion is a set of common beliefs and practices generally held by a group of people, often codified as prayer, ritual, and religious law.
Spirituality, in a narrow sense, concerns itself with matters of the spirit.
2007-10-31 13:54:54 · answer #4 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion is in the head
spirituality is in the heart
2007-10-31 15:05:30 · answer #5 · answered by Barberri 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion refers to helping the fatherless and the widow, and keeping oneself unspotted from the world. Spirituality is that realm that deals with witchcraft, tarot cards and speaking to the dead. Are you afraid to go to hell? God gave us the power to overcome the gates of hell, and those same gates will not prevail against those who believe in, live in, and trust God through His Son Jesus the Christ.
2007-10-31 14:03:26 · answer #6 · answered by Timothy J 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Spirituality comes from within, religion from without. Spirituality is based on love and religion is based on fear & greed
2007-10-31 13:53:59 · answer #7 · answered by Stevie Jae 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Spirituality can take on many forms.
Religious beliefs are just one of those forms.
2007-10-31 13:54:28 · answer #8 · answered by Bob L 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Hey Richard, I don't want religion (rituals and things), I don't want spirituality (self-righteous). I want a relationship with the almight God. I want to worship and give glory to Him...Blue316
2007-10-31 13:55:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Rules and regulations dictate religion...Sprituality is FAITH in whatever or whomever you wish to place it in. You may/might choose to believe in God (if there is one) and you can do that without religion. Conversely, you may/might choose to place your faith however misguided as I have in humanity. Regardless Spirituality is merely where you place your faith. PEACE!
2007-10-31 13:55:10 · answer #10 · answered by thebigm57 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋