In your opinion is there a difference between calling yourself spiritual instead of religious?

Question

I often tell people I am not so much religious as I am spiritual...I know what this means for me...but what do you view as the difference between being a spiritual person vs. being a religious person.

Answer 1

Yes, I think there's a difference, but they are not mutually exclusive. I see spirituality as a deeply personal connection to a greater force which cannot be personified. Therefore religious people can be spiritual. However, I see "organized religion" as a way to assist people in acheiving that connection through the use of behavioral guides, study groups and ritual. Oddly enough, there are people who never acheive this connection in spite of following all their organized religion's mandates. So there can be relious people who simply are not spiritual. Many people who do feel that deep personal connection but who are not affiliated with any organized religion prefer to refer to themselves as "spiritual".

I consider myself to be a spiritual person, yet I would never call myself religious because of my preference for avoiding organized religions and their assiciated rituals, mandates and structures. What I feel is deeply personal and private. I don't feel inclined to make public proclamations about it, yet am willing to share with close friends.

Clear as mud, eh?

Answer 2

I definitely think so. If you read my profile, I state that I am very spiritual, but not affiliated with any religion. The difference to me is that the word "religion" implies some set of ideas, beliefs, practices, and traditions that have been built over time, and must be adhered to by anyone who wants to practice that religion. It also implies that there is some hierarchical leadership that has the ability to dictate/interpret what the sacred texts of that religion mean.

Spirituality on the other hand, simply implies that a person believes in something of an ineffable nature, and also that a person can have direct contact with that "spirit", or "higher power". I think spirituality is more of an individual conception, based on personal beliefs and experiences, where religion is something that is agreed upon by those in power.

Answer 3

I think there is a difference between Religious and Spiritual; The main difference I can see is the belief in God(s).

To me Religion infers that a person believes in a divine entity or a collection of divine entities that manipulate the universe.

Spiritual could suggest that though they believe in a universal energy that connects all things, but has no inherent intelligence of it's own.

confused yet?

I feel that a person can be religious without being spiritual and vice-versa.

Answer 4

Creep means somebody who is really nasty. Like, a pervert would be a kind of creep. But a creep isn't necessarily a pervert. Many women these days will call an unattractive guy coming onto them a creep. It's unfortunate that many men who aren't entirely what a girl is looking for get called this because most women accept come-ons from a desirable guy. I mean, nobody's concerned about hurt feelings; don't get me wrong. I'm just saying that the guys who are called creeps frequently don't realize that the girl is using the term flippantly and they really struggle with trying to figure out what the problem is, when it is merely a girl's opinion. So, in light of that, I take "creep" to be a word that is evolving into something more meaningless and less offensive over time. Girls call men perverts when they become acutely aware that they are being chased after for the purposes of sex only. Like "creep," girls won't come out with this word if they're facing a man whom they would like to have sex with. It is frequently reserved for older men. Not so much unattractive as unattractive AND filthy. Like flirtatious dirty talk gone wrong (or misdirected). The bottom line is that when a girl calls you a name like that, it means that she's not interested, and you should focus your efforts on somebody else. Personally, I've found that girls who use these terms at all, even if not for me, to be a little bit sour and not worth the effort of a relationship. Don't sweat 'em. The players will eat them up, and probably already have. Don't worry. Remember that people become who they are for a reason. Those reasons usually aren't happy memories. @ Mr. Dance Moves: Do men call women creeps and perverts? I've never heard it. Maybe, MAYBE in the instance of one of those female teachers who has sex with a young male student. But otherwise, these aren't labels for women. They aren't even words men use, to my knowledge.

Answer 5

For me, the difference is that spirituality is something I feel from within and try to show without. Its at the core of who I am.

Religion, to me, implies a building where people go to worship a man and a book and then play the rest of the week. Sometimes living as they believe and sometimes just being those who only TRULY believe one day a week.

Answer 6

Religion is the group of ceremonies, rites, rules, ideas, custums, etc. the man does to relate with God. One could comply with all those requirements (being religious)mechanically without loving God in spirit like Jesus explains in John chapter 4 (being spiritual).

Answer 7

Spirituality, to me, is generic. It can mean different things to different people.

Being a Christian is specific. I believe there is only one God and one way to God, by faith in His son.

Answer 8

There are only two ways, Have you been Saved by the Blood of Jesus Christ, Is Jesus your savior, have you repented and asked for forgiveness, and asked to be filled with the Holy Spirit, if not then you have a false sense of idenity.

Answer 9

Religion is without, Spirituality is within! If you are not within, you are without!