Is being religious more important than being spiritual?

Answer 1

Religion is like a canal, water flowing in pre-fixed direction... going to pre-fixed destinations..water flows forcibly following the rigid boundaries

Spirituality is hilly rivulet... falling free singing and dancing not even caring where to reach...for her each moment is enlightenment...each step is destination

It is our choice we wish to be in canal or hilly rivulet

Answer 2

That depends on each one's point of view. In my personal opinion, being spiritual is more important. That means going to a church, obeying a pastor, confessing to a priest, following a dogma, a doctrine, rules and rituals are not relevant for someone to achieve spiritual fulfillment. Instead, the person that prays or meditates regularly, has a personal belief and nurtures it, and ultimately helps other people with love, forgiveness and tolerance, without having to go to the church and follow any leader, can be spiritually fulfilled.

Actually, both scenarios are OK, if that's what pleases the person. I always say that what goes in one's heart is what matters.

Peace!

Answer 3

being religious and being spiritual are both good! spiritual is the relationship with God which is important than religious which is just obeying the rules of the religion and living according to it. I feel spiritual is more important than religious.

Answer 4

No not at all. Being spiritual has got nothing to do with being religious. Religion is man made, spiritualism is divine. Although one should adhere to religion as a matter of belief but should always keep seeking TRUTH through knowledge.

Answer 5

This is an interesting question. I think that religion disciplines spirituality because, unfortunately, it's such a delicate aspect of being that it easily gets misguided/misused. Spirituality requires this discipline in order for it to be nurtured. Additionally, religion often tends to guard against unhealthy spirituality (for example, it is believed that Christians can never be possessed). Now religion without spirituality is like going to church just for the social setting. I definitely don't believe that one can exist without the other and therefore, I'd place equal importance on both. However, when I am asked I tend to refer to myself as "a woman of faith" simply because of the stigma attached to religion in this (rather spiritually regressive) country.

Answer 6

If you mean by being religious following what an organisation tells you to do, act and behave without any moral justification or reasoning. Only saying that you can or can't do this or that because it may or may not be in an old book that has already been mistranslated several times over - then no.
But being spiritual is cool.

Answer 7

Religion and spiritulity are complementary to each other.

In the inital stage religion helps us to controlloue mind and sense. It makes you mind pure, light and blissful. But concepts and logics are created by mind. Any mental concept, which creates division or structure, is an idea against spirituality. In fact, road of spirituality starts, where religion ends.

Religion is a cup through which one can enjoy the drink of spirituality. Content are more important than container. People who are obsessed with container becomes ignorant and fanatic. Ignorance creates duality whereas wisdom creates unity.

Different religions are like different roads, leading to the same Truth. In the initial stages, religion can help us to understand Cosmic Consciousness, the way a stroller helps a kid to learn walking.

The delicate plant of spirituality can be fenced by religion, which enables the plant to withstand with harsh weather of materialism. Fence (religion) without plant (spirituality) is meaningless.

Answer 8

No being religious is not important. If you want to seek God, seek him within yourself. Spirituality doesn't come being religious but Spirituality can definitely lead you to a religious path!!

Answer 9

It depends on what you mean by being "religious" or "spiritual". In my own thinking, I believe that "religious" people tend to try to please their gods or goddesses by performing good, following their gods or goddesses set of rules. To me, being spiritual means to "feel the spirit" -- whatever spirit you want to feel by focusing on internals rather than externals, by being caught up in the metaphysical or spiritual realm.

If this is your definition, I think both fall slightly short. What is the use of feeling things if we don't act on them, and what is the use of doing things for no other purpose than because we "are supposed to" to keep the gods or goddesses happy?

I am a Christian, and sometimes struggle with the battle between the religious and the spiritual. Externals and internals. I think the best bet for me is to focus on God. His Spirit fills me. He is my Lord. As I read and study the Bible and pray (doing those "spiritual" things, though not by feeling spiritual or emotional") -- just reading studying and praying, this allows His Spirit to live and move through me. I want to be where He wants me to be so that He can live through me. I try not to focus on what I'm doing or being, but who HE is and what HE'S doing through me. Others can decide whether I'm being religious or spiritual, I'm just lost in His glory (at least that is what I HOPE is true about me. It is my goal.)

Answer 10

the true answer lies in righteousness. one can be religious and have nothing to do with with being righteous to God and one can have a form of spirituality and not even worship God or believe in Him. but only God imparts true holiness to those who believe and then you will see in that case that being religious and spiritual are the same thing. religion is not evil man is evil and loves to twist things to suit his own agendas.
christianity is a religion, but it is the hypocrites that make everyone hate that term. a bad example can affect endless generations to come. if people just obeyed God this question would never even be asked.

Answer 11

Religion is the vehicle for spirituality. So Spirituality is important where Religion will just help you achieving that.