Ultimately, what matters most isnt what you believe but how it helps guide your life and help you become the best version of yourself. 1. Even though the connection shares a major common ground, spirituality and religion differ in more ways than one. Its common to abuse religious power to degrade others for their lack of "purity." Spiritual people are more flexible in their beliefs and often draw from multiple teachings and practices to create what works best for them. A spiritual person knows that we are all One, and consciously attempts to honor this Oneness. Partisan differences are somewhat muted. Spirituality is a solitary experience of the divine, So, what is the difference between religion and spirituality? Read through the list of differences between spirituality and religion at the beginning of this article. Published by Erin Duffin , Sep 30, 2022. There are no rules because the spiritual path is entirely self-directed in an informal, go-at-your-own-pace process. Religion: Despite the best of intentions, religions can sometimes contain a subtle (or not so subtle) undercurrent of fear woven into their teachings. To set things straight, Im not in either the religion is evil or spirituality is nonsense groups. Religion: Due to their centuries- to millennia-old histories, religions are by nature often deeply rooted in tradition, ritual, creed, and doctrine. Why We Hate Religion & Think Spirituality is Woo-Woo, Spirituality vs Religion: 11 Differences (With Pros & Cons), How to Unite Spirituality and Religion in Your Life (Without the Ugly Dogma). As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases, this means whenever you buy a book on Amazon from a link on this website, we receive a small percentage of its price at no extra cost to you. Being spiritual doesnt mean you have the responsibility of worshiping a God. In seeking the divinewhether from a church pew on a Sunday or on top of a ridge looking at a glorious sunrisewe increase our feelings of happiness, peace, and appreciation for the life that we have. Religion generally involves participation in organized rituals such as prayer or meditation and attending services at places of worship. Neither of these scenarios is fair. Religion is the form, and spirituality is the formlessness. As Krishna explains in the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, verse 11: As men approach me, so I receive them. In addition to those who say they are spiritual but not religious, 48% say they are both religious and spiritual, while 6% say they are religious but not spiritual. Another 18% answer both questions negatively, saying they are neither religious nor spiritual. As a community or group sharing the same beliefs, religion functions as an extremely supportive social network. Since religion began its increasing decline in the early 20th century which was promoted by the Age of Enlightenment in the previous period and reinforced by the horrors of the world wars, the idea of God is now largely seen as not just infantile, but ludicrous. Why Are So Many Young Men Single And Sexless? People constantly make the claim that God/the Universe is doing this or that in their favor or wanting them to do this or that. There are mystics who exist in all religions and spiritual paths. She is the author of hundreds of popular articles, as well as numerous books and journals on the topics of Self-Love, Spiritual Awakening, and more. Spirituality in Clinical Practice. If you notice, others abuse religion to inflict fear into anothers mind. BEING RELIGIOUS Being religious means belonging to an established religious order, whether large or small. As someone who was raised in a fundamentalist Christian household, then left and became agnostic, then adopted new age spirituality, then became a practitioner of the occult, and has finally committed to a mystical path, Ive been on a merry-go-round when it has come to spirituality and religion. But spirituality doesnt aim to please a specific God; rather, it focuses on interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships. Spiritual practices such as meditation, yoga, silence, and contemplation allow you to make conscious contact with more expanded states of consciousness, thus helping to experientially validate the teachings rather than accepting them on faith alone. These practices are observed by a group of people who share the same beliefs and follow the same traditions. within the religious organization. A beach will do. There is no definitive answer to whether it is better to be spiritual or religious, as the right path for one person may not be the same for another. Both those who received support from their medical team or from their religious community were more apt to transition to hospice care and to decline aggressive treatment, she said. A spiritual person cares about people, animals and the planet. Although they have many similarities and there is a relationship between the two, there are differences between religion and spirituality. It's about a search for our life's significance and allows us to feel part of something. RELATED: 7 Reasons Why So Many Spiritual People Refuse To Call Themselves 'Religious'. This empowers people to discover their own truths without setting any limits as to the depth of one's understanding. Although some spiritual traditions offer theories and practices to help people on their journeys, they are not meant to be adopted as a set of beliefs. On the other, we have spirituality, which is a very yin force. But while they arent diametric opposites, neither are they the same. Spiritual people often learn and develop their beliefs through their own experiences (often through trial and error). And at religions most infantile form, it can be a force of destruction that creates more division and suffering. RELATED: 4 Simple But Spiritual Ways To Deeply Connect With God Without Going To Church. This is understandable in that all religions wish to preserve the essence of their teachings so they may be accurately transmitted through history. Another key difference is tolerance levels. Please consult your doctor before taking any action. Spiritual Experience; The foundation of religion is faith. Provide moral guidelines by which to live. This is when spiritual awareness and growth come into play. Among religiously unaffiliated adults, those who say they believe in God or some other higher power are considerably more likely than those who do not to consider themselves spiritual but not religious (medians of 34% vs. 7%), although majorities among both groups say they are neither religious nor spiritual (59% and 91%, respectively). And yet, regardless of where we stand as a species, we all have an innate drive to seek something higher and greater than ourselves whether that be God, Enlightened Consciousness, our next-and-best consumerist purchase, or a dogmatic belief that Science is the only true way of seeing the world. These are mere beliefs that are treated as truths and that can (and sometimes does) lead to unsavory outcomes. The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; not will they say Here it is or There it is, because the kingdom of God is within you. Being too spiritual may also cause long-term separation from loved ones or more concern for their own issues, instead of trusting a higher being for tomorrows worry. Some religions have a reward that comes after death, like getting into heaven. For Life, 3 Ways To Turn A Simple Daily Task Into A Spiritual Breakthrough, 10 Things Every Type-B Person Really Wishes You Understood, 4 Simple But Spiritual Ways To Deeply Connect With God Without Going To Church, The 3 Things People Immediately Judge You On When You First Meet Them, 5 Immediate Signs Of A Toxic, Passive-Aggressive Person, 10 Little Habits That Make You IRRESISTIBLY Attractive. Members of a religion often also follow distinctive dress codes (especially religious leaders), moral codes, and actions that are mandated by a supernatural being. Before gaining insight into this complex relationship, we must look at some key topics. Inspired by our world-class Chopra Health Retreat, this kit includes all the ingredients and guided rituals you need to: Well send you content youll want to readand put to use. (To learn more, here are 10 ways you can be spiritual.). For example, one national survey found that about 65% of Americans label themselves "religious and spiritual" 15 to 20% of Americans call themselves "spiritual but not religious" Deepen your well-being practices and develop techniques to teach others with a prestigious Chopra certification. For a religious person, the concept of God is predetermined, named, and comes with an established method of how to worship that God. This statistic shows the share of American adults in 2017 who consider themselves spiritual but not religious. Spiritual Experience. Its centered around doing the work or in different terms, getting hands-on experience.. The more religious than spiritual group declined from 16.7% in 1998 to 11.9% in 2018 ( - 4.8 percentage points) and those saying they are equally religious and spiritual also decreased from 64.8% to 55.1% ( -9.7 points) . Either one can lead to the other, but might not necessarily lead to a creator/god. In the study, the researchers asked participants to denote their religious affiliation, either as (1) traditionally religious, (2) nonreligious but spiritual, or (3) neither religious nor spiritual. One is HOW we find religion vs spirituality. Everything you need to live a life in total balance from the authority in well-being. Both can enrich or demoralize our human experience. In this case, wisdom means a deep and integrated knowing that is expressed through how we live our lives. WebWhether a person is religious, spiritual or neither, the major influence religion has on American culture will be emphasized over the coming days with religious observances of Passover and Easter. This kind of statement perfectly summarizes the kind of (rightfully justified) cynicism and disillusionment that we carry toward the popular patriarchal notion of a white dude sitting in the sky, judging all our actions. A religious person is committed to following the guidelines set by his or her religion. He or she observes the rites and practices, such as regularly attending church services on a Sunday for Christians, observing the Sabbath for Jews, and fasting during Ramadan for Muslims. Spirituality vs. Religion commonly refers to an institution that has a set of organized practices and a structured belief system shared by and among those who are members of the institution. We value a raw, real, and down-to-earth approach to spirituality. Sofia Stewart is a writer and former contributor to YourTango who covers astrology, numerology, spirituality, and relationships. Religion aims to build one's character. Spirituality is personal; religion is institutional. This exploration is not necessarily constrained by any organized faith or doctrine- rather, it gives someone space to grow into who they are on a personal level. People who are spiritual are able to adjust to new conditions and their discoveries throughout life. If a change was to occur in religion, it would be a slow process. Mysticism is the common thread running through both spirituality and religion. Instead, it favors an inclusive approach. Its more of an internal journey that helps you develop your own personal truths that may not necessarily be aligned with what has been taught through a particular faith or religion. Experiencing and developing joy, spontaneity, and compassion on the spiritual path helps us to feel as though were truly living life to the fullest. According to Pew Research Center, about 27% of U.S. adults consider themselves as spiritual but unaffiliated with any traditional religious group, demonstrating an increase of 8% in just the past 5 years.. Most people dont really find religion; rather, its programmed into them from either a very early age or from a vulnerable place. Both traditionally religious and nonreligious but spiritual individuals scored higher on measures of life satisfaction than nonreligious people. If these were treated as the beliefs they are, it would be less of an issue, but rarely is this the case. Spirituality leans heavily on the personal experience of one's soul. The results were sorted by age. Somatic Bodywork: 7 Types For Psychospiritual Healing, 7 Vagus Nerve Exercises For Nervous System Healing, How to Begin a Spiritual Journal (Start Here! This isnt necessarily a bad thing. But instead of seeing things in black-or-white terms (which creates division and therefore fear), I see that religion and spirituality can be like sisters, brothers, or friends that support each other harmoniously. Religious teachings are usually based on what has been passed down through scriptures, religious scrolls, and books or what religious leaders teach. In this way, spirituality can sometimes feel like a rebellious act of going solo and leaving the tribe, very much in the spirit of American philosopher and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson when he said, To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.. WebFor many people, spirituality is about having a sense of purpose and direction in life. Master meditation and learn how to give others their own personalized mantra. [Read More]. Spirituality: Definition, Types, Benefits, and How to Practice People who identify as spiritual experience their beliefs in unique ways, often incorporating elements of various traditions to form their own personalized framework. If you have found any comfort, support or guidance in our work, please consider donating: document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I'd like to receive your latest weekly newsletter! | For example, that might be Shiva, Buddha, Mother Mary, Kali, Quan Yin, Avalokitesvara, etc. Whatever path you choose, I hope you find what youre looking for and know that its okay to experiment, and its also okay to commit deeply and fully. While spirituality does not threaten punishment for a life lived in contrast to a set of rules, it often addresses karma. There were some downsides to religiosity and spirituality: For example, the researchers found that depression levels were higher among traditionally religious and nonreligious but spiritual individuals. Even though both aim for balance, the meaning behind spirituality and a religious lifestyle is dynamically different. On the other hand, religion provides its followers with a single set of rules and beliefs to follow, typically with less room for personal growth within those parameters. While both participate in certain practices and rituals to achieve this, the two groups have some key differences. 1) The mystic. Theres no black and white here. A religious person is committed to following the guidelines set by his or her religion. Religion often discourages people from listening to their own instincts, and instead teaches people to accept and do what theyre told, without questioning it. A spiritual person is selfless, perhaps ascetic, one who strives to imbue his life with a higher meaning, to think of and serve others, not himself, to see the purpose and goodness in Reviewed by Jessica Schrader. While religion has various rules that others may or may not agree with, spirituality focuses on an individuals aspect of a belief. Religion, on the other hand, teaches that heaven is something found in the future (usually after you die). :) ). Spirituality: By comparison, spirituality is often less focused on the rigidly traditional approach and often favors an evolutionary mentality. See additional information. Belief vs. Listen to your Souls calling. A person will tend to lean on one side instead of balancing both. Advance online publication. Being "spiritual but not religious" means you do not need a church or a community, some say. The difference between a spiritual and religious person boils down to how they see God. What Is Your True Color Personality Type? Lets try to clear things up by taking a closer look at the most defining differences between religious and spiritual paths. Ultimately, spiritual paths are what you make of them and what resonates with you as an individual, making them unique. In fact, he says, while religious people are more likely to volunteer or give to charitable causes related to their beliefs, atheists appear to be more generous to a wider range of causes and dissimilar groups. For a religious person, the concept of God is predetermined, named, and comes with an established method of how to worship that God. Bear in mind that there are no absolutes in these distinctions. Humanity is all one, with love being at the core of everyone's being. Here are 6 ways to pray the rosary as a non-Catholic or non-religious person. Ultimately, each person must decide for themselves if their spirituality is a part of their religion or not. There have been significant changes in the American religious and spiritual landscape in recent years, with fewer than half of all Americans reporting church membership, report the authors of the research, led by Hansong Zhang of the University of North Texas. Thats where my experience, reflections, and discoveries can help. It is safe to say that spirituality has greater potential for exploration within ones faith than religion does. Zhang, H., Hook, J. N., Hodge, A. S., Van Tongeren, D. R., Davis, D. E., & Jin, L. (2021). Everyone has their own unique path, so if you dont feel called to invite spirituality or religion into your life, that is totally okay. In religion, there is often a promise of punishment or reward for maintaining beliefs or following rituals. Spirituality teaches us that All is One (non-duality), that there is ultimately no separation between the spark of Divine within us and the Divine that pervades everything. Every person is essentially a small goda unique and powerful manifestation of existence that serves a purpose in this world. In fact, some may find that their spirituality is closely linked to a religion, while others may have their own personal relationship with a higher power. Learn how to tell the difference between religion and spirituality. 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