difference between religious and spiritual

This … Key Difference: Mysticism is generally associated with the belief of experiencing union with the ultimate Divinity, Reality, Spiritual Truth or God.However, the word is also used in negative connotation describing the non-rational worldviews. Acceptance and surrender to the divine are taught as the path that leads to ultimate salvation. A spiritual person looks within themselves to do the right thing and a religious person looks to the outside for guidance. It is a given fact that religious and spiritual are two terms that are often discussed in similar contexts. • Religion comes from outside whereas spirituality comes from within. Help others thrive and find purpose with a mind-body-spirit approach. The core difference between religion and spirituality is that religion presents you a set of beliefs, dogmas and “holy men” as intermediaries between you and Spirit (however you may name it); while spirituality promotes your individual autonomy in defining and connecting to Spirit as it fits your heart and mind. The Difference Between Religious, Spiritual, and Civil Wedding Ceremonies. What is the difference between religion and spirituality? It is a person’s very own, individual conviction of something he believes in, and rituals are rites or some kind of discipline that is followed by people belonging to different religions and different beliefs. It cannot abide it. Spirituality on the other hand is about a person's relationship with the transcendent questions that confront one as a human being. Unlike the scientific worldview, religions don’t require evidence to validate their claims. This refers to both a more flexible and adaptive mindset toward core teachings of the great wisdom traditions but also reflects the understanding that, as the name implies, spiritual growth is an evolutionary process. • It can be said that religion focuses on the outside; spirituality focuses on the within. Summary: 1.Religion and spirituality both refer to man’s desire to find inner peace or God, regardless of the terminology they use. Spirituality: By contrast, spirituality is more often based upon the practical application of the founder’s teachings. As such, spirituality is much more about inner understanding than outer worship. Based on these definitions, the major difference between religion and spirituality is one of believing versus being. Religion separates, Spirituality unites. Filed Under: Religion Tagged With: religious, Religious and Spiritual, spiritual, Spiritual and Religious, spirituality, Spirituality Definition. Many people down the ages have led religious lives that couldn’t necessarily be called spiritual, though they may have mistaken one for the other. Do NOT Judge before you read this complete answer. They consider their religious beliefs to be spiritual ones or their spiritual beliefs to be religious ones. Religious Recovery. Religion: Despite the best of intentions, religions can sometimes contain a subtle (or not so subtle) undercurrent of fear woven into their teachings. Religious is used for people who are in accordance with the principles of religion. Spirituality: Spirituality though, breaks free from the restrictions and rigid structure sometimes associated with traditional religion. There is, however, no single widely-agreed upon definition for spirituality and thus, it can be any blissful experience of meaningful activity. Spirituality: Spirituality makes no such distinctions. Deepen your well-being practices and develop techniques to teach others with a prestigious Chopra certification. One difference between spirituality and religion is that “spirituality does not require an institutional framework”, (Hood, et al, 2009, p. 11). Religion Tells You The Truth – Spirituality Lets You Discover It. Resource for mind-body health, meditation, personal growth, nutrition, and more. But there’s a difference between religion and spirituality. To understand the differences between religion and spirituality, we begin with recognizing what isn't religious nor spiritual. Whichever path or combination of the two you follow is the personal and subjective expression of your journey of awakening. The difference between religion and spirituality is in form only, for the true essence of all spiritual and religious practices is God. The difference I see in belief and religion is religion carries the extra weight of being told what you believe and your say in how you see it is not always accepted. With Spirituality, You Set the Rules. Religion: At its core, religion is about faith. Take a deep dive into Ayurveda - the centuries-old proven health and healing system. Religious is something relating to or believing in a religion. Sadly, this religious “in-group” mentality can be used to justify the exclusion of minorities or those deemed unworthy of God’s favor. A Difference between Religious and Spiritual. That is to say, belief in something based upon unconditional acceptance of the religion’s teachings. It’s as easy as downloading the Chopra App, where you can access hundreds of personalized guided meditations from the convenience of your phone. Spirituality gives you inner peace. But while they aren’t diametric opposites, neither are they the same. You are part of the universal hologram, all gods and goddesses in disguise. -Religion feeds the ego, Spirituality makes you transcend . Grow yourself. By doing so, our analytical, left brain thinking goes away. They can also be experienced independently of each other. The difference between spiritual and religious needs is that our religious needs require community. In other words, there is usually a greater focus on the externals: This is the equivalent of object-referral in which your attention is placed upon the objects in your experience. The Major difference between a spiritual person and a religious person is that; While the spiritual man is after doing what is good for humanity, The religious man is after doing what is good for his church and religion, even when it hurts humanity. Religious is used for people who are in accordance with the principles of religion. Rabbi Rami Shapiro is an award-winning author, essayist, poet, and teacher. Many people misunderstand the difference between religion and spirituality. Difference between Being Religious and Being Spiritual. People who are spiritual are able to adjust to new conditions and their discoveries throughout life. Because spirituality in a sense is an offshoot of religion, there is bound to be some similarity between them, just like the similarity between the egg and the chicken. These figures are the subject of worship and devotion and form the foundation of religious practices and rituals in a community. Spirituality, in our use, defines a power within you. This is not to say that worship is not a part of spirituality; it’s a matter of where the devotion and worship are directed: Religion: One of the hallmarks of religion is its organization. Through religion, you are taught to have faith in God or the scriptures as being the infallible and ultimate truth of reality. Religion: On the whole, a formal religion is often an objective experience. What religion and spirituality have in common is that they both can be false methods of having a relationship with God. For example, you may know people who consider themselves spiritual, but not religious. Religion's focus is the content of one's belief and the outworking of that belief; spirituality's focus is the process of becoming more attuned to unworldly affairs. • Religion and its ideals are based upon the teachings of a religious leader who has thus set up such ideals with the aim of guiding the people towards nirvana, salvation, etc . They consider their religious beliefs to be spiritual ones or their spiritual beliefs to be religious ones. They are merely general markers meant to better explore the qualities between two equally valid approaches to seeking the truth. Are they not saying the same thing? It is your way of loving, accepting and relating to the world and people around you. Religion supports the development of a person’s spirituality by providing a foundation within which one can seek knowledge. There is a common relationship between religiosity and spirituality as a means or relationship channels between the human and the Divine. Differentiating between spiritual and religious needs is complex, as patients may be non religious but still spiritual. A major difference between Religion and spirituality is that Religion is analogous to institutions formed by man for several reasons. Let’s try to clear things up by taking a closer look at the most defining differences between religious and spiritual paths. Spirituality does not feature such characteristics. Conversely, there can be individuals who are devoutly religious but are not what most would consider deeply spiritual. In any of the spiritual/religious traditions on Earth, you will find a majority of people who follow it as a religion, and a minority who follows it as a spiritual path. We’ll send you content you’ll want to read—and put to use. For the most part a religion is a public entity and the general premise of the religion’s doctrine including creed, code and ethics is documented, tangible and openly shared. The American Heritage Dictionary defines secular as nonreligious, referring to what's worldly or mundane as opposed to spiritual. Spirituality does not feature such rituals and the practices followed in spirituality are subjective. Instead, it favors an inclusive approach. Given these points, it’s obvious that there’s a sharp difference between being a Christian and being a religious person. However, in modern terms, spirituality would denote a process of transformation which is triggered by a meaningful activity and is a very subjective experience. In the print version of our magazine, he has an advice column, “Roadside Assistance for the Spiritual Traveler,” addressing reader questions pertaining to religion, spirituality, faith, family, God, social issues, and more. You may have heard—or even used—the terms religion and spirituality interchangeably. • Religions are based upon rituals that are strictly and ceremoniously followed by those who are part of that religion. They are flexible in their beliefs. By focusing on the quality of divinity within their message, they see every religion… The fundamental difference between the two is a religious person must follow an ideology and abide by specific rules, or else he’ll be punished now or in the afterlife. Difference Between Spirituality and Religion A religion is defined in Webster as: “The expression of man’s belief in and reverence for a superhuman power recognized as the creator and governor of the universe.” Usually a religion is the belief in a power outside yourself called God. Spirituality: By contrast, spirituality typically discards the vestiges of fear and worry in favor of a more loving, compassionate approach to life—and death. “So different are the worlds that we can think of them as representing the polar extremes around which much of boomer religious and spiritual life is organized today. The term can also refer to following a code of conduct during a formal ceremony, not necessarily of a religious nature. You need to follow a set of rules if you want to move forward in religion. By Jamie Birdwell-Branson on Jul 15, 2019 . Religion divides, Spirituality Unites! The differences between spiritual life and religion are 1. But there’s a difference between religion and spirituality. As Krishna explains in the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, verse 11: “As men approach me, so I receive them. There are more cultures than there are religions in the world; therefore, some cultures will share a religion. Secular. Learn more about the time-tested and scientifically backed Chopra methods. Religion is an organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to an order of existence. Spirituality: Spirituality doesn’t dismiss faith; however, it often leans more heavily on direct experience of the soul or divinity. Spirituality is focused upon the inner cultivation of a person. Because of this, religion is easy to embrace, but also easy to reject. Being religious would mean wholeheartedly believing and placing faith on these beliefs as preached by one’s own religion and arduously following its practices and rituals. Religion, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is a personal set or institutionalized system … This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. We'll then look into what makes a religion different from a spirituality. • Religion has a basic moral code, a set of core values and a story outline. The spiritual aspirant recognizes that he or she is on a “pathless path” of self-discovery. Spirituality: Spirituality, however, leans more toward self-referral or the internalization of your awareness of your soul. Spirituality has nothing to do with any single religion or belief. Seek what they sought.”. Religion is a way of life to be followed by humans. Consider these aspects of it. While there may be small communities that hold common spiritual beliefs, it is a rather secluded practice which features communities much smaller than the communities found in religion. Spirituality encourages "living in the present" and not to feel remorse for which has already passed - Lift your spirit and learn from errors. Most people who are spiritual with personal beliefs and a connection to something greater than them are also religious, practicing a certain religion. Some may follow methods such as meditation while others may engage in chanting, et c. However, these methods are not customary to be followed. Spirituality embraces change and the evolution of consciousness. Religion and spirituality are two concepts that go hand in hand and are discussed together almost on all occasions. Spirituality: By comparison, spirituality is often less focused on the rigidly traditional approach and often favors an evolutionary mentality. People tend to think of spirituality as something very strange and mysterious. The concepts of original sin, divine judgement, God’s wrath, or eternal punishment can create a mental environment burdened in worry and anxiety over your worthiness and whether your actions will result in divine retribution or karmic punishment. Religion tells you what to believe and what is right. Although they have many similarities and there is a relationship between the two, there are differences between religion and spirituality. There is a big difference between spiritual life and religion. Spirituality tends to substitute connection with the spirit world for a genuine relationship with God. All others are false. All yoga groups today in the West, as long as they worship the Hindu Gods are religious and belong to Hinduism and certainly not spiritual. However, the term “spiritual, but not religious” being in trend these days , it is important to note that while a religious person is most definitely a spiritual person, a spiritual person is not always religious. What is the difference between Spiritual and Religious? Religious institutions conservatively guard their practices and values, holding rigidly to the past and the original interpretations of the founder’s teachings. On the other hand, being religious means conformity to authority perhaps of a scripture or a religious organization that a group of people shares (Ambrose 109). One of the most noticeable differences between religion and spirituality is that religion preaches and commands while the spirituality inspires. Telling people you are spiritual but not religious is often greeted with a confused face. To each religion, their story is the only way. A religion lays out a system of belief which defines the nature of your relationship with the spirit or the divine for you. As nouns the difference between spiritual and physical is that spiritual is a christian religious song, especially one in an african-american style, or a similar non-religious song while physical is physical examination. True spirituality is something that is found deep within oneself. Religion defines the spiritual beliefs of the same people and is a part of the local culture. Advancing in spirituality is through a process of loving and accepting yourself and the world around you. Religion represses humanity, and returns us to a false paradigm. The details of their lives as holy or highly evolved beings have been carried to us across the mists of time through oral tradition and written scriptures. Spirituality is personal; religion is institutional. Spiritual and religious beliefs are individual and vary between people. Religion: Due to their centuries- to millennia-old histories, religions are by nature often deeply rooted in tradition, ritual, creed, and doctrine. Since religion is man defined, religion is a manifestation of the flesh. This is done so by putting communities in communion with a higher power through rituals, stories and beliefs. Learn how to tell the difference between religion and spirituality. Unfortunately, more and more young people tod… Spiritual is primarily something relating to or affecting the human "spirit" or "soul" as opposed to material or physical things, although it can also be used to mean something relating to religion or religious belief. All yoga groups today in the West, as long as they worship the Hindu Gods are religious and belong to Hinduism and certainly not spiritual. Religion specifically points to the presence of God and that people are accountable to Him. December 18, 2020 By Avraham Gileadi Leave a Comment. Religion tends to substitute the heartless observance of rituals for a genuine relationship with God. For thousands of years, humanity has passionately pursued the Truth with a capital T—the ultimate answers to life and the universe. Religion speaks of sin and of fault. When there’s a balance of both religious and spiritual, there’s a combining of important principles. Between the Spiritual and Religious styles is “the great spiritual divide” (p. 119). Religion, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is a personal set or institutionalized system … Some people profess to belong to a specific religion, while others say that they are only spiritual. There’s no wrong answer here. Whereas, spirituality is a way of understanding life. Having such rituals and practices brings people of the same religion together. Religion is an organized collection of beliefs, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to an order of existence. Both are essential aspects of a human being’s life that help them gain a deeper understanding as to what their lives and existence are about, thereby, helping them to cope with the regular ordeals of life. In other words, from a spiritual perspective, no one has a monopoly on the truth. You see, when we put all of our focus into religious or spiritual practices, we are putting more focus into the right brain, and our intimate connection with All. They choose not to acknowledge the cross, Jesus’ resurrection, or the immutable fact that Jesus’ life unites God’s love with his justice. All are welcome in God’s eyes. However, each practice serves as a vehicle to lead you closer to the truth you seek. A religion can be described as a philosophy or method of thought based upon an organized set of cultural beliefs and systems created by man with the intention of bestowing a meaning to the human existence. It is there in the middle, between both hemispheres is where true understanding exists. Religion: Traditional religious beliefs, sometimes based upon rigid interpretations of key teachings, can create an exclusive worldview that isolates those who may not share their views or interpretations. Get certified. Whereas spirituality develops and it is born in an individual which extends in all the perspectives of human’s life. Religion has clearly … (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Copyright © 2010-2018 Difference Between. It is a given fact that religious and spiritual are two terms that are often discussed in similar contexts. Key difference: Secular means not concerned with or related to religion. But the difference between spirituality and religion is large. Religion: By definition, religion is a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices; the service and worship of God or the supernatural. Religion and spirituality are different, albeit, related things. Both are essential aspects of a human being’s life that help them gain a deeper understanding as to what their lives and existence are about, thereby, helping them to cope with the regular ordeals of life. The idea of advancement is replaced with the journey for growth. The sense is when we perceive a truth it is something we are bound to. A spiritual person follows what he feels is right, as they don’t need an organized religion to live a life of faith. It’s who you are, your morals, your values, what brings you joy. Often times, people use the terms interchangeably. Obviously the concepts of religion and spirituality are fundamentally intertwined. 3. Being spiritual can be defined as a process of personal transformation that is in accordance with certain religious ideals. Religion vs. Spirituality: The Difference Between Them, KristinaJovanovic/Getty Images/iStockphoto. Master meditation and learn how to give others their own personalized mantra. A religion lays out a system of belief which defines the nature of your relationship with the spirit or the divine for you. Ready to start meditating? In short if you bow to or recognize a deity or a God, being in the form of a stone, a picture or a statue or whether you choose to bow to an invisible God, you are not spiritual, you are religious. Either one can lead to the other, but might not necessarily lead to a creator/god. I have one friend who describes herself as being religious and another who says she is spiritual. It is an open community that usually allows freedom of thought to its members, its principles having been established and accepted by large groups of people for a long period. twitter; facebook; mailto; flipboard; In the past, religious wedding ceremonies were just a given if a couple was tying the knot. The most clearly defined answer to the difference between religious and spiritual thinking is the nature of your relationship with the divine: Religion. Grow your practice. They are following not a set of external rules, but their own inner call to spirit. Spirituality is an inward journey that involves a shift in awareness rather than some form of external activity. With spiritual practice, ideas and interpretations change as individuals, societies, and the world move forward. Be followed by those who are part of the same people and is part! And vice versa, and world views that relate humanity to an order of.... Religious involves placing faith upon such tangible aspects as opposed to spiritual since religion is often less focused the! That is in accordance with the Chopra app leads to ultimate salvation drop fifty... In similar contexts people prefer a more individual approach will difference between religious and spiritual a religion have found inner peace from., stories and beliefs, all truth is the personal and subjective expression of your with. Religion lays out a system of belief which defines the nature of your with. 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