There are many religions in our world, and one thing most have in common is that they preach the idea that their story is the right story. Iconic singer David Bowie famously described spirituality vs religion in the following brilliantly irreverent way: Religion is for people whore afraid of going to hell. (Traditionally religious people scored highest.) There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. Master meditation and learn how to give others their own personalized mantra. Humanity is all one, with love being at the core of everyone's being. WebAs Table 1 shows, from 1998 to 2018 there have been major changes in peoples religious vs. spiritual identification. Modern spirituality puts a great emphasis on our personal connection with God/Life/Spirit. Spirituality is more personal. The fear of punishment for one's actions is often a principle factor in religion. In fact, certain beliefs related to spiritualism may even be seen as taboo or forbidden to discuss within some religions. Many people rely on their own understanding of the world when making decisions or expressing themselves. There are set structures, routines, rituals, and rules one is expected to adhere to in order to call oneself a devotee. As I explored in my previous article entitled what is spirituality, I define spirituality vs religion in the following ways: The word spirituality comes from the Latin word spiritualis, which means, breath; of the spirit; air. (1,2) Spirituality is connecting to the Divine through your own personal experience. Religion tends to believe that punishment is the only way if one sins, while spirituality believes in karma, the belief that what comes around goes around, and that well reap what we sow. When it comes to using the mind, spirituality focuses on cultivating wisdom. 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. Or as Christina Puchalski, MD (leader in trying to incorporate spirituality into healthcare), puts it, Spirituality is the aspect of humanity that refers to the way individuals seek and express meaning and purpose and the way they experience their connectedness to the moment, to self, to others, to nature, and to the significant or sacred.". A spiritual persons set of beliefs evolves as they learn more through their personal study of their own spirituality. 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. Spirituality is broader and more abstract than religion. Instead, it favors an inclusive approach. A new studysuggests there may be fewer differences than expected between people in an organized religion and those who practice spirituality. Those who are spiritual but not religious are about evenly split between men (47%) and women (53%) in stark contrast with those who say they are neither religious Belief vs. Spirituality is about one's soul and inner self. 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. And to learn more about this topic, check out this article to learn about the 10 types of spirituality practices to try in your life. Patients receiving any form of spiritual support reported a higher quality of life at the end of life than those who didnt, she noted. 1) The mystic. Religion: At its core, religion is about faith. Religion, contrary to that, usually teaches that there is a Divine being (or beings) that are greater than human beings. Both of these are routes to discovering the divine truth. Religious People and How They May Differ, Create A Mindful Morning With A Morning Routine Chart For Kids, Increase Your Spiritual Energy Levels With These 9 Habits, 7 Excellent Stretches To Perform Before Meditation, 27 Soul-Searching Questions About Spirituality To Help You Grow, Spirituality Vs. Have any thoughts to share? Spirituality: Spirituality doesnt dismiss faith; however, it often leans more heavily on direct experience of the soul or divinity. There are pretty much no rules at all in the realm of spirituality (other than unspoken codes of conduct like no killing, no stealing, etc.). The following characteristics differentiate a spiritual person from a religious person. For example, you can use spiritual practices such as yoga, energy healing, and breathwork to deepen your understanding of what lies beyond the physical world. Its centered around doing the work or in different terms, getting hands-on experience.. And at religions most infantile form, it can be a force of destruction that creates more division and suffering. It's a blind belief in something with unconditional acceptance of its teachings. I often straddle the line between religiosity and spirituality knowing that each has its own strengths and weaknesses. If a change was to occur in religion, it would be a slow process. There's no questioning it. They believe in sacred scriptures and expressing their own translation. We spend hundreds of hours every month writing, editing and managing this website. Its often seen as more rigid and less open to exploration. Religion, on the other hand, is about submitting oneself to a certain path (i.e., obedience) and searching for freedom from suffering. Ultimately, each person must decide for themselves if their spirituality is a part of their religion or not. The spiritual aspirant recognizes that he or she is on a pathless path of self-discovery. They also found that traditionally religious and nonreligious but spiritual individuals showed slightly higher levels of meaning in life (e.g., My life has a clear sense of purpose) and lower levels of delusional ideation than nonreligious/non-spiritual individuals. 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. A beach will do. On the one hand, we have religion which is a very yang force. If you notice, others abuse religion to inflict fear into anothers mind. Get free weekly soul-centered guidance for your spiritual awakening journey! Spiritual people are more flexible in their beliefs and often draw from multiple teachings and practices to create what works best for them. Religiosity and Mental Health Much research indicates that religious people as a group tend to have better mental health than the "nones" as a group. (To learn more, here are 10 ways you can be spiritual.). It focuses only on good energy to allow people to be the best version of themselves. Mysticism is the common thread running through both spirituality and religion. Religion has a set of rules that followers must obey in order to stay "pure" and "holy." Both traditionally A third omission is that of the dishonesty and self-deception found within both of these groupthink systems. Religious teachings are usually based on what has been passed down through scriptures, religious scrolls, and books or what religious leaders teach. While some may find what resonates within the traditional confines of religion, others may take a more personalized approach to their spiritual practice. One is HOW we find religion vs spirituality. 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. Sadly, this religious in-group mentality can be used to justify the exclusion of minorities or those deemed unworthy of Gods favor. Increasingly, North American millennials identify as spiritual as opposed to religious. In our multi-faceted world, it can be difficult to understand the complex relationship between spirituality and religion. See additional information. (100% secure.). This unites people who share a religion, as they share character traits and outlooks on life. For thousands of years, humanity has passionately pursued the Truth with a capital Tthe ultimate answers to life and the universe. When wondering, Am I religious or spiritual? think about whose rules you follow. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. The main conclusion was that there were relatively few differences between people who identified with non-religious spirituality and people who identified as traditionally religious, say the researchers. It's about a search for our life's significance and allows us to feel part of something. You can belong to a religious group and still be spiritual, and vice versa. Since people are programmed into their religious beliefs they are nearly always taught that their views are The Truth and are suspicious of anyone on the outside. Lives in the present moment and grateful. WebMuslims vs other people |The world beautiful religion|Muslims attitude status #shorts subscribe my channel Because spirituality is self-directed and all about ones personal connection with the Divine, theres low accountability. Religion: 5 Essential Differences Everyone Should Know, Spiritual vs. Its common to abuse religious power to degrade others for their lack of "purity." Either one can lead to the other, but might not necessarily lead to a creator/god. We value a raw, real, and down-to-earth approach to spirituality. They then asked participants to complete a series of psychological scales, including: The researchers then tested to see whether any of the three groups (traditionally religious, nonreligious but spiritual, or neither religious nor spiritual) differed on the measures listed above. Why Are So Many Young Men Single And Sexless? On the other hand, spirituality is less about what you believe and more about what you value or what makes sense to you personally. Enjoy a renewed sense of health with this 7-day Ayurvedic cleanse. A spiritual person focuses on the here and now. This means that one who lives with good intentions and practices good deeds will experience happiness in the future, while living with bad intentions may lead to future suffering. For instance, Christians often draw upon their spirituality when making decisions about their faith, but it is not an essential part of the religion. On the other, we have spirituality, which is a very yin force. Spirituality, lacking a clear structure, is all about gaining and experiencing love and freedom. On the other hand, spirituality teaches people to constantly listen to their inner voice and use it as a guide to live a good life. Spirituality: Spirituality, however, leans more toward self-referral or the internalization of your awareness of your soul. The word religion comes from the Latin word religionem, which means, respect for what is sacred, reverence for the gods; conscientiousness, sense of right, moral obligation. (1) Religion is connecting to the Divine through someone elses experience. Most people dont really find religion; rather, its programmed into them from either a very early age or from a vulnerable place. I have directly experienced both spirituality and religion in their most toxic states, and Ive also experienced the benefits of both. The key distinctions between them mostly involve what each is at its core. Id love for you to share them below in the comments. Peace comes within the soul of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness, with the universe and all its power. Sure, I can understand why people either hate religion or elevate spirituality (and vice versa), but Im not interested in perpetuating division our world has enough of that already. But generally, in mainstream Western society, both are frowned upon or flat-out avoided. Knowing the differences can help you define your beliefs and arrive at a place of peace with yourself no matter where you lie on the spectrum of religious practice or spiritual growth. Any text will do. Americans who are spiritual but not religious are somewhat more likely to be women than men (54% vs. 46%, respectively). 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. Spirituality: By contrast, spirituality typically discards the vestiges of fear and worry in favor of a more loving, compassionate approach to lifeand death. Has a set of rules that followers must obey in order to call oneself a devotee puts a great on... To allow people to be the best version of themselves strengths and weaknesses a omission! Sense of health with this 7-day Ayurvedic cleanse search for our life 's significance and us! Learn more, here are 10 ways you can be difficult to understand the relationship... Their favor or wanting them to do this or that in their favor wanting. 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