This is a principle of cause and effect where one's actions or intentions have a direct impact on their future. It can happen in any religious group, as an element of child abuse, elder abuse, or domestic violence. These practices are observed by a group of people who share the same beliefs and follow the same traditions. Do you rely on the rituals of a certain church to carry you through times when your faith begins to wane? This is not to say that worship is not a part of spirituality; its a matter of where the devotion and worship are directed: Religion: One of the hallmarks of religion is its organization. Each person's own definition of spirituality can vary throughout their lifetime, adapting to individual experiences through personal study and self-reflection. Earn the highest Chopra Certification available and expand your toolbox of offerings. The spirituality vs religion debate only creates more hatred and ill will in the world, and yet, when we dare to combine the two, we have what I call a third way forward. Theres no one else to tell you where youre going wrong but yourself. I dont believe that were done with religion or spirituality yet in fact, I believe that were not only craving these paths as a species, but we need them. Are Zoomies a Sign of a Happy Dog or a Crazy Dog? Spirituality: Spirituality, on the other hand, connotes an experience of connection to something larger than you; living everyday life in a reverent and sacred manner. Being religious is a personal system in which one follows spiritual guidelines, beliefs, practices, and worship of God or Gods. For a religious person, the concept of God is predetermined, named, and comes with an established method of how to worship that God. It doesnt necessarily require any rituals or practices. 2023byTango Publishing Corporation All Rights Reserved. Likewise, Muslims are encouraged to participate in daily prayers five times daily, with men particularly urged to perform the prayers in the mosque. 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! Are you a spiritual person or a religious person? And without water, a cup is empty and lifeless. Welcome! It's about a search for our life's significance and allows us to feel part of something. Spirituality embraces change and the evolution of consciousness. When someone is spiritual, they do what they feel is right, despite any potential consequences. Spirituality also fosters a sense of interconnectedness with things beyond what we can see and touch. :) ). Where the two overlap is each person's individual experiences that impact how they think, feel, and act. Focuses on experiencing internal Divinity, Focuses on obeying or devotion to an external Divinity, Present-oriented (heaven is within you now), Future-oriented (heaven is where you go when you die), Duality-oriented (good/evil, right/wrong, heaven/hell), Promotes joy, spontaneity, and compassion, Promotes self-sacrifice, devotion, and service to others. The difference between a spiritual and religious person boils down to how they see God. 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. You do you. Do you count on an institution to organize your beliefs for you, or do you pick and choose what you want to believe? In our multi-faceted world, it can be difficult to understand the complex relationship between spirituality and religion. 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. In either case, there are professionals within each religion who act in positions of leadership and who represent formal aspects of the institution. 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. You may have heardor even usedthe terms religion and spirituality interchangeably. Find a religious path that calls to you and then explore its mystical tradition. Spirituality, on the other hand, doesnt necessarily involve worship at all. This includes religions with billions of followings Although they have many similarities and there is a relationship between the two, there are differences between religion and spirituality. 1) The mystic. In other words, from a spiritual perspective, no one has a monopoly on the truth. But spirituality doesnt aim to please a specific God; rather, it focuses on interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships. This is understandable in that all religions wish to preserve the essence of their teachings so they may be accurately transmitted through history. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I think a few key things were left out of this comparison. If these were treated as the beliefs they are, it would be less of an issue, but rarely is this the case. Bring into your life the opposite quality of whatever youre used to practicing or embodying. 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. A spiritual person cares about people, animals and the planet. Advance online publication. Any text will do. Religion is an ideology that holds ancient traditions that have kept communities together. Religion is based upon traditional beliefs and teachings that may impose very strict interpretations and limitations, often excluding people of certain communities. WebTraditional religion involves accountability and responsibility; spirituality has fewer requirements. With religion, there is a high level of accountability often built into the structure of religious institutions. Psychology Today 2023 Sussex Publishers, LLC, If You Need to Pull an All-Nighter, This Should Be Your Diet, Mass Shootings Are a Symptom, Not the Root Problem. It suggests that those with strongly held convictions in their Christian faith, or who held no-religious belief, strengthened belief in their positions following the pandemic's onset. For instance, both groups show elevated emotional well-being compared to nonreligious individuals. Being spiritual involves holding one's personal set of beliefs and practices and searching for the purpose of life. Religion requires one to worship so they will be rewarded later on. WebWho is a spiritual person? They found that both traditionally religious and nonreligious but spiritual individuals scored higher on measures of life satisfaction than nonreligious/non-spiritual individuals. Why Are So Many Young Men Single And Sexless? WebFor many people, spirituality is about having a sense of purpose and direction in life. Spirituality is for those whove already been there. 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. As a pacifist by nature, it hasRead more . Others seek the meaning of life through their connections to nature or art. Religious beliefs and spiritual beliefs differ in the ways in which they are practiced. That is to say, The concepts of original sin, divine judgement, Gods 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. Experiencing and developing joy, spontaneity, and compassion on the spiritual path helps us to feel as though were truly living life to the fullest. Religious people score much higher on those they view [them] as much more relevant for being moral compared to the disbelievers." Peace comes within the soul of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness, with the universe and all its power. 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. You know something because you have tasted the experience yourself and have allowed it to resonate, as opposed to taking the word of another. A spiritual person, on the other hand, turns inward to find his truth and finds God within himself and all life. A spiritual person is a kind person. This is very harmful to both self and society. Instead, it favors an inclusive approach. 1. Staying Single: What Most People Do If They Divorce After 50. For example, spiritual people are more likely to: Volunteer or donate to the poor. 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. Spirituality: By contrast, spirituality is more often based upon the practical application of the founders teachings. With spiritual practice, ideas and interpretations change as individuals, societies, and the world move forward. Being a spiritual person is synonymous with being a person whose highest priority is to be loving to yourself and others. As you can see, there are noticeable distinctions between spirituality vs. religion; however, these comparisons arent meant to be absolutes or an attempt to polarize one against the other. We just need to look deeply into both and find their undercurrent of similarities to realize that theyre not as opposed as we once thought. A major difference between religion and spirituality is believing versus being. To them, part of this spirituality means being compassionate, empathetic and So, when asking the question, Can you be spiritual and religious? the answer is yesif your true beliefs fall in line with a certain religion. However, many who are spiritual believe that everyone's ultimate truth is the same, despite any differences among them. Sadly, this religious in-group mentality can be used to justify the exclusion of minorities or those deemed unworthy of Gods favor. While religion has various rules that others may or may not agree with, spirituality focuses on an individuals aspect of a belief. People are inclined to think that these two lifestyles are the same, and on the surface they are. While often closely linked and used interchangeably, these two concepts are not the same and carry distinct characteristics for individuals, groups, and globally. That is a persons acceptance of the religions teachings. Moral rules, laws, and doctrines, as well as specific codes and criteria, create the organized structure that contains the religions specific belief system. 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 more personal. 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. But while they arent diametric opposites, neither are they the same. On the other hand, religious Unfortunately, most people assume that spirituality and religion are one and the same, but this assumption is wrong. The authors hope their work reduces negative stereotypes and stigma surrounding non-traditional religious practices and affiliations. Either one can lead to the other, but might not necessarily lead to a creator/god. Spirituality focuses on spreading love and selfless acts. Some people focus on compassion, self-awareness, and an understanding of what life offers, while others concentrate on what they believe is the ultimate truth or what they can do to connect with a higher power. Getting ongoing spiritual guidance from someone else will also help to protect against ego inflation. What Is Your True Color Personality Type? The experience is often personal and occurs in private, allowing people to follow their own intuition and do the things that are in their own best interests. https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000279. 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.. Spirituality does not feature such characteristics. For example, since accepting fate can be seen as an inner personal struggle, some define it as Person vs. Self instead. It often depends on individual personalities and goals- what could be beneficial for one person could be detrimental to another. Religion aims to build one's character. Bear in mind that there are no absolutes in these distinctions. WebHistorically, the words religious and spiritual have been used synonymously to describe all the various aspects of the concept of religion, [1] but in contemporary usage spirituality Whereas the word "religion" generally refers to organised forms of worship and a wider faith community, "spiritual" often describes people's private individual beliefs. While there are many similarities between spirituality and religion, they are distinctly different concepts. 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. It's believing without having it proven to you. On the other hand, spirituality is less about what you believe and more about what you value or what makes sense to you personally. Spirituality is a universal, personalized experience, and everyone's experience is unique. Gathering knowledge is meant to equip us with the ability to live life in a way that has integrity. While religion has various rules that others may or may not agree with, spirituality focuses on an individuals aspect of a belief. Spirituality is all about experiencing, feeling, and embodying the Divine. 3. However, while one's spiritual beliefs are typically unique, spirituality often enforces the idea that all people are the same. This suggests that most people feel that spirituality is more beneficial than religion for personal growth and development. Spiritual philosophies teach that heaven is within us right now with an emphasis on mindfulness, presence, and tuning into our Higher Selves. Spirituality and religion have been an age-old debate in human society. However, spirituality encourages people to focus their energy on positive things and to act based solely on love. Weve seen this drive to connect with something bigger than ourselves since time immemorial. For instance, religious people are rigid in their beliefs, usually adhering to a particular set of teachings that have been taught and passed down through generations. We guide spiritual seekers undergoing an awakening to walk the path less travelled, practice inner soul work, and rediscover their interconnected True Nature in the present moment. Thats very important. Read through the list of differences between spirituality and religion at the beginning of this article. Being spiritual doesnt mean you have the responsibility of worshiping a God. It creates practical implications for everyday behaviors in adherence to the beliefs, rituals, and practices of the group. Spirituality doesn't make distinctions of that sort. RELATED: 7 Reasons Why So Many Spiritual People Refuse To Call Themselves 'Religious'. For example, Christians are encouraged in the Bible to build a community of believers, gather together to pray and worship, and observe certain holidays or holy days. Instead, its more of an inner connection to what lies beyond what we can perceive with our physical senses. Theres no black and white here. If you'd like to learn more, I recommend you check out The 90-Day Gratitude Journal that provides writing prompts designed to develop your appreciation for what life's given you. Spirituality is a way to find meaning and purpose in what you do or experience. Comment below! The difference between a spiritual and religious person boils down to how they see God. Purchase our best-selling 21-day and 7-day meditations. Religion: At its core, religion is about faith. Being religious has a more connotative reaction from others. First up in the types of spiritual personalities is the mystic. 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. 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