Religion and Spirituality Aren't the Same

Subject: Religion and Spirituality Aren't the Same Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:46 pm

I've seen this sort of statement made more times then I can count. And all I can continually say is...I disagree strongly.

Why is religion a form of spirituality or how is it you may ask to me? Simple, religion is not excluded from the list of experiences that can be 'spiritual'. In essence there is something I can't quite accurately describe that is the true reason why religion can be a 'spiritual' experiences. Perhaps it has to do with enlightenment? Perhaps something else, the important thing is, if you truly believe in the path you have chosen religiously and possibly even feel enlightened from the experience, then who is to say this is not truly what it means to have a spiritual experience?

Let us define the word 'Spiritual' and see what we come up with:
1. of, pertaining to, or consisting of spirit; incorporeal.
2. of or pertaining to the spirit or soul, as distinguished from the physical nature: a spiritual approach to life.
3. closely akin in interests, attitude, outlook, etc.: the professor's spiritual heir in linguistics.
4. of or pertaining to spirits or to spiritualists; supernatural or spiritualistic.
5. characterized by or suggesting predominance of the spirit; ethereal or delicately refined: She is more of a spiritual type than her rowdy brother.
6. of or pertaining to the spirit as the seat of the moral or religious nature.
7. of or pertaining to sacred things or matters; religious; devotional; sacred.
8. of or belonging to the church; ecclesiastical: lords spiritual and temporal.
9. of or relating to the mind or intellect.
–noun
10. a spiritual or religious song: authentic folk spirituals.
11. spirituals, affairs of the church.
12. a spiritual thing or matter.

In at least a few of the definitions it mentions religion as a basis of spirituality. If that is what the dictionary says, then how can someone argue?

_________________
"For many are called, but few are chosen" - Matthew 22:14 ver. New American Standard.
"Though my soul is born from darkness, it shall rise in perfect light, I have loved the stars too fondly, to be fearful of the night". Unknown
"On those nights that I gazed upon the full moon in longing it was always you that my heart was calling and it is now I realize you are the one." - me

Adept Registration date: 2008-04-02 Number of posts: 174

spiritual pertains to you yourself... your core.
religion is a group that share such a core

_________________
It is the end of all hope
To lose the child, the faith
To end all the innocence
To be someone like me

Subject: Re: Religion and Spirituality Aren't the Same Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:46 am

Tiadaria v2 of Gaiaonline wrote:

For the simple fact that the English language is constantly in a state of change. Dictionaries, while useful, are not always completely accurate or as frequently updated as the language itself.

In any case, I'm of the opinion that what is religious -may- be spiritual, and vice versa, but the two are not mutually inclusive. But that's just me. (:

psychelapis of Gaiaonline wrote:

obviously they aren't the same due to the fact that they are two different words. .....

anyways, it is true that people can be religious and spiritual, and for some it is one and the same, but for others, they can be religious but not really spiritual.

My definition of spiritual, I will add, is when you are connected to your self, and you feel what is moral and right for you to do, or what is right and true about the universe. It is like, some forms of knowledge are not words but feelings and knowings that cannot always be described. So yah, if someone is on that path, of trying to connect to find what they really feel, what there soul really feels, and what is real, I would consider that spirituality.

if the person has a religion, and uses that religion as a basis to explore, but doesn't follow dogmatically, then sure, they can be both. If they just follow the religion and don't actually feel anything or know anything, resonate with anything and just follow out of fear, then I don't consider them a spiritual person.

_________________
"For many are called, but few are chosen" - Matthew 22:14 ver. New American Standard.
"Though my soul is born from darkness, it shall rise in perfect light, I have loved the stars too fondly, to be fearful of the night". Unknown
"On those nights that I gazed upon the full moon in longing it was always you that my heart was calling and it is now I realize you are the one." - me

Student Registration date: 2008-04-17 Location: Arkansas Number of posts: 20

I agree with Tiadara, somewhat. To me, religion can be spiritual, just the same as something spiritual can be religious. However, they're not always mutually inclusive. It all depends on the individual and their beliefs