You may have heard—or even used—the terms religion and spirituality interchangeably. But while they aren’t diametric opposites, neither are they the same. Learn how to tell the difference between religion and spirituality.
For thousands of years, humanity has passionately pursued the Truth with a capital T—the ultimate answers to life and the universe. This perennial knowledge constitutes the answers to what are often called the soul questions:
Who am I?
What do I want?
What is my purpose?
What is the meaning of life?
Historically, from the perspective of the soul, there have been two foundational routes to discover these truths: religion and spirituality. Although they have many similarities and there is a relationship between the two, there are differences between religion and spirituality.
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.
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. 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."
Origins of Religions and Spirituality
Religion: Religions are most often based upon the lives, teachings, and beliefs of a historical or archetypal figure (e.g., Christ, Buddha, Moses, Krishna, Muhammad). 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. These figures are the subject of worship and devotion and form the foundation of religious practices and rituals in a community.
Spirituality: By contrast, spirituality is more often based upon the practical application of the founder’s teachings. Spiritual aspirants heed the advice of Japanese poet Matsuo Basho, “Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought.”
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.If we were to ask a dozen strangers on the street what the words "Spiritual" or "Spirituality" mean, we would get a dozen different answers.
The words have no specific meaning and when used in conversation or writings the words convey no information at all.
I therefore conclude that the words are useless and are best consigned to the trash heap of linguistic history.
dumasarok
Level 7
Feb 11, 2023
0
Welcome to the site! You may not be aware, but it's preferred that attributions be used when quoting someone. Your entire post is from an article by Adam Brady on the Chopra website.
Lauren
Level 8
Feb 9, 2023
4
For me...a simple division of the two philosophies says...Religion is a way to control and Tax the masses(yes...that is cynical, oh well.)..Spirituality is a personal journey that pays homage to no one. The journey through life will always be personal in nature. Some cannot get out of their comfort zone and as a result are bound by Religions shackles. Live and let live has always been my mantra.
phoenixone1
Level 8
Feb 9, 2023
1
My doctor says we have 2 soles... she's a podiatrist.
Otherwise this is just propaganda to maintain the delusions of religion.
If you're impressed with the buildings art and literature of a cult then you're in a religion.
If your experience of that religion or prayer or such give you an emotion then it's called spirituality.
It's all delusional.
Willow_Wisp
Level 8
Feb 9, 2023
2
From the perspective of the soul. What soul? You were not made with a soul, given a soul, or created with a soul. You are the soul. This soul idea goes back to biblical belief for most of us whether you are an active in church believer today or not. We keep hanging on to an idea that we have some invisible non physical soul that travels around everywhere, knows and seeks what we want, and can be in our out of our bodies. Sorry. That's your mind. If you hang on to biblical beliefs on the soul idea you learn that a god breathed into you and you became "a living soul." The hell with St. Paul. OK, I guess you could also be a dead soul if not living. Again, you are the soul.
As for the other great questions here like "who am I, what do I want, what is my purpose, and what is the meaning of life" you have to figure these out on your own. The answers are not the same for every individual. You make your own purpose and create your own meaning. There is nothing mystical about this. Spirituality is a term and "being spiritual" can mean anything that you want it to mean.
DenoPenno
Level 9
Feb 9, 2023
2
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