This is understandable in that all religions wish to preserve the essence of their teachings so they may be accurately transmitted through history. Patients receiving any form of spiritual support reported a higher quality of life at the end of life than those who didnt, she noted. Spirituality is for those whove already been there. For Life, 3 Ways To Turn A Simple Daily Task Into A Spiritual Breakthrough, 10 Things Every Type-B Person Really Wishes You Understood, 4 Simple But Spiritual Ways To Deeply Connect With God Without Going To Church, The 3 Things People Immediately Judge You On When You First Meet Them, 5 Immediate Signs Of A Toxic, Passive-Aggressive Person, 10 Little Habits That Make You IRRESISTIBLY Attractive. Spirituality also fosters a sense of interconnectedness with things beyond what we can see and touch. Theres no black and white here. Others seek the meaning of life through their connections to nature or art. Thats where my experience, reflections, and discoveries can help. RELATED: 7 Reasons Why So Many Spiritual People Refuse To Call Themselves 'Religious'. Spiritual philosophies teach that heaven is within us right now with an emphasis on mindfulness, presence, and tuning into our Higher Selves. Bear in mind that there are no absolutes in these distinctions. For a religious person, the concept of God is predetermined, named, and comes with an established method of how to worship that God. Spirituality and religion go hand-in-hand: they are mutually arising. Also, try our spiritual awakening test to see if you are experiencing an awakening! Spirituality embraces a consciousness-based worldview that supports all human beings on their path to awakening in unconditional love and kindness. A spiritual person cares about people, animals and the planet. Take a dive with me to explore one of humanitys timeless conversations! 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. Sign up for self-paced courses designed to deliver balance and health. It focuses on the art of understanding the way of life, change, and living in a sacred manner. Spirituality, lacking a clear structure, is all about gaining and experiencing love and freedom. Spiritual people are more flexible in their beliefs and often draw from multiple teachings and practices to create what works best for them. 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. Getting ongoing spiritual guidance from someone else will also help to protect against ego inflation. Being spiritual doesnt mean you have the responsibility of worshiping a God. Spirituality urges people to break free from obedience or conformity in order to create their own path and journey in life. 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. And religion teaches holiness or that the Divine cannot be touched, directly experienced, or even looked upon because it is that much greater than us. 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 A religious person is committed to following the guidelines set by his or her religion. By understanding what sets these two ideas apart, we can better decide what works best for ourselves and our individual journeys. https://doi.org/10.1037/scp0000279. A spiritual person knows that we are all One, and consciously attempts to honor this Oneness. Sunday services and disciple groups help religious people study the Bible together to understand scripture. As you can see, there are good and bad things about spirituality and religion. Another key difference is tolerance levels. It can happen in any religious group, as an element of child abuse, elder abuse, or domestic violence. Religion requires one to worship so they will be rewarded later on. What Is Your True Color Personality Type? 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. In this case, wisdom means a deep and integrated knowing that is expressed through how we live our lives. Religion is centered around the theoretical; its about learning, understanding, and devoting oneself to a certain belief system. When it comes to the religion vs. spirituality debate, neither is inherently good or bad. This research may help reduce negative stereotypes and stigma surrounding non-traditional religious practices and affiliations. Thats very important. WebWho is a spiritual person? What It Means To Be A Spiritual Person Vs. A Religious Person, What 'Spiritual Healing' Really Means And How To Start Your Journey, 7 Reasons Why So Many Spiritual People Refuse To Call Themselves 'Religious', The Spiritual Habit That Keeps Couples Energetically-Connected (And Happy!) Listen to your Souls calling. Without a cup, water spills everywhere. For a religious person, the concept of God is predetermined, named, and comes with an established method of how to worship that God. The leaders often carry out certain rituals regarding the core beliefs of the religion, which lay the foundation for how one's life should be lived. 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 You can belong to a religious group and still be spiritual, and vice versa. In fact, some may find that their spirituality is closely linked to a religion, while others may have their own personal relationship with a higher power. Others seek the meaning of life through their connections to nature or art. The fear of punishment for one's actions is often a principle factor in religion. The world has no perimeters, races, or cultural partitions. All are welcome in Gods eyes. There are many people who do not practice a religion, who do not meditate, pray or belong to any group, who are very spiritual people. Spirituality is a universal, personalized experience, and everyone's experience is unique. Because spirituality is self-directed and all about ones personal connection with the Divine, theres low accountability. Whereas the word "religion" generally refers to organised forms of worship and a wider faith community, "spiritual" often describes people's private individual beliefs. Here are some examples of the differences between the two. You do you. Unlike the scientific worldview, religions dont require evidence to validate their claims. The Chopra Renew & Restore Detox Kit is a gentle and effective 7-Day cleanse rooted in the wisdom of Ayurveda and backed by science. They can also be experienced You can read more in my What is a Mystic? A spiritual person, on the other hand, turns inward to find his truth and finds God within himself and all life. The same goes for the protective qualities of religious belief and spirituality. In other words, different religions, in general, tend to focus on gathering people together and finding shared faith in one god or ideology. Are you a spiritual traveler? Spirituality focuses heavily on the now. In religion, there is often a promise of punishment or reward for maintaining beliefs or following rituals. While spirituality does not threaten punishment for a life lived in contrast to a set of rules, it often addresses karma. Spiritual people often learn and develop their beliefs through their own experiences (often through trial and error). Mysticism is the common thread running through both spirituality and religion. She is the author of hundreds of popular articles, as well as numerous books and journals on the topics of Self-Love, Spiritual Awakening, and more. But while they arent diametric opposites, neither are they the same. 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. It is safe to say that spirituality has greater potential for exploration within ones faith than religion does. Religion, on the other hand, puts emphasis on humbling ourselves to a Divinity that is usually seen as outside of ourselves. Its centered around doing the work or in different terms, getting hands-on experience.. Whereas within religion, self-sacrifice, devotion, and service to others support us in feeling like we have a mission or greater purpose. Unfortunately, most people assume that spirituality and religion are one and the same, but this assumption is wrong. Religion, contrary to spirituality, is highly formal. Let go of perfection. Spiritual people tend to be more individual and less dependent on others to seek a stronger connection. Spirituality and religion are two distinct concepts with important differences. Religion vs. Spirituality: The Difference Between Them. Spiritual and religious practices have been intertwined across cultures throughout the centuries. People who are spiritual are able to adjust to new conditions and their discoveries throughout life. (To learn more, here are 10 ways you can be spiritual.). The more religious than spiritual group declined from 16.7% in 1998 to 11.9% in 2018 ( - 4.8 percentage points) and those saying they are equally religious and spiritual also decreased from 64.8% to 55.1% ( -9.7 points) . Religion is faith. Zhang, H. (Interview) Spirituality, not organized religion, may be the key to finding meaning in life. With spirituality, self-discovery has no boundaries. I hope the findings from this study can help reduce stereotypes toward religious minority members and help create a more accepting environment.. In this way, religion requires people to be obedient with their beliefs, keeping them fixed to scriptures or what is taught to them by religious leaders. How is one initiated? Increasingly, North American millennials identify as spiritual as opposed to religious. Despite any possible ideological differences, all humans are the same consciousnessthey are just expressed in different ways. For example, if a person is more religious, they run the risk of becoming socially dependent on their church peers. As such, spirituality is much more about inner understanding than outer worship. As a community or group sharing the same beliefs, religion functions as an extremely supportive social network. 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. Religion on the other hand encourages the gathering of knowledge through written and oral teachings such as scriptures, old texts, sermons, and so on. By Sofia Stewart Updated on Feb 11, 2023. 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. There is no definitive answer to whether it is better to be spiritual or religious, as the right path for one person may not be the same for another. It shapes one's beliefs, attitudes, and actions by giving importance to the adherence of rules. BEING RELIGIOUS Being religious means belonging to an established religious order, whether large or small. Spirituality is all about experiencing, feeling, and embodying the Divine. However, spirituality encourages people to focus their energy on positive things and to act based solely on love. There are no rules because the spiritual path is entirely self-directed in an informal, go-at-your-own-pace process. Are Zoomies a Sign of a Happy Dog or a Crazy Dog? So, what is the difference between a spiritual person and a religious person? However, while one's spiritual beliefs are typically unique, spirituality often enforces the idea that all people are the same. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land, the Whadjuk people of Noongar Boodjar. Spirituality is a way to find meaning and purpose in what you do or experience. On the other hand, religious people typically rely on some form of organized religion or institution. Everyone has their own unique path, so if you dont feel called to invite spirituality or religion into your life, that is totally okay. For example, that might be Shiva, Buddha, Mother Mary, Kali, Quan Yin, Avalokitesvara, etc. Religious people lean on gathering with others, to reach a unison connection with God, but spirituality develops their own belief system. Learning to connect with this image (and even giving it daily offerings or other devotional practices) will help to empower your connection with the Divine. There is a lot of beauty and depth in both religion and spirituality, and before we throw the baby out with the bathwater, I want to offer you, dear spiritual sojourner, some food for thought; something to meditate upon and contemplate. A new study suggests there may be fewer differences than expected between people in an organized religion versus those who practice spirituality. Spirituality: By contrast, spirituality typically discards the vestiges of fear and worry in favor of a more loving, compassionate approach to lifeand death. Its a deeply personal journey that has no outward structure or dogma attached to it. For example, one national survey found that about 65% of Americans label themselves "religious and spiritual" 15 to 20% of Americans call themselves "spiritual but not religious" Why We Hate Religion & Think Spirituality is Woo-Woo, Spirituality vs Religion: 11 Differences (With Pros & Cons), How to Unite Spirituality and Religion in Your Life (Without the Ugly Dogma). Whether religious or spiritual, its vital that both are used for balance and not for selfish desires. Any text will do. The spiritual aspirant recognizes that he or she is on a pathless path of self-discovery. Religion: Despite the best of intentions, religions can sometimes contain a subtle (or not so subtle) undercurrent of fear woven into their teachings. They do not hold on to their memories which may bring you down. 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. Both traditionally But there is a sublime opportunity present within the heart of both spirituality and religion. Please consult your doctor before taking any action. Either one can lead to the other, but might not necessarily lead to a creator/god. Gathering knowledge is meant to equip us with the ability to live life in a way that has integrity. Reviewed by Jessica Schrader. A major difference between religion and spirituality is believing versus being. 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. Spirituality is a solitary experience of the divine, while religion involves a group of people brought together by their common faith or beliefs about the divine. 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. As someone who was raised in a fundamentalist Christian faith (and kissed that goodbye years ago! 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. We recognize their continued connection to the land and waters of this beautiful place and acknowledge that they never ceded sovereignty. 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. Religion includes a preacher or religious leader who defines what the truth is to their congregation. 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