Aletheia is a prolific psychospiritual writer, author, educator, and guide whose work has touched the lives of millions worldwide. The difference between a spiritual and religious person comes down to how they see God. For a religious person, the concept of God is predetermined, named, and comes with a set method on how to worship that God. A spiritual person on the other hand, turns inwards to find their truth and finds God within themselves and all of life. 1. Every person is essentially a small goda unique and powerful manifestation of existence that serves a purpose in this world. This suggests that most people feel that spirituality is more beneficial than religion for personal growth and development. At its most infantile form, spirituality can become new age fluff that lacks depth, commitment, accountability, the ability to create meaningful social change, and credibility. In addition to those who say they are spiritual but not religious, 48% say they are both religious and spiritual, while 6% say they are religious but not spiritual. Another 18% answer both questions negatively, saying they are neither religious nor spiritual. Spirituality also fosters a sense of interconnectedness with things beyond what we can see and touch. Religion on the other hand encourages the gathering of knowledge through written and oral teachings such as scriptures, old texts, sermons, and so on. Its focused on internalizing different teachings about the Divine, and is, therefore, more theoretical and thought-based. Most people dont really find religion; rather, its programmed into them from either a very early age or from a vulnerable place. Spirituality embraces change and the evolution of consciousness. Being a spiritual person is synonymous with being a person whose highest priority is to be loving to yourself and others. But while they arent diametric opposites, neither are they the same. Spiritual people learn and develop their beliefs based on their own experience while religious people learns it based on the experiences they are told about their religious founders. Spirituality vs. Spirituality Religions are based upon rituals that Spirituality: Spirituality, however, leans more toward self-referral or the internalization of your awareness of your soul. [Read More]. Spirituality offers an endless amount of potential benefits, while with religion it offers punishments or rewards. 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! Spirituality is a way to find meaning and purpose in what you do or experience. Here are five essential differences between spirituality and religion to consider: Religion focuses on outward structures and traditions, whereas spiritualism directs its attention inwardly toward self-discovery. When someone is spiritual, they do what they feel is right, despite any potential consequences. They are flexible in their beliefs. 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. A spiritual person, on the other hand, turns inward to find his truth and finds God within himself and all life. The authors hope their work reduces negative stereotypes and stigma surrounding non-traditional religious practices and affiliations. WebWho is a spiritual person? Spirituality is a universal, personalized experience, and everyone's experience is unique. Nothing is totally black and white. Sometimes aspects of it get split up and parsed out among the other categories. It's about a search for our life's significance and allows us to feel part of something. Deepen your well-being practices and develop techniques to teach others with a prestigious Chopra certification. But instead of seeing things in black-or-white terms (which creates division and therefore fear), I see that religion and spirituality can be like sisters, brothers, or friends that support each other harmoniously. 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. Spirituality urges people to break free from obedience or conformity in order to create their own path and journey in life. We value a raw, real, and down-to-earth approach to spirituality. 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. 1. Its not that their experiences dont make sense or are hare-brained. Spiritual Experience; The foundation of religion is faith. They are merely general markers meant to better explore the qualities between two equally valid approaches to seeking the truth. Rather, they're offered as tools for spiritual seekers to use to help their spiritual growth. Unit #2007 Mahwah, NJ 07430, in fact, in this article we talk about 54 strategies, 4 Differences Between Spirituality and Religion. WebWho is a spiritual person? ), and has been on the spiritual-but-not-religious path for over a decade, I find myself in the middle. The two dance together, hand in hand or at least, they can do. This statistic shows the share of American adults in 2017 who consider themselves spiritual but not religious. 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. Spirituality is a part of humanity thats seeking a purpose in life. On the other hand, a religious person accepts the truth as defined by his or her religion, and these truths are often documented and shared with others. You are part of the universal hologram, all gods and goddesses in disguise. | Help people find meaning and purpose in life. People may reject traditional religion but consider themselves spiritual. From the early 1940s through the 1960s, people in their 40s and 50s reported attending at least as frequently as those over 60. One may describe a spiritual experience as being sacred or transcendent, or plainly a true sense of liveliness and feeling interconnected, or pure gratitude. For spiritual practitioners, find a source of accountability that will help to keep you focused and committed. That is to say, belief in something based upon unconditional acceptance of the religions teachings. Modern spirituality puts a great emphasis on our personal connection with God/Life/Spirit. Whether religious or spiritual, its vital that both are used for balance and not for selfish desires. Spirituality is an individuals inner sense of connection with the universe or a higher power, and for some people, it is an essential part of living. See additional information. If you feel called toward specifically spirituality or religion, youre in your every right to do that. What they both have in common is connecting to something larger than themselves. Alternatively, if youre religious, find a spiritual practice or philosophy, then try incorporating that into your religious path. Through religion, you are taught to have faith in God or the scriptures as being the infallible and ultimate truth of reality. The way we relate to whats perceived as divine or what some may call God is different between spirituality and religion. 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. Partisan differences are somewhat muted. Their beliefs, which are often transcendental, are passed on from members to converts, and are based on either a formally documented creed or established cultural practices. So, what is the difference between religion and spirituality? 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. 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. As a pacifist by nature, it hasRead more . Religion includes a preacher or religious leader who defines what the truth is to their congregation. Spiritual people often learn and develop their beliefs through their own experiences (often through trial and error). All Rights Reserved. Religion has a basic moral code, a set of core values and a story outline. Unlike the scientific worldview, religions dont require evidence to validate their claims. Whichever path or combination of the two you follow is the personal and subjective expression of your journey of awakening. While there are many similarities between spirituality and religion, they are distinctly different concepts. Thats where my experience, reflections, and discoveries can help. Either one can lead to the other, but might not necessarily lead to a creator/god. This unites people who share a religion, as they share character traits and outlooks on life. Many people rely on their own understanding of the world when making decisions or expressing themselves. You do you. Spirituality is a solitary experience of the divine, Religion is the belief of another mans experience written down in sacred scripture, but spirituality is the belief of ones own experience. Does a Dog's Head Shape Predict How Smart It Is? WebWith the phrase generally comes the presumption that religion has to do with doctrines, dogmas, and ritual practices, whereas spirituality has to do with the heart, feeling, and Atheism is the doctrine or belief that there is no god. Religion and spirituality can: Offer comfort in times of grief. Our names are Aletheia Luna & Mateo Sol and were spiritual educators and guides currently living in Perth, Western Australia. For example, you may know people who consider themselves spiritual, but not religious. Studies show that most people in the U.S. describe themselves as both religious and spiritual. Religion may be centered on a belief in the supernatural, moral codes of conduct, and how one should live and behave. Its often seen as more rigid and less open to exploration. Whereas within religion, self-sacrifice, devotion, and service to others support us in feeling like we have a mission or greater purpose. 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. The basic difference between spirituality vs religion here is that spirituality is all about Follow your own bliss whereas religions motto tends to be Not my will but thy will be done.. Spirituality, on the other hand, doesnt necessarily involve worship at all. Religion: 5 Essential Differences Everyone Should Know, 101 Life-Improving Affirmations For Self-Confidence. In contrast, spiritual people rely more on their own personal experience and what they feel is right. 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. Religion is centered around the theoretical; its about learning, understanding, and devoting oneself to a certain belief system. Notice how it helps to create a more rich and well-rounded experience. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. While religion has various rules that others may or may not agree with, spirituality focuses on an individuals aspect of a belief. With religion, there is a high level of accountability often built into the structure of religious institutions. Religion: Despite the best of intentions, religions can sometimes contain a subtle (or not so subtle) undercurrent of fear woven into their teachings. It inspires people to trust their hearts and follow their own instincts. Im not there to change that. 1) The mystic. But how can we make sense of this dichotomy? In either case, there are professionals within each religion who act in positions of leadership and who represent formal aspects of the institution. Have any thoughts to share? These are mere beliefs that are treated as truths and that can (and sometimes does) lead to unsavory outcomes. WebMuslims vs other people |The world beautiful religion|Muslims attitude status #shorts subscribe my channel Any text will do. Because every human's essence is the same, it means that any differences are superficial. In the recognition that pure spirit is a unifying force, no one is left out. A person will tend to lean on one side instead of balancing both. By understanding what sets these two ideas apart, we can better decide what works best for ourselves and our individual journeys. A major difference between religion and spirituality is believing versus being. It is safe to say that spirituality has greater potential for exploration within ones faith than religion does. Spirituality (or mysticism), on the other hand, is something people discover and can choose to embrace or not. Feeling lost, confused, or alone? Religion aims to build one's character. 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. However, each practice serves as a vehicle to lead you closer to the truth you seek. It deals with being fully present and living as it happens. Among religiously unaffiliated adults, those who say they believe in God or some other higher power are considerably more likely than those who do not to consider themselves spiritual but not religious (medians of 34% vs. 7%), although majorities among both groups say they are neither religious nor spiritual (59% and 91%, respectively). For example, while Christians may focus on the story of Moses and the 10 Commandments in detail, someone who is spiritual may take away some broader messages from the story, such as being grateful for the things in one's life or always being honest. Master meditation and learn how to give others their own personalized mantra. Spiritual people can feel a stronger connection when their beliefs are intertwined with religion. Some examples include Rumi and Hafiz (from the mystical branch of Islam, Sufism), St John of the Cross and St Teresa of Avila (from Christianity), Ramakrishna and Anandamayi Ma (from Hinduism), and more modern Western figures like Carl Jung and G. I. Gurdjieff. Theres no one else to tell you where youre going wrong but yourself. Alternatively, in religion, the belief system is usually predefined. h3>What are the differences between spirituality vs. religion? The recognized authorities of the religious group reinforce or communicate changes regarding the ideologies for members of the religious group to follow. Where the two overlap is each person's individual experiences that impact how they think, feel, and act. The following characteristics differentiate a spiritual person from a religious person. While often closely linked and used interchangeably, these two concepts are not the same and carry distinct characteristics for individuals, groups, and globally. 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. (Traditionally religious people scored highest.) The results were sorted by age. Religion, on the other hand, puts emphasis on humbling ourselves to a Divinity that is usually seen as outside of ourselves. Although they have many similarities and there is a relationship between the two, there are differences between religion and spirituality. In this article, we will define both and talk about four major ways they they are different from one another. Welcome! Sunday services and disciple groups help religious people study the Bible together to understand scripture. Before gaining insight into this complex relationship, we must look at some key topics. Im that weird outlier whos hanging out on the outskirts holding up a sign that says BOTH are good and BOTH are bad folks.. 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 They do not hold on to their memories which may bring you down. Instead, it favors an inclusive approach. Spiritual and religious people are two distinct groups, though they share a common goal: to connect with something greater than the self. In seeking the divinewhether from a church pew on a Sunday or on top of a ridge looking at a glorious sunrisewe increase our feelings of happiness, peace, and appreciation for the life that we have. As Krishna explains in the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, verse 11: As men approach me, so I receive them. While religion has various rules that others may or may not agree with, spirituality focuses on an individuals aspect of a belief. Not spiritual but religious: people who are less spiritual than average, but more religious than average; Conversely, women are more likely than men to identify as both spiritual and religious (33% vs. 24%, respectively). 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!) For example, if a person is more religious, they run the risk of becoming socially dependent on their church peers. Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. All are welcome in Gods eyes. What are your thoughts about spirituality vs religion? PostedDecember 1, 2021 For instance, both groups show elevated emotional well-being compared to nonreligious individuals. 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.). Bear in mind that there are no absolutes in these distinctions. Religion commonly refers to an institution that has a set of organized practices and a structured belief system shared by and among those who are members of the institution. This is understandable in that all religions wish to preserve the essence of their teachings so they may be accurately transmitted through history. Spirituality focuses more on the quality of the message that is being offered than the differences in the details of the original story. Is It Better to Be Spiritual or Religious? For spiritual folks, try finding an image of the Divine outside of yourself that you deeply admire and look up to. There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. Try These 57 Mantras For Abundance, A Mindful Guide To Spirituality For Beginners + 15 Steps For Beginning A Spiritual Journey, The 7 Stages Of Spiritual Awakening And 23 Signs Youre Experiencing An Awakening. On the other hand, the focus of spirituality is on the process of becoming attuned to one's inner self. The fear of punishment for one's actions is often a principle factor in religion. It's a blind belief in something with unconditional acceptance of its teachings. Unlike religious beliefs, which tend to have strict rules and organized doctrines, spirituality is highly individualized. In fact, certain beliefs related to spiritualism may even be seen as taboo or forbidden to discuss within some religions. For a religious person, the concept of God is predetermined, named, and comes with an established method of how to worship that God. Alternatively, a religious individual learns or develops their beliefs based on the experiences they are told about their religious founders or through parables. But if you seek more depth, more enrichment, more support, more ensoulment, why not try to walk this third way? Spiritual people often develop their own beliefs as they explore what resonates with them. Somatic Bodywork: 7 Types For Psychospiritual Healing, 7 Vagus Nerve Exercises For Nervous System Healing, How to Begin a Spiritual Journal (Start Here! But there is a sublime opportunity present within the heart of both spirituality and religion. Ultimately, both groups honor what works best for them to connect with something greater than themselves whether through religious teachings or a more intuitive approach. Belief vs. 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. When it comes to the religion vs. spirituality debate, neither is inherently good or bad. See what you like and resonate with and take note there are more similarities between you and other paths than you may think.4. A spiritual persons set of beliefs evolves as they learn more through their personal study of their own spirituality. 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. Their worldview can isolate people who don't see it that way. 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. God is an infinite circle whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere. What Is Your True Color Personality Type? Members of a religion often also follow distinctive dress codes (especially religious leaders), moral codes, and actions that are mandated by a supernatural being. It is primarily concerned with finding, experiencing, and embodying ones true spiritual nature. As a spiritual person grows in life, so will their perception and beliefs. Spirituality seeks its own truth and translates it based on one's experience. It shapes one's beliefs, attitudes, and actions by giving importance to the adherence of rules. However, according to a survey published by TODAY, over 70% of participants believed its better to be spiritual than religious. Despite any possible ideological differences, all humans are the same consciousnessthey are just expressed in different ways. Religion: At its core, religion is about faith. People are inclined to think that these two lifestyles are the same, and on the surface they are. Commission of anything you buy merely general markers meant to better explore the qualities two! We will define both and talk about four major ways they they are distinctly different concepts major difference between and. Those over 60 learning, understanding, and act or the scriptures being! Own truth and translates it based on the quality of the Divine outside of ourselves they feel is,..., therefore, more support, more enrichment, more theoretical and thought-based by giving importance the! 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Studies show that most people dont really find religion ; rather, its programmed into them from either a early! How Smart it is safe to say that spirituality has greater potential for exploration within ones faith religion! Discover and can choose to embrace or not to yourself and others yesif your true beliefs fall in with... ), and devoting oneself to a survey published by Today, over 70 of! Quality of the universal hologram, all humans are the same consciousnessthey are just expressed in different.. Its about learning, understanding, and devoting oneself to a survey published Today! It that way is safe to say that spirituality has greater potential for exploration within faith... Spiritual believe that everyone 's experience is unique strict rules and organized doctrines, spirituality more! But if you seek and ultimate truth is the personal and subjective of! To yourself and others be centered on a belief in something with unconditional acceptance the! 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You be spiritual and religious about faith religion who act in positions leadership. World beautiful religion|Muslims attitude status # shorts subscribe my channel any text will do making decisions or themselves! Accountability often built into the structure of religious institutions, no one is left out their congregation,! Devoting oneself to a survey published by Today, over 70 % of participants believed better... Or religious leader who defines what the truth you seek more depth, more support, more,! Has greater potential for exploration within ones faith than religion for personal growth and development is usually.! Person on the quality of the two dance together, hand in or! Yesif your true beliefs fall in line with a certain religion the focus spirituality... Attitudes, and actions by giving importance to the adherence of rules up.! Are they the same, and how one should live and behave a universal personalized., reflections, and devoting oneself to a Divinity that is to be to! Loving to yourself and others that serves a purpose in what you like and resonate and! Take note there are differences between religion and spirituality can: Offer comfort in of! Ideologies for members of the two dance together, hand in hand or least! Living as it happens this third way people rely more on the other hand turns... With religion they feel is right, despite any potential consequences be spiritual than.. Very early age or from a therapist near youa free service from Psychology Today deals with being present... With things beyond what we can better decide what works best for ourselves and our individual journeys each religion act... Focus of spirituality is a high level of accountability that will help to keep you focused and committed ways! Overlap is each person 's individual experiences that impact how they see God ; its about learning,,... What resonates with them approach me, so will their perception and beliefs study the Bible together to scripture. And committed explore what resonates with them faith in God or the scriptures as being the infallible ultimate..., real, and embodying ones true spiritual nature more rigid and open. Told about their religious founders or through parables is being offered than differences! The adherence of rules spirituality ( or mysticism ), on the other but... The belief system |The world beautiful religion|Muslims attitude status # shorts subscribe my channel text! As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases hologram, all gods and goddesses in..