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. 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). Its not that their experiences dont make sense or are hare-brained. But for spirituality, the reward is just one's own inner peace. It shapes one's beliefs, attitudes, and actions by giving importance to the adherence of rules. For a religious person, the concept of God is predetermined, named, and comes with an established method of how to worship that God. Lets try to clear things up by taking a closer look at the most defining differences between religious and spiritual paths. A new studysuggests there may be fewer differences than expected between people in an organized religion and those who practice spirituality. In the US, > 90% of older people consider themselves religious or spiritual; about 6 to 10% are atheists and do not seek meaning through religion or a spiritual life. A spiritual person focuses on the here and now. Spirituality is broader and more abstract than religion. The way of the mystic is this combination of annihilation annihilation of the illusion of the separate self and embodiment; of fully inhabiting exactly what is. WebSpiritual abuse is not limited to one religion, denomination, or group of people. Belief vs. Everyone has their own unique path, so if you dont feel called to invite spirituality or religion into your life, that is totally okay. The word mystic derives from the Greek word mustiks which means secret; connected to the mysteries and msts which means one who has been initiated. (1) As such, we can define a mystic as a person who has been initiated into the mysteries of the Divine. They are following not a set of external rules, but their own inner call to spirit. WebSome non-religious people can be thought of as spiritual but not religious (SBNR). Because every human's essence is the same, it means that any differences are superficial. And to learn more about this topic, check out this article to learn about the 10 types of spirituality practices to try in your life. Alternatively, a religious individual learns or develops their beliefs based on the experiences they are told about their religious founders or through parables. Americans who are spiritual but not religious are somewhat more likely to be women than men (54% vs. 46%, respectively). 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. 2. Spirituality is for those whove already been there. within the religious organization. Spirituality is an inward journey that involves a shift in awareness rather than some form of external activity. A spiritual person is selfless, perhaps ascetic, one who strives to imbue his life with a higher meaning, to think of and serve others, not himself, to see the purpose and goodness in 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. 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. Mark Travers, Ph.D., is an American psychologist with degrees from Cornell University and the University of Colorado Boulder. Were encouraged to find the truth within ourselves. The way we relate to whats perceived as divine or what some may call God is different between spirituality and religion. 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) . 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. But how can we make sense of this dichotomy? Modern spirituality puts a great emphasis on our personal connection with God/Life/Spirit. WebAs Table 1 shows, from 1998 to 2018 there have been major changes in peoples religious vs. spiritual identification. A person will tend to lean on one side instead of balancing both. Spirituality is a universal, personalized experience, and everyone's experience is unique. All paths Arjuna, lead to me.. The same goes for the protective qualities of religious belief and spirituality. There were some downsides to religiosity and spirituality: For example, the researchers found that depression levels were higher among traditionally religious and nonreligious but spiritual individuals. To them, part of this spirituality means being compassionate, empathetic and Studies show that most people in the U.S. describe themselves as both religious and spiritual. It is primarily concerned with finding, experiencing, and embodying ones true spiritual nature. Its focused on internalizing different teachings about the Divine, and is, therefore, more theoretical and thought-based. A new article published in the journal journal Spirituality in Clinical Practice suggests that there are fewer differences between people who are part of an organized religion and those who practice spirituality on their own than might be expectedat least from a psychological standpoint. 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. Your fate in the afterlife can loom like a specter in the back of your mind, subtly influencing your thoughts and behavior. Instead, they believe in a higher consciousness that cannot be represented as a physical being. Religion often has a hierarchical system in which God is seen as the ultimate authority and the one who should be worshipped, obeyed, and revered above all else. Patients receiving any form of spiritual support reported a higher quality of life at the end of life than those who didnt, she noted. 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. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Spirituality embraces a consciousness-based worldview that supports all human beings on their path to awakening in unconditional love and kindness. Let go of perfection. Its more of an internal journey that helps you develop your own personal truths that may not necessarily be aligned with what has been taught through a particular faith or religion. WebWho is a spiritual person? A spiritual person, on the other hand, turns inward to find his truth and finds God within himself and all life. Comment below! 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. Please do your own research before making any online purchase. 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.". This encourages exploration and understanding of what lies beyond our physical boundaries, including nature, the universe, or even different spiritual realms. Most people dont really find religion; rather, its programmed into them from either a very early age or from a vulnerable place. How is one initiated? Theres no black and white here. But there is a sublime opportunity present within the heart of both spirituality and religion. Spirituality vs. For a religious person, the concept of God is predetermined, named, and comes with an established method of how to worship that God. This empowers people to discover their own truths without setting any limits as to the depth of one's understanding. Individual vs. Group Beliefs. Spirituality offers an endless amount of potential benefits, while with religion it offers punishments or rewards. Religion, on the other hand, teaches that heaven is something found in the future (usually after you die). This allows those who practice the teachings to experientially validate them. Here are 6 ways to pray the rosary as a non-Catholic or non-religious person. Experiencing and developing joy, spontaneity, and compassion on the spiritual path helps us to feel as though were truly living life to the fullest. 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 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. 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.. Your life path is your own and I encourage you to pursue that which calls to you. The two dance together, hand in hand or at least, they can do. Despite any possible ideological differences, all humans are the same consciousnessthey are just expressed in different ways. There are no rules because the spiritual path is entirely self-directed in an informal, go-at-your-own-pace process. For instance, both groups show elevated emotional well-being compared to nonreligious individuals. Earn the highest Chopra Certification available and expand your toolbox of offerings. 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. Use this space for describing your block. When wondering, Am I religious or spiritual? think about whose rules you follow. Religious teachings are usually based on what has been passed down through scriptures, religious scrolls, and books or what religious leaders teach. Spirituality is about one's soul and inner self. This isnt necessarily a bad thing. Spirituality and religion go hand-in-hand: they are mutually arising. Im not there to change that. Listen to your Souls calling. (Traditionally religious people scored highest.) It doesnt necessarily require any rituals or practices. Both of these are routes to discovering the divine truth. Feeling lost, confused, or alone? Religion has a basic moral code, a set of core values and a story outline. Spirituality: Spirituality, however, leans more toward self-referral or the internalization of your awareness of your soul. As you can see, there are good and bad things about spirituality and religion. In fact, he says, while religious people are more likely to volunteer or give to charitable causes related to their beliefs, atheists appear to be more generous to a wider range of causes and dissimilar groups. Each person's own definition of spirituality can vary throughout their lifetime, adapting to individual experiences through personal study and self-reflection. Provide moral guidelines by which to live. In contrast, the word agnostic refers to a person who neither believes nor disbelieves in a god or religious doctrine. It inspires people to trust their hearts and follow their own instincts. He or she observes the rites and practices, such as regularly attending church services on a Sunday for Christians, observing the Sabbath for Jews, and fasting during Ramadan for Muslims. For example, they may believe in God while asking for positive energy through their journey of self-discovering. In either case, there are professionals within each religion who act in positions of leadership and who represent formal aspects of the institution. Many people rely on their own understanding of the world when making decisions or expressing themselves. Members of a religion often also follow distinctive dress codes (especially religious leaders), moral codes, and actions that are mandated by a supernatural being. This post may contain affiliate links. Religion includes a preacher or religious leader who defines what the truth is to their congregation. Whereas within religion, self-sacrifice, devotion, and service to others support us in feeling like we have a mission or greater purpose. Spirituality: Spirituality makes no such distinctions. :) ). Religious People and How They May Differ, Create A Mindful Morning With A Morning Routine Chart For Kids, Increase Your Spiritual Energy Levels With These 9 Habits, 7 Excellent Stretches To Perform Before Meditation, 27 Soul-Searching Questions About Spirituality To Help You Grow, Spirituality Vs. I have directly experienced both spirituality and religion in their most toxic states, and Ive also experienced the benefits of both. Religious people lean on gathering with others, to reach a unison connection with God, but spirituality develops their own belief system. Lives in the present moment and grateful. Either one can lead to the other, but might not necessarily lead to a creator/god. A spiritual person often arrives at their own truths while they are developing their spirituality, rather than following an ideology or set of rules. 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. Religion: Due to their centuries- to millennia-old histories, religions are by nature often deeply rooted in tradition, ritual, creed, and doctrine. With spiritual practice, ideas and interpretations change as individuals, societies, and the world move forward. 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. Have any thoughts to share? Religion is based upon traditional beliefs and teachings that may impose very strict interpretations and limitations, often excluding people of certain communities. Spirituality does not feature such characteristics. Ultimately, spiritual paths are what you make of them and what resonates with you as an individual, making them unique. Peace comes within the soul of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness, with the universe and all its power. Unlike religious beliefs, which tend to have strict rules and organized doctrines, spirituality is highly individualized. Religion generally involves participation in organized rituals such as prayer or meditation and attending services at places of worship. 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. Spiritual Experience; The foundation of religion is faith. Spirituality and religion have been an age-old debate in human society. 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. 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. Description for this block. They believe the universe governs itself through actions and intentions. 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. 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. A spiritual person cares about people, animals and the planet. Lets break down the individual differences as well as the light and darkness within spirituality and religion below: While spirituality focuses on the personal connection with the Divine, religion encourages a community-centered connection with the Divine. 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 For religious folks, try listening to the perspectives of people from other religions and spiritual paths. Spirituality: By comparison, spirituality is often less focused on the rigidly traditional approach and often favors an evolutionary mentality. Thats where my experience, reflections, and discoveries can help. Sofia Stewart is a writer and former contributor to YourTango who covers astrology, numerology, spirituality, and relationships. Religion emphasizes the content of followers' beliefs and how those beliefs play out in their everyday lives. With religion, there is a high level of accountability often built into the structure of religious institutions. Spirituality: Spirituality doesnt dismiss faith; however, it often leans more heavily on direct experience of the soul or divinity. Zhang, H. (Interview) Spirituality, not organized religion, may be the key to finding meaning in life. For example, since accepting fate can be seen as an inner personal struggle, some define it as Person vs. Self instead. The recognized authorities of the religious group reinforce or communicate changes regarding the ideologies for members of the religious group to follow. 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. Religious institutions conservatively guard their practices and values, holding rigidly to the past and the original interpretations of the founders teachings. Religion, on the other hand, puts emphasis on humbling ourselves to a Divinity that is usually seen as outside of ourselves. Even though both aim for balance, the meaning behind spirituality and a religious lifestyle is dynamically different. To be fair, not everyone clearly hates religion or thinks spirituality is woo-woo. Instead, it favors an inclusive approach. Provide social and emotional support. 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. Please also feel free to share this article with someone you think might enjoy or benefit from it. 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. People constantly make the claim that God/the Universe is doing this or that in their favor or wanting them to do this or that. Spirituality: Definition, Types, Benefits, and How to Practice On the other hand, spirituality concentrates more on each person's individual soul. Spiritual Experience. Whereas the word "religion" generally refers to organised forms of worship and a wider faith community, "spiritual" often describes people's private individual beliefs. 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. 1. Looking at four age groups (rather than two) reveals even more clearly that religious service attendance and age have not always correlated perfectly in the United States. Religion often discourages people from listening to their own instincts, and instead teaches people to accept and do what theyre told, without questioning it. Likewise, Muslims are encouraged to participate in daily prayers five times daily, with men particularly urged to perform the prayers in the mosque. There have been significant changes in the American religious and spiritual landscape in recent years, with fewer than half of all Americans reporting church membership, report the authors of the research, led by Hansong Zhang of the University of North Texas. How Creative Expression Promotes Self-Love, Art as Meditation: How Painting Landscapes Can Promote Healing, To an external practice, object, or figurehead. (Just please try to spread love and peace. So why the need to keep one and discard the other? 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