Spirituality vs Religion

I was wondering...
What is the difference between spirituality versus religion/christianity? I mean there is this whole spiritual movement which suggest that God resides inside us rather than outside us. Do those who feel spiritual versus religions/christian believe in God? Would spiritual people be athiest? Just wondering.

First, let me say that if one perceives what they follow as being spiritual, then it is to them. Second, there is a big difference between religion and Christianity, bigger perhaps than between spirituality and Christianity.

Here is Merriam-Webster's definition of spirituality:

spirituality

Main Entry: spir·i·tu·al·i·ty
Pronunciation: \ˌspir-i-chə-ˈwa-lə-tē\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural spir·i·tu·al·i·ties
Date: 15th century
1 : something that in ecclesiastical law belongs to the church or to a cleric as such
2 : clergy
3 : sensitivity or attachment to religious values
4 : the quality or state of being spiritual

and the definition of spiritual:
spiritual
3 entries found.

spiritual[1,adjective]spiritual[2,noun]spiritual bouquet


Main Entry: 1spir·i·tu·al
Pronunciation: \ˈspir-i-chə-wəl, -i-chəl, -ich-wəl\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French espirital, spiritual, from Late Latin spiritualis, from Latin, of breathing, of wind, from spiritus
Date: 14th century
1: of, relating to, consisting of, or affecting the spirit : incorporeal <spiritual needs>
2 a: of or relating to sacred matters <spiritual songs> b: ecclesiastical rather than lay or temporal <spiritual authority> <lords spiritual>
3: concerned with religious values
4: related or joined in spirit <our spiritual home> <his spiritual heir>
5 a: of or relating to supernatural beings or phenomena b: of, relating to, or involving spiritualism : spiritualistic
— spir·i·tu·al·ly adverb
— spir·i·tu·al·ness noun


When I speak of being spiritual, it refers to the supernatural, which was all created by God.

Yes, there are atheists that consider themselves spiritual.
I suspect you are referring to these in the strict senses of the words, yet anything one does with fervor and earnest for self edification could be considered their "religion" don't you think?

Are you seeking something specific for your own edification and knowledge here on this esthersvirtue???

I consider myself very spiritual, and I was raised Lutheran, but I have a problem with organized religions. In my opinion, politics have become too much a part of organized religions.

When I was a teenager and very devout, I had actually planned on becoming a Pastor, and I was very heartbroken to discover that our synod, females were not permitted to hold office or become pastors. My pastor, whom I love to this day, did not inform me that other synods would have permitted me to become a pastor.

IMO, God gave me a brain and wants me to use it.

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_Sky said:
Are you seeking something specific for your own edification and knowledge here on this esthersvirtue???

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um I think so. I just wondered. Clarifying for myself what I would categorize myself as.

for me, spirituality is part of my religious walk with God. my personal relationship with Him is spiritual, emotional, and physical, it is part of everything that i am and do. Atleast i try to keep it that way. which is how i personally feel is should be.

Many people are uncomfortable giving God that particular name. Some call Him The Creator, The Higher Power, The Great Spirit.....many different names for the same being. And also many different ways to worship and show devotion.

if you are on a quest for knowledge, a personal and spiritual journey...don't worry about catagories and the such. It is just a label....doesn't really tell anyone what your personal relationship with God is or what your personal stand is on all things religious. For instance, I attend a Missionary Baptist Church...BUT, their are many different types of baptist people with a wide range of beliefs. Some i agree with, some i don't. I am christian, yes. I believe in God and that Jesus Christ is my Savior. But however, i do not like to be thrown in with a group of people that call themselves christians and have everyone assume i am just like them.

Religion, spirituality.....that journey is a very personal one. i hope you find that place you seek, to draw comfort and to grow in knowledge. Keep seeking and your answers will find you.

God bless,
recluse1

My understanding of spirituality and religion is that spirituality is what you feel, while religion is the form, or how it is expressed. Spirituality includes belief and feeling and the desire to be closer to God, to do good, or to know more about life and why we are here. It's the meaning that motivates values and worship and hopefully what is behind religion.

Religion is what you do with those feelings - going to church, reading scriptures, praying. It's also the structure or organization of the church, and the rituals that make up religious practice.

It is possible to be spiritual but not religious. This would be someone who believes in God, or believes in something, and has spiritual feelings, but those feelings may be unorganized or unexpressed.

Some people are religious but not spiritual. These are the people who follow the rituals, go to church, walk the walk, talk the talk, but do it without feeling anything. They might do it because they feel it is expected of them, or they want to appear to be a good person.

It's also possible to be neither spiritual nor religious. Or we can be both spiritual and religious. The latter is my preference, because I feel that religion without feeling is terribly empty, and I feel that it is important for spirituality to be shared and expressed. Those are my feelings though. Yours might differ.

very well said Rapunzel!!!

I've heard it expressed that religion is mankind's attempt to reach out to God and Christianity is God's attempt to reach out to man. Religion is how one worships their God and a particular religion, like Christianity or any subset of that like Methodists, Lutherans, Baptists, etc. is a person's belief in what God has asked for in terms of worshop, what that person believes God has "said" in relation to mankind.

Spirituality to me, on the other hand, is much more personal, is one's individual attitude, thoughts, feelings, and actions in relation to one's beliefs about Creation and God. Whether an individual joins a church or goes for a walk in the woods, mindful of what is happening around and in one, that is spirituality. Sometimes religions try to dictate and control what is spiritual but spirtuality is beyond any "group," is a function of the Self, like feeling.

I think a lot of very insightful things have been said here. I've been talking about this stuff with my therapist lately, as I feel like developing my sense of spirituality is important to the work I'm doing right now.

Perna's statement rings very true for me.
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Sometimes religions try to dictate and control what is spiritual but spirtuality is beyond any "group," is a function of the Self, like feeling.

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I also like what Rap said. I agree that spirituality is, in part, how you feel. I agree that religion is what you do. I think there's more to spirituality that just what you feel, though.

To me, religion is dogma. It's a group of people organized around a set of rituals and/or doctrines that dictate how they should behave, what they should believe, etc. I think it can be a very positive thing for some people, and give them a sense of structure, connectedness, and focus that they might not otherwise have. And for others, maybe it just helps them find a form or expression for what's already inside and gives them a forum for sharing and connecting with it.

I think that spirituality can be part of that, but can also be independent of it. It has to do with your experience of yourself.... and of the universe. And I also think it's how you Live when you're really Yourself. How you connect. I think of it like this... To me, a "spirit" is the essence of who we are, at our core and in our most honest state (does that make sense?). Without pretenses, without trying to "be" or "change" anything at all, without judgement, without fear... just us. I think we're our spirits even when we die, it's separate from our bodies and life. And it's what defines us in the center of us. I think that lots of things in life, including religion sometimes, affect us in such ways that we can be somewhat disconnected from our sense of spirit and live out of parts of us that are more artificial, or more conformed to what is around us.

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It is possible to be spiritual but not religious. This would be someone who believes in God, or believes in something, and has spiritual feelings, but those feelings may be unorganized or unexpressed.

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I completely disagree that your feelings are unorganized or unexpressed if you're not religious.

I consider myself non-religious. In fact, I think I'm the OPPOSITE of religious, if there's such a thing! lol! I grew up a Mormon, but had my name officially removed from their roles this year (yay for me ).... but I do have some very specific beliefs that are very important to me. I just don't belong to a group of people who agree with my beliefs, or create ritual around them. I borrow a little bit from my Mormon heritage, a little bit from my Native American heritage, a little bit from Kundalini yoga, a little bit from just very wise and spiritual people in my life that I admire... whatever. I think my belief is that there is truth in everything, and you should follow whatever makes you feel Alive, Spiritual, and good. It might sound cheesy, but I look for things that make my spirit and my heart feel like it's glowing.

I am expressing my spirituality when I sing, when I draw, when I say I love you to someone... I'm being spiritual when I cry, when I laugh, when I hold my cat, even when I breathe.

It is organized around my own internal sense of order, and organization. It's expressed constantly, particularly when I find myself dropping inhibitions and just being.

Spirituality can be organized, practiced, expressed, and lived out without the need for religion.

Thank you for asking this, EV! I have that glowy feeling...

Thank you all for your posts. THey have encouraged me to really keep pushing myself to define what I believe and not be so passive. It also have given me some belongingand acceptance

*HUGS*