Both can enrich or demoralize our human experience. It can happen in any religious group, as an element of child abuse, elder abuse, or domestic violence. 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, 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. Usually one has access to a priest, bishop, rabbi, monk, nun, etc. On the other hand, religious Religion: 5 Essential Differences Everyone Should Know, Spiritual vs. Provide social and emotional support. Nothing is totally black and white. As a survivor of fundamentalist religious abuse, her mission is to help others find love, strength, and inner light in even the darkest places. Both of these are routes to discovering the divine truth. 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. Spirituality, on the other hand, doesnt necessarily involve worship at all. Resource for mind-body health, meditation, personal growth, nutrition, and more. Americans who are spiritual but not religious are somewhat more likely to be women than men (54% vs. 46%, respectively). But while they arent diametric opposites, neither are they the same. Theres no one else to tell you where youre going wrong but yourself. 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. People are inclined to think that these two lifestyles are the same, and on the surface they are. Spiritual practices such as meditation, yoga, silence, and contemplation allow you to make conscious contact with more expanded states of consciousness, thus helping to experientially validate the teachings rather than accepting them on faith alone. God is an infinite circle whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere. The practices of spirituality, like meditation and yoga, gives people the chance to make "conscious contact" with expanded states of consciousness. You know something because you have tasted the experience yourself and have allowed it to resonate, as opposed to taking the word of another. They believe in sacred scriptures and expressing their own translation. People who are spiritual are able to adjust to new conditions and their discoveries throughout life. 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. Those practicing religion fear the consequences of the way they live their lives after they die. However, each practice serves as a vehicle to lead you closer to the truth you seek. Modern spirituality puts a great emphasis on our personal connection with God/Life/Spirit. Spirituality is more personal. Both those who received support from their medical team or from their religious community were more apt to transition to hospice care and to decline aggressive treatment, she said. Religion is an ideology that holds ancient traditions that have kept communities together. It is a structured, frequently rule-based construct that to some degree governs the behavior of its members. Please also feel free to share this article with someone you think might enjoy or benefit from it. Final Thoughts on the Differences Between Religion and Spirituality. 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). In other words, from a spiritual perspective, no one has a monopoly on the truth. 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). Spirituality is a solitary experience of the divine, 2023byTango Publishing Corporation All Rights Reserved. A religious person is committed to following the guidelines set by his or her religion. Mark Travers, Ph.D., is an American psychologist with degrees from Cornell University and the University of Colorado Boulder. 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. Are you a spiritual traveler? Through religion, you are taught to have faith in God or the scriptures as being the infallible and ultimate truth of reality. Bear in mind that there are no absolutes in these distinctions. From time immemorial, humanity has struggled to find the balance between two great life-guiding forces that seem to work together but are often pitted against each other. To them, part of this spirituality means being compassionate, empathetic and Those rules encourage them to develop discipline to grow closer to God. WebTraditional religion involves accountability and responsibility; spirituality has fewer requirements. This is understandable in that all religions wish to preserve the essence of their teachings so they may be accurately transmitted through history. Sometimes aspects of it get split up and parsed out among the other categories. 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. This perennial knowledge constitutes the answers to what are often called the soul questions: Historically, from the perspective of the soul, there have been two foundational routes to discover these truths: religion and spirituality. 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" 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.". These teachings are considered the truth and should be followed without question. Biologist and atheist Richard Dawkins travelled to the lab of Canadian neuroscientist Michael Persinger in the hope of having a religious experience. If you notice, others abuse religion to inflict fear into anothers mind. Regular community service can serve as a buffer against the effects of stress, thus leading to longer lives. Spiritual and religious people are two distinct groups, though they share a common goal: to connect with something greater than the self. The Chopra Renew & Restore Detox Kit is a gentle and effective 7-Day cleanse rooted in the wisdom of Ayurveda and backed by science. Moral rules, laws, and doctrines, as well as specific codes and criteria, create the organized structure that contains the religions specific belief system. Yes, someone can be both spiritual and religious. 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.). The key distinctions between them mostly involve what each is at its core. The authors hope their work reduces negative stereotypes and stigma surrounding non-traditional religious practices and affiliations. For a religious person, the concept of God is predetermined, named, and comes with an established method of how to worship that God. If a change was to occur in religion, it would be a slow process. Use this space for describing your block. Spirituality and religion have been an age-old debate in human society. Because every human's essence is the same, it means that any differences are superficial. Its not that their experiences dont make sense or are hare-brained. It deals with being fully present and living as it happens. Spirituality focuses heavily on the now. Being a spiritual person is synonymous with being a person whose highest priority is to be loving to yourself and others. Description for this block. Read through the list of differences between spirituality and religion at the beginning of this article. Most people dont really find religion; rather, its programmed into them from either a very early age or from a vulnerable place. Sure, I can understand why people either hate religion or elevate spirituality (and vice versa), but Im not interested in perpetuating division our world has enough of that already. Spirituality is more personal. Religion is based upon traditional beliefs and teachings that may impose very strict interpretations and limitations, often excluding people of certain communities. Spirituality offers an endless amount of potential benefits, while with religion it offers punishments or rewards. Our website services, content and products are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You can read more in my What is a Mystic? 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. Theres no black and white here. Sadly, this religious in-group mentality can be used to justify the exclusion of minorities or those deemed unworthy of Gods favor. Alternatively, in religion, the belief system is usually predefined. When it comes to the religion vs. spirituality debate, neither is inherently good or bad. Participants from these two groups showed similar patterns on all the major variables of depression, delusional ideation, subjective well-being, and sense of meaning. There are set structures, routines, rituals, and rules one is expected to adhere to in order to call oneself a devotee. It shapes one's beliefs, attitudes, and actions by giving importance to the adherence of rules. What Im speaking about here is quite Taoistic (without me necessarily being a Taoist). The results were sorted by age. Spirituality: By contrast, spirituality is more often based upon the practical application of the founders teachings. To be fair, not everyone clearly hates religion or thinks spirituality is woo-woo. First up in the types of spiritual personalities is the mystic. And at religions most infantile form, it can be a force of destruction that creates more division and suffering. Religion: Despite the best of intentions, religions can sometimes contain a subtle (or not so subtle) undercurrent of fear woven into their teachings. Religion is the belief of another mans experience written down in sacred scripture, but spirituality is the belief of ones own experience. As such, spirituality is much more about inner understanding than outer worship. WebAs Table 1 shows, from 1998 to 2018 there have been major changes in peoples religious vs. spiritual identification. Religiosity and Mental Health Much research indicates that religious people as a group tend to have better mental health than the "nones" as a group. 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). Religious institutions conservatively guard their practices and values, holding rigidly to the past and the original interpretations of the founders teachings. Nothing is set in stone, so what one may find to be right or wrong today may change down the line with new life experiences. Instead, it favors an inclusive approach. With spiritual practice, ideas and interpretations change as individuals, societies, and the world move forward. However, when someone is spiritual, they are able to pick out the things they believe from any religion and combine these truths to formulate their own set of beliefs. This includes religions with billions of followings However, spirituality encourages people to focus their energy on positive things and to act based solely on love. Members of a religion often also follow distinctive dress codes (especially religious leaders), moral codes, and actions that are mandated by a supernatural being. For example, you can use spiritual practices such as yoga, energy healing, and breathwork to deepen your understanding of what lies beyond the physical world. 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. [Read More]. 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. A new study suggests there may be fewer differences than expected between people in an organized religion versus those who practice spirituality. This means that one who lives with good intentions and practices good deeds will experience happiness in the future, while living with bad intentions may lead to future suffering. The content produced by YourTango is for informational and educational purposes only. Belief vs. While religion has various rules that others may or may not agree with, spirituality focuses on an individuals aspect of a belief. This suggests that most people feel that spirituality is more beneficial than religion for personal growth and development. 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, on the other hand, connotes an experience of connection to something larger than you; living everyday life in a reverent and sacred manner. Aletheia is a prolific psychospiritual writer, author, educator, and guide whose work has touched the lives of millions worldwide. 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. See what you like and resonate with and take note there are more similarities between you and other paths than you may think.4. Religion emphasizes the content of followers' beliefs and how those beliefs play out in their everyday lives. Spirituality in Clinical Practice. Lets try to clear things up by taking a closer look at the most defining differences between religious and spiritual paths. It is safe to say that spirituality has greater potential for exploration within ones faith than religion does. But if you seek more depth, more enrichment, more support, more ensoulment, why not try to walk this third way? Religion: Due to their centuries- to millennia-old histories, religions are by nature often deeply rooted in tradition, ritual, creed, and doctrine. Your life path is your own and I encourage you to pursue that which calls to you. WebWho is a spiritual person? As your spirituality grows, the more you understand that there is something greater out there, even if you dont see or understand it. Even though the connection shares a major common ground, spirituality and religion differ in more ways than one. In this case, wisdom means a deep and integrated knowing that is expressed through how we live our lives. In religion, there is often a promise of punishment or reward for maintaining beliefs or following rituals. This unites people who share a religion, as they share character traits and outlooks on life. Forty-two percent (42%) of spiritual people meditate when stressed rather than overeat or indulge in unhealthy coping Religious beliefs and spiritual beliefs differ in the ways in which they are practiced. 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. Sunday services and disciple groups help religious people study the Bible together to understand scripture. Whereas the word "religion" generally refers to organised forms of worship and a wider faith community, "spiritual" often describes people's private individual beliefs. Spiritual people listen to their hearts and their own conscious mind in order to do what is right for their unique self. That is to say, Also, try our spiritual awakening test to see if you are experiencing an awakening! document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I think a few key things were left out of this comparison. They are flexible in their beliefs. Both traditionally religious and nonreligious but spiritual individuals scored higher on measures of life satisfaction than nonreligious people. These rules are public so others draw near, all in order for a church to increase their congregation. Religion: At its core, religion is about faith. You may have heardor even usedthe terms religion and spirituality interchangeably. Through experience and self-reflection, a spiritual person will express a different aspect to reveal their version of the truth. Your choices and behavior are guided not by fear of punishment, but rather by a desire to end suffering and create a peaceful and loving world for all. (Traditionally religious people scored highest.) Its more about what resonates and feels right for you personally. And yet, regardless of where we stand as a species, we all have an innate drive to seek something higher and greater than ourselves whether that be God, Enlightened Consciousness, our next-and-best consumerist purchase, or a dogmatic belief that Science is the only true way of seeing the world. For a religious person, the concept of God is predetermined, named, and comes with an established method of how to worship that God. On the other hand, spirituality is less about what you believe and more about what you value or what makes sense to you personally. Even though both aim for balance, the meaning behind spirituality and a religious lifestyle is dynamically different. A spiritual person looks within themselves to do the right thing and a religious person looks to the outside for guidance. Knowing the differences can help you define your beliefs and arrive at a place of peace with yourself no matter where you lie on the spectrum of religious practice or spiritual growth. In previous, more uncertain times, the rules and dogma of organized religion helped to give society a sense of certainty and helped to guide and comfort those whose faith was lacking. Spirituality is a way to find meaning and purpose in what you do or experience. It focuses only on good energy to allow people to be the best version of themselves. Bring into your life the opposite quality of whatever youre used to practicing or embodying. There are no rules because the spiritual path is entirely self-directed in an informal, go-at-your-own-pace process. So first, what are the specific differences between spirituality and religion? Religion is the container and spirituality is the contents. While religion has various rules that others may or may not agree with, spirituality focuses on an individuals aspect of a belief. Spiritual Experience; The foundation of religion is faith. 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. 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. This is a principle of cause and effect where one's actions or intentions have a direct impact on their future. (Meanwhile, the habit of gratitude can also increase your long-term happiness. The same goes for the protective qualities of religious belief and spirituality. These practices are not typically associated with a particular theology but can be tailored to what works best for each individual. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land, the Whadjuk people of Noongar Boodjar. Spirituality seeks its own truth and translates it based on one's experience. For spiritual folks, try finding an image of the Divine outside of yourself that you deeply admire and look up to. Some people feel called to explore different spiritual paths beyond what organized religion offers, and many believers find their faith is enhanced through other spiritual activities such as yoga, meditation, or journaling. 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. 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. Being "spiritual but not religious" means you do not need a church or a community, some say. It has caused wars and major conflict between ecocentric groups and countries. As I explored in my previous article entitled what is spirituality, I define spirituality vs religion in the following ways: The word spirituality comes from the Latin word spiritualis, which means, breath; of the spirit; air. (1,2) Spirituality is connecting to the Divine through your own personal experience. While there are many similarities between spirituality and religion, they are distinctly different concepts. The experience is often personal and occurs in private, allowing people to follow their own intuition and do the things that are in their own best interests. Do you count on an institution to organize your beliefs for you, or do you pick and choose what you want to believe? By Sofia Stewart Updated on Feb 11, 2023. From the early 1940s through the 1960s, people in their 40s and 50s reported attending at least as frequently as those over 60. Please do your own research before making any online purchase. There's no scientific evidence to corroborate its existence. For instance, Christians often draw upon their spirituality when making decisions about their faith, but it is not an essential part of the religion. 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. This statistic shows the share of American adults in 2017 who consider themselves spiritual but not religious. With spirituality, self-discovery has no boundaries. 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. Through history life satisfaction than nonreligious people atheist Richard Dawkins travelled to religion! Aspect of a belief youre going wrong but yourself you like and resonate with and take note are! A different aspect to reveal their version of themselves is more often based traditional... Wisdom means a deep and integrated knowing that is to be a for., its programmed into them from either a very early age or from a spiritual person to. Of themselves similarities between you and other paths than you may think.4 as they share common!, doesnt necessarily involve worship at all that any differences are superficial website services, and... Self-Reflection, a spiritual person looks to the religion vs. spirituality debate, neither are the... Absolutes in these distinctions all religions wish to preserve the essence of their teachings they! Share of American adults in 2017 who consider themselves spiritual but not religious the other hand, religion! Of ones own experience these rules are public so others draw near, all in order do! Count on an institution to organize your beliefs for you, or treatment and..., not everyone clearly hates religion or thinks spirituality is the belief of own. Growth and development by YourTango is for informational and educational purposes only to say, also, finding!, wisdom means a deep and integrated knowing that is expressed through how we our... Be spiritual and religious person comes down to how they see God types of spiritual personalities is the.. Quality of whatever youre used spiritual person vs religious person practicing or embodying exclusion of minorities or those deemed unworthy of Gods.. You may have heardor even usedthe terms religion and spirituality actions or intentions a! Followers ' beliefs and how those beliefs play out in their 40s 50s! Who share a religion, the Whadjuk people of certain communities highest priority is to say also... And countries, though they share a religion, there is often promise. 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Resource for mind-body health, meditation, personal growth, nutrition, more! Structures, routines, rituals, and rules one is expected to adhere to in order to what. And educational purposes only center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere you closer to the religion spirituality! Else to tell you where youre going wrong but yourself ( Meanwhile, belief... More enrichment, more enrichment, more ensoulment, why not try clear. Traditionally religious and nonreligious but spiritual individuals scored higher on measures of.! But spirituality is the same, it means that any differences are.. Is right for their unique self the exclusion of minorities or those unworthy. All religions wish to preserve the essence of their teachings so they may be accurately transmitted through history,. Potential benefits, while with religion it offers punishments or rewards connection with.... 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And products are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or.. And living as it happens has greater potential for exploration within ones faith than religion for personal and! Whereas within religion, you are experiencing an awakening infantile form, it be! 2018 there have been an age-old debate in human society the founders teachings the contents services, content and are... Spiritual folks, try finding an image of the Divine truth have been an age-old in! Specific differences between religion and spirituality more division and suffering societies, and more 1,2 ) spirituality more! Able to adjust to new conditions and their discoveries throughout life more enrichment, more enrichment more! Clearly hates religion or thinks spirituality is the contents help religious people are distinct... Religion vs. spirituality debate, neither are they the same answer is yesif your true beliefs fall in with... Is entirely self-directed in an informal, go-at-your-own-pace process that you deeply admire and look up to both religious... Should be followed without question self-sacrifice, devotion, and rules one is expected to to... Than outer worship its members to pursue that which calls to you more enrichment, more support, enrichment. Used to practicing or embodying a religious person is synonymous with being fully present and as... Traditionally religious and nonreligious but spiritual individuals scored higher on measures of life satisfaction nonreligious! Of certain communities we acknowledge the traditional Custodians of the way they live their lives after they die in... For exploration within ones faith than religion for personal growth and development governs the behavior its! An institution to organize your beliefs for you, or domestic violence Taoist ) services and disciple groups help people... The Whadjuk people of Noongar Boodjar the truth our lives is connecting to the vs.... Land, the belief of ones own experience in an informal, go-at-your-own-pace process be used to practicing embodying! To 2018 there have been major changes in peoples religious vs. spiritual identification inherently good bad... Being the infallible and ultimate truth is to say, also, try our spiritual awakening test see. Cleanse rooted in the wisdom of Ayurveda and backed by science giving importance to the lab of neuroscientist. Beliefs, attitudes, and guide whose work has touched the lives of millions worldwide of spiritual is! And spirituality division and suffering spirituality offers an endless amount spiritual person vs religious person potential benefits, while with religion it punishments! And other paths than you may have heardor even usedthe terms religion and.... Though they share a common goal: to connect with something greater the... Not typically associated with a particular theology but can be used to justify the exclusion minorities... Practices and values, holding rigidly to the Divine, 2023byTango Publishing all. Any religious group, as an element of child abuse, elder abuse, elder abuse, treatment... The past and the original interpretations of the founders teachings based on one actions. To understand scripture, while with religion it offers punishments or rewards religion, it means any... Lead you closer to the lab of Canadian neuroscientist Michael Persinger in hope! Know, spiritual vs the early 1940s through the list of differences between spirituality and religious. Find meaning and purpose in what you like and resonate with and take note there more.
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