We guide spiritual seekers undergoing an awakening to walk the path less travelled, practice inner soul work, and rediscover their interconnected True Nature in the present moment. On the other hand, religious people typically rely on some form of organized religion or institution. Spirituality is more personal. 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. 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. So, what is the difference between a spiritual person and a religious person? Comment below! But how can we make sense of this dichotomy? Find a religious path that calls to you and then explore its mystical tradition. So, what is the difference between religion and spirituality? 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I think a few key things were left out of this comparison. Spiritual people often develop their own beliefs as they explore what resonates with them. 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) . Despite any possible ideological differences, all humans are the same consciousnessthey are just expressed in different ways. Religion is faith. So first, what are the specific differences between spirituality and religion? The authors hope their work reduces negative stereotypes and stigma surrounding non-traditional religious practices and affiliations. Another key difference is tolerance levels. Get free weekly soul-centered guidance for your spiritual awakening journey! On the other, we have spirituality, which is a very yin force. Others seek the meaning of life through their connections to nature or art. Feeling lost, confused, or alone? 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. Start here . As a community or group sharing the same beliefs, religion functions as an extremely supportive social network. The world has no perimeters, races, or cultural partitions. Instead, they believe in a higher consciousness that cannot be represented as a physical being. See additional information. While religion looks to God for purpose, spirituality looks within life's foundation. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land, the Whadjuk people of Noongar Boodjar. These figures are the subject of worship and devotion and form the foundation of religious practices and rituals in a community. Thats very important. A major difference between religion and spirituality is believing versus being. Are you a spiritual person or a religious person? This research may help reduce negative stereotypes and stigma surrounding non-traditional religious practices and affiliations. WebWhether a person is religious, spiritual or neither, the major influence religion has on American culture will be emphasized over the coming days with religious observances of Passover and Easter. 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. A spiritual person often arrives at their own truths while they are developing their spirituality, rather than following an ideology or set of rules. It's about a search for our life's significance and allows us to feel part of something. A majority of us often use the words religion and spirituality interchangeably, but they are entirely separate concepts. Thats where my experience, reflections, and discoveries can help. Rather, they're offered as tools for spiritual seekers to use to help their spiritual growth. We have a path of integration, depth, and tremendous power for good. 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. Spirituality is an inward journey that involves a shift in awareness rather than some form of external activity. It is primarily concerned with finding, experiencing, and embodying ones true spiritual nature. The fear of punishment for one's actions is often a principle factor in religion. This statistic shows the share of American adults in 2017 who consider themselves spiritual but not religious. While some may find what resonates within the traditional confines of religion, others may take a more personalized approach to their spiritual practice. Religion is based upon traditional beliefs and teachings that may impose very strict interpretations and limitations, often excluding people of certain communities. But spirituality doesnt aim to please a specific God; rather, it focuses on interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships. From the early 1940s through the 1960s, people in their 40s and 50s reported attending at least as frequently as those over 60. A spiritual person is a kind person. RELATED: What 'Spiritual Healing' Really Means And How To Start Your Journey. [Read More]. Since religion began its increasing decline in the early 20th century which was promoted by the Age of Enlightenment in the previous period and reinforced by the horrors of the world wars, the idea of God is now largely seen as not just infantile, but ludicrous. ), Spiritual Meditation: 11 Ways to Enlighten Your Mind. It usually involves rituals, traditions, ethics, and a way of life based on the teachings and practices of a larger community. 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. ), and has been on the spiritual-but-not-religious path for over a decade, I find myself in the middle. Religion is an ideology that holds ancient traditions that have kept communities together. Being a spiritual person is synonymous with being a person whose highest priority is to be loving to yourself and others. This allows those who practice the teachings to experientially validate them. On the other hand, religion provides its followers with a single set of rules and beliefs to follow, typically with less room for personal growth within those parameters. Our study looks at a large number of different religious groups across 100 countries from 1981 to 2014 using data from the World Value Survey. Luna & Sol Pty Ltd 2012 - 2023 LonerWolf.com. While there are many similarities between spirituality and religion, they are distinctly different concepts. Sadly, this religious in-group mentality can be used to justify the exclusion of minorities or those deemed unworthy of Gods favor. Spirituality: By contrast, spirituality typically discards the vestiges of fear and worry in favor of a more loving, compassionate approach to lifeand death. People are inclined to think that these two lifestyles are the same, and on the surface they are. 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.". check out this article to learn about the 10 types of spirituality practices to try in your life, 16 Strategies to Forgive Yourself for Past Mistakes, 60 Proven Ways to Make Someone Else Happy, 21 Best Films That Explore Mental Illness, 41 Words of Encouragement for Someone in Jail, 101 Toxic People Quotes to Stay Away from Negativity, 57 Strong Mom Quotes About Being a Powerful Parent, 7 Steps to Deal with Emotionally Unavailable Parents, 35 Best Songs About What Its Like to Have Anxiety, 111 Self-Discovery Questions to Ask Yourself While Journaling, 49 Positive Morning Prayers to Inspire Your Day, 101 Ice Breaker Questions for Kids That Theyll Love. Spirituality is a universal, personalized experience, and everyone's experience is unique. 2023 Oldtown Publishing LLC 479 State Route 17 N Unit #2007 Mahwah, NJ 07430, in fact, in this article we talk about 54 strategies, 4 Differences Between Spirituality and Religion. If you feel called toward specifically spirituality or religion, youre in your every right to do that. A new study suggests there may be fewer differences than expected between people in an organized religion versus those who practice spirituality. Being religious has a more connotative reaction from others. However, spirituality encourages people to focus their energy on positive things and to act based solely on love. Religion aims to build one's character. Whichever path or combination of the two you follow is the personal and subjective expression of your journey of awakening. A religious person is committed to following the guidelines set by his or her religion. 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. 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. Both can enrich or demoralize our human experience. A spiritual person, on the other hand, turns inward to find his truth and finds God within himself and all life. Mysticism is the common thread running through both spirituality and religion. And at religions most infantile form, it can be a force of destruction that creates more division and suffering. Staying Single: What Most People Do If They Divorce After 50. However, being religious doesnt make you spiritual, just like being spiritual doesnt make you religious. :) ). Through religion, you are taught to have faith in God or the scriptures as being the infallible and ultimate truth of reality. Religion is an organized set of beliefs, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to an order of existence. Yes, someone can be both spiritual and religious. In the words of Nietzsche, the well-known German philosopher who essentially prophesied the crumbling of religion in the West (God is dead): What do we do with a human God, when we turn to God, precisely because were disgusted by mankind? 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. For a religious person, the concept of God is predetermined, named, and comes with an established method of how to worship that God. Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. The Chopra Renew & Restore Detox Kit is a gentle and effective 7-Day cleanse rooted in the wisdom of Ayurveda and backed by science. People who identify as spiritual experience their beliefs in unique ways, often incorporating elements of various traditions to form their own personalized framework. There are set structures, routines, rituals, and rules one is expected to adhere to in order to call oneself a devotee. In contrast, the word agnostic refers to a person who neither believes nor disbelieves in a god or religious doctrine. But if you seek more depth, more enrichment, more support, more ensoulment, why not try to walk this third way? Spirituality also fosters a sense of interconnectedness with things beyond what we can see and touch. Its not that their experiences dont make sense or are hare-brained. While one truth is being defined, the other is being discovered. 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. In other words, from a spiritual perspective, no one has a monopoly on the truth. 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. 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. Spiritual people tend to be more individual and less dependent on others to seek a stronger connection. WebSome non-religious people can be thought of as spiritual but not religious (SBNR). It's a blind belief in something with unconditional acceptance of its teachings. Spirituality encourages people to create their own path, which allows people to take their own journey of enlightenment. Religious beliefs and spiritual beliefs differ in the ways in which they are practiced. Ultimately, spiritual paths are what you make of them and what resonates with you as an individual, making them unique. They are twins that can form one Whole if we are open to that possibility. Although they have many similarities and there is a relationship between the two, there are differences between religion and spirituality. Psychology Today 2023 Sussex Publishers, LLC, If You Need to Pull an All-Nighter, This Should Be Your Diet, Mass Shootings Are a Symptom, Not the Root Problem. 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. It inspires people to trust their hearts and follow their own instincts. Biologist and atheist Richard Dawkins travelled to the lab of Canadian neuroscientist Michael Persinger in the hope of having a religious experience. This exploration is not necessarily constrained by any organized faith or doctrine- rather, it gives someone space to grow into who they are on a personal level. You can belong to a religious group and still be spiritual, and vice versa. You are part of the universal hologram, all gods and goddesses in disguise. RELATED: 7 Reasons Why So Many Spiritual People Refuse To Call Themselves 'Religious'. WebIn short, the tension between religion and spirituality may be overstated. Without a cup, water spills everywhere. By understanding what sets these two ideas apart, we can better decide what works best for ourselves and our individual journeys. 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. Are you a spiritual traveler? There's no questioning it. Spirituality is about one's soul and inner self. Earn the highest Chopra Certification available and expand your toolbox of offerings. Religion: Due to their centuries- to millennia-old histories, religions are by nature often deeply rooted in tradition, ritual, creed, and doctrine. WebWho is a spiritual person? This suggests that most people feel that spirituality is more beneficial than religion for personal growth and development. Help people find meaning and purpose in life. This is very harmful to both self and society. A way to practice both in a healthy manner will take some adjustment. With religion, there is a high level of accountability often built into the structure of religious institutions. Spirituality is more personal. These findings provide evidence that, at least psychologically speaking, non-religious spirituality and traditionally religious participants may be more similar than different.. While spirituality does not threaten punishment for a life lived in contrast to a set of rules, it often addresses karma. 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