Whether religious or spiritual, its vital that both are used for balance and not for selfish desires. Rather, they're offered as tools for spiritual seekers to use to help their spiritual growth. Partisan differences are somewhat muted. This process occurs through direct personal experience usually via a lineage of teachings that have been deeply explored and integrated into ones life. Religion is the belief of another mans experience written down in sacred scripture, but spirituality is the belief of ones own experience. 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. Spiritual people often learn and develop their beliefs through their own experiences (often through trial and error). WebSpiritual abuse is not limited to one religion, denomination, or group of people. The goal of spirituality is to realize one's inherent power to combat all of life's challenges, and connect with something greater than oneself. But for spirituality, the reward is just one's own inner peace. Staying Single: What Most People Do If They Divorce After 50. Humanity is all one, with love being at the core of everyone's being. WebHere are six characteristics of a spiritually gifted person. The Chopra Renew & Restore Detox Kit is a gentle and effective 7-Day cleanse rooted in the wisdom of Ayurveda and backed by science. 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!) Regardless of whether were religious or spiritual, the human psyche, the human soul, innately craves for something greater than itself. Religion generally involves participation in organized rituals such as prayer or meditation and attending services at places of worship. This encourages exploration and understanding of what lies beyond our physical boundaries, including nature, the universe, or even different spiritual realms. Spirituality is more personal. Participants from these two groups showed similar patterns on all the major variables of depression, delusional ideation, subjective well-being, and sense of meaning. Forty-two percent (42%) of spiritual people meditate when stressed rather than overeat or indulge in unhealthy coping 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). Deepen your well-being practices and develop techniques to teach others with a prestigious Chopra certification. (Just please try to spread love and peace. Resource for mind-body health, meditation, personal growth, nutrition, and more. 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. 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. Theres no black and white here. Spirituality teaches us that All is One (non-duality), that there is ultimately no separation between the spark of Divine within us and the Divine that pervades everything. In other words, different religions, in general, tend to focus on gathering people together and finding shared faith in one god or ideology. While religion has various rules that others may or may not agree with, spirituality focuses on an individuals aspect of a belief. A new studysuggests there may be fewer differences than expected between people in an organized religion and those who practice spirituality. 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. Take a dive with me to explore one of humanitys timeless conversations! For religious folks, try listening to the perspectives of people from other religions and spiritual paths. We have a path of integration, depth, and tremendous power for good. A third omission is that of the dishonesty and self-deception found within both of these groupthink systems. 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. On the other hand, spirituality is less about what you believe and more about what you value or what makes sense to you personally. You can belong to a religious group and still be spiritual, and vice versa. In fact, some may find that their spirituality is closely linked to a religion, while others may have their own personal relationship with a higher power. Others seek the meaning of life through their connections to nature or art. A spiritual persons set of beliefs evolves as they learn more through their personal study of their own spirituality. It's about a search for our life's significance and allows us to feel part of something. However, according to a survey published by TODAY, over 70% of participants believed its better to be spiritual than religious. The following characteristics differentiate a spiritual person from a religious person. However, spirituality encourages people to focus their energy on positive things and to act based solely on love. As Krishna explains in the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, verse 11: As men approach me, so I receive them. 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. PostedDecember 1, 2021 Heres how you can unite spirituality and religion (instead of spirituality vs religion) into your life: 1. This research may help reduce negative stereotypes and stigma surrounding non-traditional religious practices and affiliations. God is an infinite circle whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere. 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. For others, there's a related sense of love and connection that comes from spirituality. Weve seen this drive to connect with something bigger than ourselves since time immemorial. 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. Increasingly, North American millennials identify as spiritual as opposed to religious. A spiritual person cares about people, animals and the planet. This isnt necessarily a bad thing. 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. For a religious person, the concept of God is predetermined, named, and comes with an established method of how to worship that God. The word atheist originates with the Greek atheos, which is built from the roots a- (without) and theos (a god). Spirituality: Spirituality makes no such distinctions. 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. Without a cup, water spills everywhere. Even though the connection shares a major common ground, spirituality and religion differ in more ways than one. It's believing without having it proven to you. Provide social and emotional support. Feeling lost, confused, or alone? 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. However, both of these methods of believing in something help people live happy, meaningful lives. However, being religious doesnt make you spiritual, just like being spiritual doesnt make you religious. For instance, Christians often draw upon their spirituality when making decisions about their faith, but it is not an essential part of the religion. Our website services, content and products are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Religion, contrary to spirituality, is highly formal. Im not there to change that. Being a spiritual person is synonymous with being a person whose highest priority is to be loving to yourself and others. A major difference between religion and spirituality is believing versus being. It has caused wars and major conflict between ecocentric groups and countries. (12 Signs Youre One) article. Find a religious path that calls to you and then explore its mystical tradition. The fear of punishment for one's actions is often a principle factor in religion. Spirituality focuses heavily on the now. 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 If you notice, others abuse religion to inflict fear into anothers mind. Somatic Bodywork: 7 Types For Psychospiritual Healing, 7 Vagus Nerve Exercises For Nervous System Healing, How to Begin a Spiritual Journal (Start Here! Spiritual people often develop their own beliefs as they explore what resonates with them. In religion, there is often a promise of punishment or reward for maintaining beliefs or following rituals. These findings provide evidence that, at least psychologically speaking, non-religious spirituality and traditionally religious participants may be more similar than different.. 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. Spirituality: By comparison, spirituality is often less focused on the rigidly traditional approach and often favors an evolutionary mentality. Its not that their experiences dont make sense or are hare-brained. On the other hand, religious people typically rely on some form of organized religion or institution. A way to practice both in a healthy manner will take some adjustment. Both traditionally Spirituality is a part of humanity thats seeking a purpose in life. In fact, some may find that their spirituality is closely linked to a religion, while others may have their own personal relationship with a higher power. You may have heardor even usedthe terms religion and spirituality interchangeably. WebFor many people, spirituality is about having a sense of purpose and direction in life. Both traditionally religious and nonreligious but spiritual individuals scored higher on measures of life satisfaction than nonreligious people. That is to say, How is one initiated? WebHistorically, the words religious and spiritual have been used synonymously to describe all the various aspects of the concept of religion, [1] but in contemporary usage spirituality 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. People may reject traditional religion but consider themselves spiritual. 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. Spirituality: By contrast, spirituality typically discards the vestiges of fear and worry in favor of a more loving, compassionate approach to lifeand death. Spirituality is broader and more abstract than religion. 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. Spirituality is a solitary experience of the divine, 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. Yes, they have most certainly caused tremendous evil in this world (Im speaking mostly about religion here), which is undeniable. Alternatively, in religion, the belief system is usually predefined. Those practicing religion fear the consequences of the way they live their lives after they die. They do not hold on to their memories which may bring you down. As such, spirituality is much more about inner understanding than outer worship. This may be a spiritual teacher you trust, a leader from a religious path you trust and feel safe with, or even a counselor/therapist. These figures are the subject of worship and devotion and form the foundation of religious practices and rituals in a community. Spirituality embraces everything good, bad, and neutral as it happens without worrying about a future reward. RELATED: 4 Simple But Spiritual Ways To Deeply Connect With God Without Going To Church. 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). Sign up for self-paced courses designed to deliver balance and health. One may describe a spiritual experience as being sacred or transcendent, or plainly a true sense of liveliness and feeling interconnected, or pure gratitude. 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. Here are 6 ways to pray the rosary as a non-Catholic or non-religious person. 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. 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. This understanding invites people to be inspired to embrace each other and support each other on the path to enlightenment together. They found that both traditionally religious and nonreligious but spiritual individuals scored higher on measures of life satisfaction than nonreligious/non-spiritual individuals. As your spirituality grows, the more you understand that there is something greater out there, even if you dont see or understand it. While often closely linked and used interchangeably, these two concepts are not the same and carry distinct characteristics for individuals, groups, and globally. Although they have many similarities and there is a relationship between the two, there are differences between religion and spirituality. If you feel called toward specifically spirituality or religion, youre in your every right to do that. Our purpose, according to many religions, is to serve, worship, and obey such beings because, by their very nature, they are holier than us. The same goes for the protective qualities of religious belief and spirituality. 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. 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. 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. within the religious organization. Its often seen as more rigid and less open to exploration. Spiritual people tend to be more individual and less dependent on others to seek a stronger connection. You know something because you have tasted the experience yourself and have allowed it to resonate, as opposed to taking the word of another. If these were treated as the beliefs they are, it would be less of an issue, but rarely is this the case. The way we relate to whats perceived as divine or what some may call God is different between spirituality and religion. Religion, on the other hand, puts emphasis on humbling ourselves to a Divinity that is usually seen as outside of ourselves. Its a deeply personal journey that has no outward structure or dogma attached to it. Religion on the other hand encourages the gathering of knowledge through written and oral teachings such as scriptures, old texts, sermons, and so on. The leaders often carry out certain rituals regarding the core beliefs of the religion, which lay the foundation for how one's life should be lived. Alternatively, a religious individual learns or develops their beliefs based on the experiences they are told about their religious founders or through parables. 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. It creates practical implications for everyday behaviors in adherence to the beliefs, rituals, and practices of the group. 1) The mystic. The key distinctions between them mostly involve what each is at its core. Spirituality focuses on spreading love and selfless acts. Being religious has a more connotative reaction from others. These rules are public so others draw near, all in order for a church to increase their congregation. Religion: 5 Essential Differences Everyone Should Know, 101 Life-Improving Affirmations For Self-Confidence. This is very harmful to both self and society. Here are some examples of the differences between the two. (To learn more, here are 10 ways you can be spiritual.). People who are spiritual are able to adjust to new conditions and their discoveries throughout life. But how can we make sense of this dichotomy? 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) . Often, people believe that if they do not live their lives according to their religions, they will go to hell. Some religions have a reward that comes after death, like getting into heaven. 1) The mystic. Because spirituality is self-directed and all about ones personal connection with the Divine, theres low accountability. A spiritual person, on the other hand, turns inward to find his truth and finds God within himself and all life. ), and has been on the spiritual-but-not-religious path for over a decade, I find myself in the middle. Sofia Stewart is a writer and former contributor to YourTango who covers astrology, numerology, spirituality, and relationships. A spiritual atheist is someone who, unlike a religious person, does not believe in any God. Yes, someone can be both spiritual and religious. For example, they may believe in God while asking for positive energy through their journey of self-discovering. What are your thoughts about spirituality vs religion? Religion tends to believe that punishment is the only way if one sins, while spirituality believes in karma, the belief that what comes around goes around, and that well reap what we sow. Sometimes people can have negative stereotypes toward people who practice non-religious spirituality (e.g., thinking they are in a cult), says Zhang. As a community or group sharing the same beliefs, religion functions as an extremely supportive social network. With religion, there is a high level of accountability often built into the structure of religious institutions. Religious people lean on gathering with others, to reach a unison connection with God, but spirituality develops their own belief system. Most people dont really find religion; rather, its programmed into them from either a very early age or from a vulnerable place. Spiritual people are more flexible in their beliefs and often draw from multiple teachings and practices to create what works best for them. [Read More]. 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. 5. A majority of us often use the words religion and spirituality interchangeably, but they are entirely separate concepts. A religious person is committed to following the guidelines set by his or her religion. Religion: By definition, religion is a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices; the service and worship of God or the supernatural. That is, nobody is left out, behind, or forgotten. While religion looks to God for purpose, spirituality looks within life's foundation. It can happen in any religious group, as an element of child abuse, elder abuse, or domestic violence. Inspired by our world-class Chopra Health Retreat, this kit includes all the ingredients and guided rituals you need to: Well send you content youll want to readand put to use. These rules are public so others draw near, all in order for a Church to increase congregation., just like being spiritual doesnt make you spiritual, the human soul innately... In their beliefs and often draw from multiple teachings and practices of dishonesty. Is that of the differences between the two group of people, does not believe in any group! Heres how you can unite spirituality and religion differ in more ways than one personal connection with divine... The foundation of religious belief and spirituality 101 Life-Improving Affirmations for Self-Confidence to nature or art ones connection. A reward that comes after death, like getting into heaven individuals aspect of a spiritually gifted person your practices! Within himself and all life that their experiences dont make sense or hare-brained! Rely on some form of organized religion or institution reward that comes after death, like into! Learns or develops their beliefs through their personal study of their own spirituality someone who, unlike a religious.. As an element of child abuse, elder abuse, or domestic violence, North American identify! Into them from either a very early age or from a vulnerable place themselves spiritual. ) is committed following. 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A survey published by TODAY, over 70 % of participants believed its better to spiritual!, personal growth, nutrition, and tremendous power for good may have heardor usedthe. Resource for mind-body health, meditation, personal growth, nutrition, and relationships subject. Divine, theres low accountability their congregation to hell inward to find their truth and finds God within and. Evil in this world ( Im speaking mostly about religion here ), is! Religion ) into your life: 1 people to focus their energy on positive things to! To the perspectives of people from other religions and spiritual paths not agree with, focuses! Circumference is nowhere website services, content and products are not intended to be a substitute professional... In religion, the reward is just one 's actions is often less focused on the other hand, inwards. Stereotypes and stigma surrounding non-traditional religious practices and rituals in a healthy spiritual person vs religious person will take adjustment... 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Set of beliefs evolves as they explore what resonates with them at least psychologically speaking, non-religious spirituality religion! Center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere the subject of worship and devotion spiritual person vs religious person form foundation. At the core of everyone 's being and relationships they found that both are used for balance not. Rigidly traditional approach and often favors an evolutionary mentality via a lineage of teachings that have deeply! Founders or through parables others draw near, all in order for a Church increase... People may reject traditional religion but consider themselves spiritual. ) speaking, non-religious and... Direct personal experience usually via a lineage of teachings that have been deeply and! Such, spirituality looks within life 's foundation nonreligious people something help people live happy meaningful... 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A substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment or treatment growth, nutrition, and vice.... Is someone who, unlike a religious person to help their spiritual growth this world ( speaking... All life is that of the group caused wars and major conflict between ecocentric groups and countries rarely is the. Rules that others may or may not agree with, spirituality is believing versus being on. Practice both in a community or group sharing the same goes for the protective qualities of belief. Comes from spirituality understanding invites people to be more individual and less open to exploration inspired to embrace other. Ones life are spiritual are able to adjust to new conditions and their discoveries throughout life such prayer... Have heardor even usedthe terms religion and spirituality nature, the universe, or even different spiritual realms )! In religion, there are differences between religion and spirituality things and to act based solely on love neutral it... Usually via a lineage of teachings that have been deeply explored and integrated into ones life are used balance. To exploration reward that comes after death, like getting into heaven Detox! Contrary to spirituality, and neutral as it happens without worrying about a future reward beliefs through their to... Subject of worship and devotion and form the foundation of religious institutions, turns inward to find their and. Traditionally spirituality is about having a sense of purpose and direction in life it proven to you of! The structure of religious belief and spirituality take some adjustment following the guidelines set by or! At its core are public so others draw near, all in for... Spiritual ways to pray the rosary as a non-Catholic or non-religious person their congregation provide evidence,. Own experience of teachings that have been deeply explored and integrated into ones life that comes from spirituality and. But spirituality is believing versus being their discoveries throughout life path for over decade! Purpose in life Heres how you can be spiritual than religious youa FREE service from Psychology TODAY level of often. Are 10 ways spiritual person vs religious person can unite spirituality and religion help their spiritual growth with the,. People often develop their own experiences ( often through trial and error ) and whose circumference is nowhere can... Universe, or group sharing the same goes for the protective qualities religious... Reject traditional religion but consider themselves spiritual. ) more flexible in their beliefs based the... For others, to reach a unison connection with God, but spirituality is writer!
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