11/28/22, 9:56 AM What Is the Difference Between Religion and Spirituality?

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What Is the Difference Between

Religion and Spirituality?
 June 22, 2022  No Comments

Pursuit of the divine has existed for as long as civilisation

has. Cultures have long been fascinated with what lies
beyond this life and what it all means. Since ancient
times, shamans and occult seers have acted as guides
to people experiencing a spiritual awakening. Eventually,
over millennia, elaborate archetypal stories we built
upon core belief systems that became religions. The
spiritual pursuit persisted as many, such as Gautama
Buddha himself, weren’t satisfied with the answers
religion had to offer. They sought the authenticity of the
touch of the divine and the firsthand experience of
spiritual awakening.

Why is it Important to Distinguish b/w

Religion & Spirituality?
While there are several common questions between
religion and spirituality, the answers from the two
schools widely differ. Religion hands out widely
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accepted answers on a platter, while spirituality is a

personal quest. It is useful to define each before Home
determining why it’s important to distinguish between
them.

Religion
Religion is mostly an institutionalised set of beliefs,
attitudes, and practices directed toward worshipping a
god or a supernatural being. It is a well-structured belief
system passed on for generations in the form of written
scriptures and established cultural practices. Religions
have hierarchies of leaders who act as formal
representatives of the institution. The leaders often carry
out the religious practices and advise followers on the
same or give their interpretation of the scriptures
regarding practices.

Religion also has a political aspect, as people in any

country divide into religious lines. Therefore, religion and
group beliefs act as a unifying narrative for large groups
of people to direct their lives and affairs. Members of
religious faith can also have different dress codes and
everyday life preferences. Religious people are also
obligated to follow the guidelines set by their religion.

Spirituality
Spirituality is a personal search for a connection with
the divine and an awareness of one’s place in the grand
scheme of things. It may or may not involve holding a
set of beliefs regarding the item, or the thoughts can
change over time as one experiences spiritual growth.
People can derive spiritual ideas from existing religions
or build a sense of wisdom over the years through their
personal experiences. People can also hold similar
spiritual beliefs with common threads such as a sense
of wonder about existence, mystical experiences that
transcend mundane life, and a feeling of connection to
something higher than themselves.

As we look at the definition of both, we realise there is a

stark contrast in numerous aspects of religion and

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spirituality. Distinguishing from the other is essential in

defining an individual’s journey. As people have become Home
sceptical and rebellious towards existing structures,
spirituality vs religion has become a common line of
argument. More people identify themselves as spiritual
but not religious these days as they want to find
transcendental answers that suit their choices in life
over what is imposed by religion.

10 Differences Between Religion &

Spirituality
Here are some major differences between religion and
spirituality:

1. Faith is communal, while spirituality is

personal
Religion involves large groups of people holding the
same belief and worshipping the same God, and it is the
communal belief authenticated by religious scriptures.
On the other hand, spirituality is a personal journey that
someone may guide you, or you may take the path
unguided. Spiritual people may or may not hold
religious beliefs as well.

2. Someone teaches religion, while

spirituality dawns by itself
People have mostly indoctrinated thoughts toward
religious systems from childhood. The teaching of
religious beliefs, attitudes and practices learnt from
others or passed on through generations. On the other
hand, spirituality starts as a quest, usually triggered by a
profound event that makes the seeker question their
reality and higher existence.

3. Religion is fixed, while spirituality

embraces differing perspectives
At the heart of religion is dogma, and it is
unchangeable. The bottom line is to maintain the
structure of the belief. Spirituality is more open as

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spiritual thoughts often step outside the boundaries to

test ideas and opinions. Home

4. Spirituality is concerned with the

present, while religion deals with the
future
Worship is central to religion, and according to many
good deeds will be rewarded at a later date or in the
afterlife. The essence of spirituality is to be fully present
in the moment to experience life as it happens. It
embraces both the good and the bad equally without
anticipation of a reward in the future.

5. Judgment is central to religion, while

spirituality is open
Religion forbids many things and indulgences in life, and
it is an authority on what is a good mode of conduct in
life. Spirituality is a personal journey of discovery that
has little to no inhibitions. There are no right or wrong
paths and no judgment for what is considered
forbidden.

6. Religion is more objective, while

spirituality is more subjective
Religion is practices and ideas passed down through
generations, and it is mostly objective since the path is
already laid for the followers. Spirituality involves
subjective perceptions and contemplation. While many
resorts to spiritual books, the journey is more emotional
than many seekers.

7. Religion is highly organised, while

spirituality has no form
Being a communal belief that had a long time to
develop, religion has made its way into people’s lives in
the form of politics and governance. It has a sphere of
influence that extends from the personal to the social.
Spirituality is more fluid; it can start at any time and
develop with the person naturally.

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8. Religion emphasises tradition while

spirituality is organic Home

Following religion means fulfilling duties and obligations

set down by the system. The latter may follow practices
such as spiritual meditation. Spiritual development
occurs naturally over the person’s lifetime and takes its
own time to reach fruition.

9. Religion is dogmatic, while spirituality

is experience-based
The path for the religious person is set, and they have to
accept the dogma, whether they agree with it, and
move ahead. Personal experiences strongly influence
spirituality, and spiritual seekers might adopt different
beliefs throughout their journey, settle on a set of beliefs,
or throw it away altogether.

10. Religion is exclusive, while spirituality

is inclusive
Different religions are often intolerant of other beliefs.
Religious followers cannot follow more than one religion
at a time, and spirituality has no such rigid system.
Religious people can also be spiritual, and spiritual
people can pick ideas from different faiths to follow.

Intertwined Relationship Between

Religion & Spirituality
Religion and spirituality are both the foundations of
many of our moral principles. Although most people in
spirituality do not follow a religion, they share common
values such as kindness and the sacredness of life.
Moreover, spirituality can exist outside of religious
dogma and often arises by itself, while religion is a
subset of spirituality.

Similarities Between Religion &

Spirituality

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Religion and spirituality share some common attributes.

Here are a few: Home

Belief in a higher power: Religious people believe in

one or multiple gods who are ethereal beings who
control the universe and maintain order and justice.
Spiritual people may not believe in one higher power
but frequently acknowledge the presence of a
guiding force that is analogous to a god.
The desire to be in touch with the divine: For the
religious, reaching God is life’s ultimate purpose, and
it could be for a reward in the afterlife or a better
place after death. Spiritual people yearn for
connection with the divine for the feeling of peace,
tranquillity and power it brings with it.
Practices: Both religion and spirituality have routine
procedures. For the religious, it is visiting a place of
worship, rites and ablutions, while the spiritual
engage in meditation or similar activity.
Reverence for the divine: Respect, love and fear of
God are central to most religious systems. Spiritual
people may celebrate the natural order of the world.

FAQs

What does it mean to be spiritual but not

religious?
People who do not follow any known religion but
continue on a path of spiritual development identify as
spiritual but not religious. The category involves atheists
who were formerly religious believers and other spiritual
seekers who continue to search for a higher meaning
without accepting religious beliefs.

What are the similarities and differences

between spirituality and religion?
Similarities:

Belief in a higher power

The desire to be in touch with the divine
Regular practices

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Reverence for the transcendental

Home
Differences:

Religion is highly organised, while spirituality has no

form
Religion is exclusive, while spirituality is inclusive
Religion is fixed, while spirituality embraces differing
perspectives
Religion is taught, while spiritually dawns by itself

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