The words spirituality and religion are often interchanged between each other but carry very different meanings. One does not require the other nor have to be associated with the other and once understood, may transform how you see your own practice.
Written by LaNyce Bond
Today more than ever is society awakening to the new concept of spirituality. American views towards religion continue to change as 29% of U.S. adults identify as having no religious affiliation according to Pew research data. What does that even mean? Aren’t spiritual people religious people? Well, not exactly! Spirituality and religion have very different meanings and while some prefer to use the word synonymously, they actually take on very different connotations.
Many people are socialized with a religious upbringing. This may have meant you went to church every Saturday or Sunday with your family, taken part in communion, recited a certain prayer for dinner or important events. It may have even been that your family did not take part in eating certain foods. Religion is typically characterized by an organized belief system where there is a set of rules that govern how people in that community should act and what they believe. Religion’s primary focus is on adherence to specific doctrines and moral codes to help individuals be the best versions of themselves.
Spirituality on the other hand is more personal and subjective. For those who identify as spiritual, the collective community may not practice the same belief systems, rituals or doctrine. This type of lifestyle is characterized by a more personal experience and emphasizes exploration, inner peace and personal growth. For those who choose to engage in spirituality they may practice meditation as a means to connect with the divine or repeat affirmations to change their internal beliefs. The means of personal exploration can take one in a myriad of directions and their is a general understanding that each one’s journey is uniquely their own.
One of the many differences between religion and spirituality is there relationship with a higher power. For many religious people they view a higher power through established doctrines or teachings. In the Christian faith, God is an omnipotent male figure that loves all people and judges all people. Christians study the Bible and its teachings to me more like Christ who is the physical presence of God. Those who are spiritual also believe in a divine entity but that interpretation is more flexible then just a male dominated presence. Th divine can represent feminine, masculine, earth energies or etc. and could be one God or several deities. This allows for a more personalized faith and the ability to see the world through different lenses or even different religions.
So essentially a person can be spiritual and religious. They may choose to engage in a multitude of religious teaching and experiences as a way of exploring their spirituality. However, spirituality and religion can be very subjective and vary from person to person. It’s important for people to not take an ethnocentric view as their have been plenty of wars fought over politics and religion. Ultimately, only you know whats best for you.
While more and more people are looking for more spiritual experiences, think about what matters to you. Is their a certain religious institution that captivates you? Are you looking to focus more on a personal spiritual journey? What is the next stage in your own personal growth? What matters most whether you are spiritual or religious is that you are growing and continuously working on being the best version of yourself.
References:
Smith, G. A. (2021, December 14). About three-in-ten U.S. adults are now religiously unaffiliated. Pew Research Center’s Religion & Public Life Project. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/12/14/about-three-in-ten-u-s-adults-are-now-religiously-unaffiliated/