spiritual person vs religious personspiritual person vs religious person

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. Where the two overlap is each person's individual experiences that impact how they think, feel, and act. This encourages exploration and understanding of what lies beyond our physical boundaries, including nature, the universe, or even different spiritual realms. BEING RELIGIOUS Being religious means belonging to an established religious order, whether large or small. Others seek the meaning of life through their connections to nature or art. Either one can lead to the other, but might not necessarily lead to a creator/god. The foundation of spirituality is a pure spirit of unifying force. Religion is faith. People who are spiritual are able to adjust to new conditions and their discoveries throughout life. One may describe a spiritual experience as being sacred or transcendent, or plainly a true sense of liveliness and feeling interconnected, or pure gratitude. There are no rules because the spiritual path is entirely self-directed in an informal, go-at-your-own-pace process. Religion: Despite the best of intentions, religions can sometimes contain a subtle (or not so subtle) undercurrent of fear woven into their teachings. Youve probably heard people say theyre spiritual but not religious when describing their faith, and wondered what it truly means. To set things straight, Im not in either the religion is evil or spirituality is nonsense groups. Spirituality is personal; religion is institutional. I dont believe that were done with religion or spirituality yet in fact, I believe that were not only craving these paths as a species, but we need them. Instead, they believe in a higher consciousness that cannot be represented as a physical being. Spirituality is a universal, personalized experience, and everyone's experience is unique. Spiritual people can feel a stronger connection when their beliefs are intertwined with religion. Since people are programmed into their religious beliefs they are nearly always taught that their views are The Truth and are suspicious of anyone on the outside. Spirituality vs. Staying Single: What Most People Do If They Divorce After 50. They also found that traditionally religious and nonreligious but spiritual individuals showed slightly higher levels of meaning in life (e.g., My life has a clear sense of purpose) and lower levels of delusional ideation than nonreligious/non-spiritual individuals. While one truth is being defined, the other is being discovered. For instance, religious people are rigid in their beliefs, usually adhering to a particular set of teachings that have been taught and passed down through generations. 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. Are you a spiritual traveler? Some people focus on compassion, self-awareness, and an understanding of what life offers, while others concentrate on what they believe is the ultimate truth or what they can do to connect with a higher power. This allows those who practice the teachings to experientially validate them. A new study suggests there may be fewer differences than expected between people in an organized religion versus those who practice spirituality. For instance, both groups show elevated emotional well-being compared to nonreligious individuals. On the other hand, spirituality is less about what you do and more about what you achieve inwardly through practices such as meditation, mindfulness, and introspection. Is It Better to Be Spiritual or Religious? The two dance together, hand in hand or at least, they can do. 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. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced meditator, the Chopra App has you covered with personalized practices and guided meditations for all, available now. Some religions have a reward that comes after death, like getting into heaven. 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. Regardless of whether were religious or spiritual, the human psyche, the human soul, innately craves for something greater than itself. 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. 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 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. For example, you may know people who consider themselves spiritual, but not religious. Spirituality embraces a consciousness-based worldview that supports all human beings on their path to awakening in unconditional love and kindness. Spirituality: Spirituality doesnt dismiss faith; however, it often leans more heavily on direct experience of the soul or divinity. Whereas the word "religion" generally refers to organised forms of worship and a wider faith community, "spiritual" often describes people's private individual beliefs. 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. Its not that their experiences dont make sense or are hare-brained. Those practicing religion fear the consequences of the way they live their lives after they die. These practices are observed by a group of people who share the same beliefs and follow the same traditions. 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). Spiritual aspirants heed the advice of Japanese poet Matsuo Basho, Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. If you have found any comfort, support or guidance in our work, please consider donating: document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I'd like to receive your latest weekly newsletter! Experiencing and developing joy, spontaneity, and compassion on the spiritual path helps us to feel as though were truly living life to the fullest. This is a principle of cause and effect where one's actions or intentions have a direct impact on their future. Instead, it favors an inclusive approach. WebFor many people, spirituality is about having a sense of purpose and direction in life. The content produced by YourTango is for informational and educational purposes only. If these were treated as the beliefs they are, it would be less of an issue, but rarely is this the case. Religious beliefs and spiritual beliefs differ in the ways in which they are practiced. Conversely, there can be individuals who are devoutly religious but are not what most would consider deeply spiritual. Spirituality is about one's soul and inner self. Because of this, someone who practices spirituality may continually change their beliefs throughout their life. First up in the types of spiritual personalities is the mystic. This suggests that most people feel that spirituality is more beneficial than religion for personal growth and development. | They believe in sacred scriptures and expressing their own translation. Religion, on the other hand, is about submitting oneself to a certain path (i.e., obedience) and searching for freedom from suffering. A new studysuggests there may be fewer differences than expected between people in an organized religion and those who practice spirituality. In the recognition that pure spirit is a unifying force, no one is left out. The difference between a spiritual and religious person boils down to how they see God. 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. Spirituality: Definition, Types, Benefits, and How to Practice 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. WebSpiritual abuse is not limited to one religion, denomination, or group of people. It's a blind belief in something with unconditional acceptance of its teachings. Description for this block. 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. 1. As a survivor of fundamentalist religious abuse, her mission is to help others find love, strength, and inner light in even the darkest places. Do you rely on the rituals of a certain church to carry you through times when your faith begins to wane? 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.". Although they have many similarities and there is a relationship between the two, there are differences between religion and spirituality. (Traditionally religious people scored highest.) Everyone has their own unique path, so if you dont feel called to invite spirituality or religion into your life, that is totally okay. Spirituality leans heavily on the personal experience of one's soul. Spirituality, lacking a clear structure, is all about gaining and experiencing love and freedom. They can also be experienced 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!) Somatic Bodywork: 7 Types For Psychospiritual Healing, 7 Vagus Nerve Exercises For Nervous System Healing, How to Begin a Spiritual Journal (Start Here! Lives in the present moment and grateful. You can belong to a religious group and still be spiritual, and vice versa. 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. Its centered around doing the work or in different terms, getting hands-on experience.. (Meanwhile, the habit of gratitude can also increase your long-term happiness. Religion and spirituality can: Offer comfort in times of grief. WebTraditional religion involves accountability and responsibility; spirituality has fewer requirements. Spirituality As such, spirituality is much more about inner understanding than outer worship. See what you like and resonate with and take note there are more similarities between you and other paths than you may think.4. Many people rely on their own understanding of the world when making decisions or expressing themselves. With spirituality, self-discovery has no boundaries. Spirituality teaches sacredness or that the Divine can be experienced, felt, and embodied. This is understandable in that all religions wish to preserve the essence of their teachings so they may be accurately transmitted through history. They are flexible in their beliefs. 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. Spirituality does not feature such characteristics. You do you. Lets try to clear things up by taking a closer look at the most defining differences between religious and spiritual paths. WebSome non-religious people can be thought of as spiritual but not religious (SBNR). 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. In the US, > 90% of older people consider themselves religious or spiritual; about 6 to 10% are atheists and do not seek meaning through religion or a spiritual life. This empowers people to discover their own truths without setting any limits as to the depth of one's understanding. Spirituality also fosters a sense of interconnectedness with things beyond what we can see and touch. A spiritual person cares about people, animals and the planet. A spiritual persons set of beliefs evolves as they learn more through their personal study of their own spirituality. In other words, from a spiritual perspective, no one has a monopoly on the truth. Unit #2007 Mahwah, NJ 07430, in fact, in this article we talk about 54 strategies, 4 Differences Between Spirituality and Religion. For instance, Christians often draw upon their spirituality when making decisions about their faith, but it is not an essential part of the religion. For example, if a person is more religious, they run the risk of becoming socially dependent on their church peers. Likewise, Muslims are encouraged to participate in daily prayers five times daily, with men particularly urged to perform the prayers in the mosque. Luna & Sol Pty Ltd 2012 - 2023 LonerWolf.com. 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). Both of these are routes to discovering the divine truth. The fear of punishment for one's actions is often a principle factor in religion. Do you count on an institution to organize your beliefs for you, or do you pick and choose what you want to believe? Spirituality is more personal. 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