Spirituality & Religion

Difference between Spirituality and Religion

Religion:

By definition, religion is a personal set or institutionalised system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices; the service and worship of God or the supernatural.

Spirituality:

Spirituality is more often based upon the practical application of the founder’s teachings. Spiritual aspirants heed the advice of Japanese poet Matsuo Basho,

“Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought.”

For thousands of years, humanity has passionately pursued the Truth with a capital T—the ultimate answers to life and the universe. This perennial knowledge constitutes the answers to what are often called the soul questions:

• Who am I?
• What do I want?
• What is my purpose?
• What is the meaning of life?

Historically, from the perspective of the soul, there have been two foundational routes to discover these truths: religion and spirituality. Although they have many similarities and there is a relationship between the two, there are differences between religion and spirituality.

Religion is a personal set or institutionalised system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices; the service and worship of God or the supernatural.

Spirituality, on the other hand, connotes an experience of connection to something larger than you; living everyday life in a reverent and sacred manner.

Origins of Religions and Spirituality:

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). The details of their lives as holy or highly evolved beings have been carried to us across the mists of time through oral tradition and written scriptures. These figures are the subject of worship and devotion and form the foundation of religious practices and rituals in a community.

Spirituality: By contrast, spirituality is more often based upon the practical application of the founder’s teachings. Spiritual aspirants heed the advice of Japanese poet Matsuo Basho, “Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought.”

Objective vs Subjective Experience :

Religion: On the whole, a formal religion is often an objective experience. In other words, there is usually a greater focus on the externals:

• Houses of worship
• Books of scripture
• Eternal rituals
• Observances

This is the equivalent of object-referral in which your attention is placed upon the objects in your experience.

Spirituality:

Spirituality, however, leans more toward self-referral or the internalisation of your awareness of your soul. Spirituality is an inward journey that involves a shift in awareness rather than some form of external activity. As such, spirituality is much more about inner understanding than outer worship. This is not to say that worship is not a part of spirituality; it’s a matter of where the devotion and worship are directed.

• To an external practice, object, or figurehead
• To your soul, higher self, or divinity within.

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