Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!
Here's my crack at it:What do you think is the difference between the two?
I'm not sure I agree. I think that one of the key things that makes a religion a religion is a community of shared belief.My take is that religion is details of teaching and theology, and spirituality is what you do with it. IOW, religion is merely believed, spirituality is LIVED. Everyone has a spirituality.
Thoughts?
Heh, pretty much the exact opposite of mine.Here's my crack at it:
Religion describes practice, spirituality describes belief. Often, the two are linked, but I think that the relationship between them is probably best described of one of cause and effect: spirituality informs religion, and religion is a response to spirituality.
It all hinges on how we define the words, doesn't it? As you define them, this makes perfect sense to me. I see nothing to argue, and would go so far as to say that, while different, our perspectives are in harmony.I'm not sure I agree. I think that one of the key things that makes a religion a religion is a community of shared belief.
To me, it's not so much a matter of religion being better/worse or more/less than spirituality; I think that religion is one expression of spirituality.
To look at it another way: spirituality deals with individual, personal beliefs. Religion deals with shared spiritual beliefs and relationships between people in the context of those beliefs.
It always does.It all hinges on how we define the words, doesn't it?
In that they're completely out of phase with each other?As you define them, this makes perfect sense to me. I see nothing to argue, and would go so far as to say that, while different, our perspectives are in harmony.
No, in that they're both valid definitions of the words. The same question from different perspectives.It always does.
In that they're completely out of phase with each other?
Everyone has a spirituality.
Thoughts?
Hooray! We both get cookies!No, in that they're both valid definitions of the words. The same question from different perspectives.
IOW, I think that we're both right.
OK, but that's not how I was using the word. Accepting my definitions for the sake of discussion, would you still deny that you're spiritual?I would definitely not say that I'm spiritual. Of course, this is primarily a result of the common usage/connotations of the word. For most people, it implies either religious belief, belief in something supernatural, or some other etherial belief about something 'greater' than or apart from the physical world. None of these describe me, so I would not use the word to describe myself, nor my experiences.
I don't think spirituality is about experiences. It's basically about consistency with your values. To approach it from another angle, practicing what you preach is healthy spirituality. Unhealthy spirituality is hypocrisy, intellectual dishonesty, or (more mildly) simply not knowing how to put your beliefs into practice. That last one has been a problem for me in the past.I have certainly had many experiences people would describe as 'spiritual' - in fact, quite often, but I see no reason to see them as anything more than an intensely profound/pleasurable neural response as a result of a particular combination of stimuli and circumstance. No additional explanations seem necessary to me.
I am alright with seeing the most rational/simple process behind the experience without my subjective experience being somehow diminished or dulled. Adding mysticism, magic, mystery, or supernatural elements isn't necessary for me, nor does it add anything. I perceive enough wonder, magic, and awe of the weirdness and complexity of the physical world itself.
Yay, cookies!Hooray! We both get cookies!
OK, but that's not how I was using the word. Accepting my definitions for the sake of discussion, would you still deny that you're spiritual?
Fair enough, and poorly spoken on my part. I think post 12 clarified, though."My take is that religion is details of teaching and theology, and spirituality is what you do with it."
If that is your definition, then I definitely am not spiritual.
What do you think is the difference between the two?