subject: Spiritualism VS Religion [print this page] Spiritualism VS Religion Spiritualism VS Religion
Can you be spiritual without having religious beliefs or belonging to any particular religious sect? How do spiritual and religious beliefs differ and how are the two sometimes tied together? This article discusses my views on the role of spirituality versus the role of religious beliefs as well as the similarities and differences of the two.
Both spirituality and religion aim to take an individual towards the ultimate goal of life. The distinction between the two is a fine line of perspective. One needs to have a keen eye for exploration to see what is the difference between psychology of religion and spirituality.A religion does so by spoon feeding the individual. Religion gives the person set guidelines and asks him/her to follow. Often, religious beliefs instill fear of God in you and make you do things without questioning them. Spirituality is worship of self as it believes God resides in you and no where outside. The reasons to do so, often remain unexplained. On the other hand, spirituality is an individual experience of the encompassing effect. A spiritual person finds his own way, travels it alone and reaches there in a state of euphoria. Following a religion is doing a duty, whereas being spiritual is being who you are.
It is possible to have personal spiritual beliefs and religious ones at the same time; very often they go hand in hand. Many times these two types of beliefs serve the same purpose. The importance difference between the two types of beliefs is in their source. Religious beliefs are based on second hand information, in a very real sense, information and beliefs become traditional, passed on through scripture, proselytizing and popular media. Spiritual beliefs, in contrast, are developed individually and quite often deal with issues of a more personal or intimate nature than those addressed by religious doctrine.
Spirituality is independent of religious beliefs or doctrine. It is possible to be a spiritual person without belonging to any religious denomination or adhering to the ideology of any particular religious institution. To be spiritual, means that you recognize and acknowledge a power or sensibility within yourself and outside of yourself, beyond the purely physical or mental. The recognition of the spiritual self and the acknowledgement of forces beyond the scope of rational analysis does not require membership in any group.
