For thousands of years, people have been searching for the ultimate truth. Many turn to spirituality or religion for the answers to questions of the soul, such as “Who am I?” or “What is the purpose of my life?”. While similar in many ways, spirituality has its own distinctions from religion.
In this article, I’m going to explain the meaning of these two concepts, their purpose, and discuss the similarities and differences of spirituality vs religion.
What Is Spirituality?
Spirituality is defined as an individual’s attempt to find the answers to ultimate questions about life’s meaning and purpose. It usually also involves finding peace and meaning in your life.
The main purpose of spirituality is to connect with something larger than ourselves. This could be a deity, the universe, nature, or anything else that we feel is greater than us. Spirituality helps find meaning in your day-to-day life, teaches you to listen to your inner voice, and understand your connection to everything around you.
A person’s spirituality tends to focus on their own individual experiences, involving yoga or different meditation tools and techniques.
| DID YOU KNOW: Secular spirituality is a term used to describe spiritual traits that manifest themselves outside of organized religion. |
What Is Religion?
What does religion mean? Religion is an organized belief system that comes with its own ceremonies, rituals, and rules used to worship a god or several gods. The church, sect, and cult are the three most common forms of religious institutions. Religion is typically passed down from generation to generation, and people usually identify with the religion of their parents or cultural background. For many, religion is a way to feel connected to something larger than themselves and to have a sense of community. It can also provide comfort in times of hardship and is a source of moral codes and guidance.
The main purpose of religion is to provide a personal set of beliefs, values, and practices that help us to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God or the gods. It can also provide a sense of belonging and support and give guidance in daily matters.
Most religions support both individual and group experiences. For example, many religions have rituals that are performed alone, such as the prayer of confession. But they also often have communal rites and practices, such as worship services or religious holidays.
| DID YOU KNOW: Rastafari is the religion with the fewest followers, with only 600,000 adherents. |
Spirituality vs Religion [Differences & Similarities]
Now that we’ve explored the meanings of these two concepts, let’s talk about their main ideological differences.
Progression of Beliefs
The main contrast between spirituality and religion is that spirituality is a journey to find the deeper meaning and purpose of life, while religion is based on faith and is usually passed down from generation to generation.
Spirituality usually means that individuals generally progress in their beliefs as they gain new experiences and insights. For example, someone might start out practicing yoga to get in shape, but as they continue to practice, they may begin to develop a deeper understanding of the spiritual aspects of the practice.
In religion, people are generally taught a whole system of beliefs that the relevant religion adheres to. For example, many children are raised believing in the same religious precepts as their parents; some of them may never question their beliefs or explore other options.
Origination of Beliefs
Another key difference between spirituality and religion is that spirituality generally comes from within, while religion usually comes from without. Spirituality usually involves a personal process of discovering your own truths, while religion is often based on taught core beliefs passed down from generation to generation.
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Spirituality
In spirituality, our beliefs come from our own direct experiences. For example, we might have a spiritual awakening after meditating for many years or have a life-changing experience that leads us to reevaluate our beliefs. Spirituality provides individuals with a sense of peace, purpose, and belonging.
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Religion
In religion, our core beliefs usually come from what we are taught by others. A religious person is led to have confidence in God or the scriptures as being the unchangeable and ultimate truth through religion. Religious faith involves trust in something based on unquestioning acceptance of the religion’s teachings. Religions do not need proof to validate their assertions, as opposed to the scientific worldview. The path to salvation is often described as acceptance and surrender to God.
Rules
When comparing religion vs spirituality, it’s important to remember that most religions are built around rules, while spirituality is based on following your heart and connecting with something higher. Many religions have dietary restrictions or rules about how to dress, for instance. That said, many spiritual traditions also have guidelines that practitioners are expected to follow.
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Punishment vs. Karma
Religion is dogmatic, and there IS a right or wrong way of doing things. This can create a feeling of separation from others who do not follow the same set of beliefs. In religion, the focus is often on following the rules and teachings of the religion. In order to please God and avoid punishment, followers of a particular religion are expected to follow the relevant set of rules. The purpose of religion having rules is to provide structure and discipline in people’s lives.
In spirituality, there is no punishment for a certain behavior, instead, karma is the inherent power that balances things. The choice of indulging in certain behaviors is yours, but you face the consequences. This makes it individualized, and there is no good or bad way to do things.
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Belief vs. Spiritual Experience
The foundation of religion is faith. That is a person’s acceptance of the religion’s teachings. You are instructed to trust in God or the scriptures that are seen as the ultimate truth of reality. That’s why you follow the rules of the relevant religion.
In spirituality, there are no strict rules to follow, in order to be a part of something or some group. The rules are often guidelines that can vary according to your own spiritual belief. Spirituality is about personal experience and finding your inner self. Often things are experienced and learned through trial and error. In spirituality, the emphasis is generally on your own journey and your own experiences, while setting your own rules. You might explore different spiritual traditions or practices to see what works best for you.
Individual vs. Group Beliefs
Another key difference between religion and spirituality is that religion is usually based on group beliefs, while spirituality is a more individualized journey.
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Religion
With religion, the focus is often on following the teachings of the group, such as a particular church or denomination. Religion allows people to connect with others who share their beliefs. Religious followers have a sense of community, which is one of the reasons why some religious rituals are often practiced in groups. Some individuals, on the other hand, view religion as a personal thing because religious beliefs can be intimate and individual.
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Spirituality
With human spirituality, the focus is more on our personal journey and our own experiences. We might explore different spiritual traditions or practices to see what works best for us. There’s usually a lot of flexibility in how you practice it. Spirituality is more concerned with the overall message than the details of the original narrative. The Christian Bible, for example, maybe studied in great detail by some people, strictly following the 10 Commandments, while spiritual people might take away generalized lessons from it, such as feeling gratitude for one’s blessings or being honest at all times.
| DID YOU KNOW: Hinduism is not a single religion. It’s a variety of beliefs and ideas that share the same set of gods and concepts. |
Key Takeaways
| With religion, people are generally taught a system of beliefs and moral principles. Meanwhile, in spirituality, there is a progression of beliefs, and people choose what to believe in as they evolve and grow. |
| Spiritual people focus on their own personal experiences in a search for their own truths, whereas religious people’s beliefs come from what they are taught according to the religion’s doctrines or religious leaders. |
| Religion is generally founded on group beliefs, while spirituality is more of an individual experience. |
| Religion usually comes with a set of clear rules of what is considered right or wrong; spirituality is more flexible, with no rules set in stone concerning right or wrong, seeing it all as personal choices and paths. |
Wrap Up
No matter whether you put on your Sunday best every week and go to church or meditate on the sunrise in a lavender field, both religion and spirituality are meant to give us peace, long-term happiness, and a sense of purpose in life. These concepts are two different approaches to searching for and understanding the ultimate truth. Religion is based on rules and a clear distinction between right and wrong, while spirituality is more indefinite and individual. Religion offers a sense of community, while spirituality provides a more personal connection to something greater.
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