Religion vs Spirituality: What is the difference between them?
This lecture differentiates (and compares) the concepts religion and spirituality. The discussions here are based on a lecture by author Prof. Jens Micah De Guzman.
What is the difference between religion and spirituality?
But before identifying certain differences, it must be noted that in their truest meanings, religion and spirituality are not in any way opposing, much less contradictory. In fact, the two, are very much complimentary.
For people to succeed in life, the perfect blend of religion and spirituality is needed, even in the present days. For instance, people have to be spiritually strong to react to failures in life and they also need to be religiously tough in order to properly shape their character.
To pinpoint the differences between the terms spirituality and religion, it was found in the study of many literatures that these six (6) words appeared most frequently when depicting religion: system, beliefs, organized, person, worship, and practices.
On the other hand, to explain spirituality, these nine (9) words surfaced most frequently: personal, life, principle, animator, being, God/god, quality, relationship, and transcendent.
Notice that the words usually used to depict spirituality clearly suggest man’s self-reflective existence. Moreover, spirituality’s emphasis on searching for meaning in life also mirrors its stress on the importance of self-reflection, which may be expressed through contemplation and meditation. But then again, it does not mean that religion does not involve self-reflection and search for man’s meaning (A comprehensive discussion on this is available in the article “The Concept, Elements and Characteristics of Belief System, World View, Religion, and Spirituality” in www.MyInfoBasket.com).
As explained in many references, the following are some of the differences between religion and spirituality:
1. Religion may focus on doctrines and rules to be followed by its adherents, whereas spirituality focuses on the soul that dwells within a person.
Of course, religion also focuses on the welfare of people’s soul, but religion also cares whether or not the creeds are observed by its members.
Spirituality, on the other hand, is not much on doing things to make sure that other people are practicing the dogmas.
Take note, too, that religion’s doctrines and rules are also geared towards developing the spirituality of members. So indeed, religion and spirituality are not incompatible.
2. Religion may focus more on the outside expressions of faith; spirituality focuses on the within.
As these are means to check if adherents are maturing spiritually, religions may have systems to check if the members are explicitly professing the faith.
Alternatively, spirituality encompasses personal spiritual development, and may thus center more on the implicit or internal aspect.
Take note, nonetheless, that nothing in spirituality precludes a person to participate in explicit profession of faith. Moreover, religion also promotes internal or personal spiritual development.
3. Religions are institutions and may work on institutionalizing some of its sectors, whereas spirituality does not necessarily involve the idea of institutionalization.
Social institutions as they are, religions essentially include group of people in its membership, while spirituality may work on the personal level. This is precisely the reason some people profess to belong to a specific religion, while others say that they are only spiritual.
Furthermore, religions may have institutionalized segments like the clergy or ministry that lead the rituals for the general populace. On the other hand, people who claim they are spiritual may simply work to grow and better the ‘inner force’ with or without spiritual leaders (though there are doubts whether or not it is a correct [or a biblical] interpretation of the concept spirituality).
4. The rituals of religion are intended to foster a community of believers that provide both spiritual and physical support to it members, whereas people who consider themselves to be only spiritual are usually left to their own devices.
This observation is true especially from a sociologist’s point of view. Frequently referred to as a community of believers, religion is “a social force for unity within a group. It strives for uniformity of thought and action in its members.
Religions also provide these members with a community for spiritual and physical support. Most religions have charitable arms that distribute food and clothing to needy parishioners” (“Difference Between Religion and Spirituality,” n.d.).
On the other hand, spirituality is more of an individual phenomenon.
5. To some outsiders, religion may appear all about rituals, while spirituality may seem avoiding anything that can become ‘meaningless’ through repetition.
Most religions employ certain rituals and definite sacred literatures especially in its worship, whereas spirituality may just use personalized prayer and meditation.
Religions may also focus on some rituals and a set of sacred stories that sketch a basic moral code and belief system. Religions may ask specific things of its followers like praying at certain times or the day or week, abstaining from certain foods or deeds, studying from particular sacred texts, or learning some songs or chants.
In contrast, persons who say they are spiritual may just try to achieve a higher spiritual state through forms like meditation, chanting, prayer, or contemplation. Notice, however, that these practices are also advocated by certain religions.
A conclusion
Remember that truly religious people are typically spiritual people as well. However, some people who profess to be ‘only spiritual’ say that they do not have to be religious. They claim that they may work to attain a heightened spirituality through ‘alternative’ methods (though many doubt if “true spirituality” can really be attained apart from religion).
Generally speaking though, religion and spirituality are vitally intertwined. Both refer to man’s desire to find inner peace, spiritual development, and God, regardless of the terminology they use.
Yes, there are perceived differences between the two, but those differences very much depend on one’s limited definition of the two terms and on a person’s perceived emphases of the two concepts. (Read also: The Concept, Elements and Characteristics of Belief System, World View, Religion, and Spirituality)
Also Check Out: The Worldview of Atheism by Jensen DG. Mañebog