Ten Differences Between Spirituality and Religion
1.) Religion
tends to be heavily preoccupied with the world of concepts. These concepts- whether in the
form of theology, dogma, philosophy, or personal interpretation, play fundamental roles in
mediating and coloring an individual's understanding of Reality or Divinity.
Spirituality,
on the other hand, is preoccupied with the different levels and dimensions of the
experience of Reality or Divinity. In other words, spirituality is advocating that one's
spiritual experience, at some point, should not be mediated by concepts, theories or
interpretations.
Concepts may
be acceptable up to a certain point, but the general consensus of the perspective of
spirituality is that, ultimately, concepts lead one away from the truth, not toward it.
This raises the problem of how one is to go about differentiating between, on the one
hand, imagination or fantasy, and, on the other hand, truth or reality, but this is
another matter.
2.) Religion
often gives emphasis to issues of salvation. As such, one of the key motivations
underlying many religious acts involves doing something because that action will help one
gain heaven, while simultaneously helping one to avoid projected
negative ramifications which come from sins of commission or omission.
Spirituality
doesn't deny the metaphysical realities or issues of salvation which are associated with
the positive or negative consequences of our actions. The motivational orientation of
spirituality, however, is entirely different.
In
spirituality, one's motivation should be to do things because of the intimate nature of
our essential relationship with Reality or Divinity, and not because of what we might
receive as reward or avoid in the way of negative consequences. The emphasis should be on
doing things out of love, service, sincere worship and gratitude, rather than as a means
to some further, personal end or desire.
In short,
religion is about what human beings seek from God. Spirituality is about what God seeks
from human beings.
3.)
Generally speaking, religion operates on the basis of trying to change people from the
outside in. Spirituality concentrates on helping people to change from the inside out.
More
specifically, religion is concerned with imposing a doctrinal framework onto the
individual. This framework must be internalized in order for the individual to be
considered a properly functioning member of the religious collective.
Spirituality
is concerned with the realization of one's true identity and essential capacity. Proper
intention, thinking, understanding, awareness and activity all flow from a realized inner
nature, not internalized external doctrines.
4.) Religion
tends to place great emphasis on the exoteric. In other words, one usually is required to
perform rituals, irrespective of whether one understands the nature and purpose of those
rituals. The important feature is to comply with the ritual and, therefore, conform to the
letter of what is perceived to be religious law.
In
spirituality, the emphasis is much more on the esoteric dimension of whatever forms of
practice one may pursue. One should try to be receptive to the spirit of a practice. One
should seek to understand the nature and purpose of such practices, not just conceptually,
but experientially.
5.) In
religion, faith is, all too frequently, a matter of a blind, static, rigid, narrow
acceptance of some belief, value or practice. In spirituality, on the other hand, faith is
intended to be a dynamic, living, flexible, continuous growth of one's understanding of
the nature of one's relationship with Reality or Divinity.
Religion
often equates faith with an emotional or conceptual commitment to a belief system.
Spirituality treats faith as a species of knowledge rooted in realizations drawn from
personal experience.
6.) Religion
often becomes entangled in politics. This is so both within a religious collective as well
as in the manner in which a given religion relates to the surrounding world.
Spirituality,
by and large, seeks to avoid the political sphere, preferring to contribute to society
directly, and, where possible, anonymously. These contributions come through the
beneficial effects of moral qualities such as compassion, patience, charitableness,
tolerance, kindness, honesty, integrity, forgiveness and so on.
7.) Religion
tends to gravitate toward a authoritarian modus operandi in which submission is demanded
of individuals. Spirituality, on the other hand, is centered around the command and
respect which a person's recognition of the authoritative nature of Truth brings.
Submission is freely given.
8.)
Generally speaking, religion is governed by rules, whereas, spirituality is governed by
principles. In religion, one needs to know what the rules are before one can act, and in
the absence of specific rules, one tends to become disoriented. In spirituality, once one
understands the principles, one is able to deal appropriately with any situation even if
none of the available rules seems to be relevant to the present situation.
9.) In
religion, the participation of the individual often revolves primarily around interaction
with an institution such as a church, temple, mosque or synagogue. Personal interaction
with the leader of that institution tends to be of a secondary nature, if it takes place
at all.
In
spirituality, on the other hand, participation primarily revolves around one's personal
relationship with a teacher or guide. Participation in some kind of institutional activity
is of secondary importance, if it occurs at all.
10.) The
term "deen" in Islam does not mean religion. Deen refers to those experiential
processes which are directed toward helping the individual to realize various dimensions
of the essential nature, or fitra, of human spiritual potential.
When Muslims
are informed in the Qur'an about God having brought to completion their Deen, it is not a
religion which has been completed. Rather, what has been completed is the establilshing of
the Divine means, method or way which, God willing, can assist human beings to work toward
fulfilling and realizing the purpose and nature of created existence.
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