Spirituality has really come into the scene in contemporary terms for the "Western World". In the western world, there has become a broader view of spirituality. Religious individuals feel that spirituality is a part of their religious practice although spirituality has become more and more detached from religious practices and become more secular in nature. What is meant by spiritual secularism is a spiritual outlook that is more personalized, less structured, and more open to new influences.
Religious Fundamentalists feels as if there is a huge misunderstanding with what "being religious" really mean. These fundamentalists reflect on the meaning of religion/religious in scriptures which is a positive state of mind that results in genuine devotion to God. Therefore, acts of mercy, love, and holiness, are religious. This is not far removed from the term spiritual, which refers to those acts from the spirit, instead of the flesh. They also feel that if you are spiritual, then, naturally, you would be religious. According to Robert Johnson of the Gospel Gazette, whether in worship or service, religion and spiritual are complimentary terms, as we are "living sacrifices" (religious) who are not conformed to the world but transformed by the will of God (spiritual - Romans 12:1-2).
On the other hand, those with the trendy phrase, "I'm spiritual but not religious" feel that they don't need an organized religion to live a life of faith. The solely spiritual beings feel that religion practices a faith of the past instead of focusing on the present. They feel to attain liberation we need to live in the present. It is not the past or the future that gives us liberation. We achieve peace of mind only when we concentrate on doing the right thing here and now. The spiritual beings also feel that religion practices a faith of fear in that you do the right thing in fear of suffering in the future instead of approaching God in the path of love, that is doing the right thing because you love God.
From my research and conversations with individuals who consider themselves both religious fundamentalists and those who feel that they are not religious but simply spiritual, these are the contrasting opinions of the two groups. With this, I feel that people's religious practices is sacred and based on their relationship with God. I believe that everyone must have their own relationship with God and that you cannot be saved by your mother's, father's, or even your pastor's faith. Therefore, you must know what God means to you as an individual. Religion is what we practice and spirituality is what we believe.
We practice our faith based on what we believe, so is there a significant difference?
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ReplyDeleteI think religion and spirituality work together. I believe that it is through religion that you are introduced to spirituality. From that point on, it is up to the individual to continue to develop in both areas. I do believe that we get bogged down with performing the traditions of religion that sometimes we forget about our spirituality. But it is important to work on spirituality because it is where your personal relationship with God develops and grows and religion helps to guide you along that process.
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