I'm reading a great book, Choices in Healing: Integrating the Best of Conventional and Complementary Approaches to Cancer by Michael Lerner. In reading a chapter on spiritual approaches to cancer today, I found this quote:

"Spirituality can be considered closer to the source dimension [behind every religion] than everyday religion that has moved far from the experience of spirit and primarily serves social and moral purposes."

I thought that was one of the best distinctions I've ever heard between spirituality and religion...but thought it begged the Sunday Question.

What do you think is the difference (or is there one) between spirituality and religion?



 


Comments

Hal

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:50:29

I think there's a huge difference. I also think there are many "religious" people that lack spirituality. For me, spirituality is something you feel and hopefully live your life connected to. Religion is something you do because social norms dictate you should. Can you tell I'm pretty burned out by religion?

 

Laura

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:37:35

Hal,

As someone who jokingly refers to myself as a "recovering fundamentalist," I can relate to being burned out by religion.

This book also quotes a psychairtrist by the last name of Hiatt saying, "Spirit refers to the noncorporeal and nonmental dimension of the person that is the source of unity and meaning, and spirituality refers to the concepts, attitudes and behaviors that derive from one's experience of that dimension."

I liked the bit about "source of unity and meaning," especially.

 

Jeffrey Bryan

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:24:52

Religion is something you're taught and spirituality is something you discover.

 

Sally

Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:37:25

You can be as spiritual or not as you wish to be without all of the fal-de-ral of an established so called religion.

 

Laura

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:09:44

Jeffrey,

Very succinct...very clarifying. I would venture to say you've captured the distinction between the two.

Thanks!

 

Laura

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:11:35

Sally,

I agree. And I think you can be as religious as all get out and not be as connected to Spirit as others who aren't much for religion.

I do miss the fellowship of church, the singing. But I don't miss feeling like I had to scream when every other sermon was a right wing screed on homosexuality or abortion.

 

Billy

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 14:22:49

Great quote! From my perspective, Religion = Doctrine... a body of teachings or instructions. Do this, do that, do this, do that... then you are following the religion.

Spirituality is something more personal... it can mean getting in touch with your spirit, getting in touch with the divine spirit, getting in touch with something greater than yourself.

You do not need religion to have spirituality, although you can find spirituality in religion. Of course, I think the doctrine is much less important than the spirituality, but for many people, being part of a religion leads them to spirituality.

 

Laura

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:31:21

Welcome Billy!

I like how you phrased your last point...for many people, being part of a religion does indeed lead to spirituality.

And for some, I suspect spirituality leads to a specific religion within which that spirit is expressed and enhanced.

Thanks for the post!

 



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