Spirituality vs religious?
93006
I've studied many religions but belong to none.  It is not that I believe in God.  I know God exists.  I experienced God directly when I was seventeen years old.  I believe that would make me a spiritual person.\n\nYet we have to remember that in creating this "I'm spiritual so I don't need religion" attitude we have neglected one thing: community.  We are social animals, and thousands of years of working in groups has changed us, not forever, but sufficiently that becoming a lone creature again would be a hard path, taking centuries.  For thousands of years man has thrived in groups that gather and do activities in common. For some, work meets some of this need, but everyone finds some hidden need met by ritualistic gatherings.  Have you ever watched some of the people at a football game?  Body paint, costumes, rituals, chanting, even 'priests' leading the crowd in the chanting.\nDo we need to outgrow this?  Perhaps, but until then, it never hurts to visit an occaisional temple, church, gathering, etc.  Might find that it isn't so much primative as it is comforting and socially uplifting.
697431
To die for one's religion does not make a person "spiritual". It is an indication that the person suffers from severe delusions about "God" and life and purpose. History books are filled with Jim Joneses, the Heaven's Gate bunch and others like them.
800491
Personally I don't have any sort of spirituality.  There is such a thing as nontheistic religious humanism (see first source link), but if anything, I'd wager that atheists are normally Secular Humanists (see second source link).\n\nBasically to be an atheist, one must be without belief in deities.  There are different kinds of atheism, though: strong atheism, weak atheism, implicit atheism, explicit atheism, ignosticism and apatheism.\n\nStrong atheism: the belief that no deity exists. It is a form of explicit atheism, meaning that it consciously rejects theism.\n\nWeak atheism: the absence of belief in the existence of deities, without the belief in the non-existence of deities.\n\nExplicit atheism: refection of a belief in a god. This deliberate rejection of theism presupposes familiarity with theistic belief.\n\nImplicit atheism: absence of a belief in god without explicitly rejecting or denying theism. This form does not require familiarity with the idea of a god.\n\nIgnosticism: the view that the question of the existence of God is meaningless because it has no verifiable (or testable) consequences and should therefore be ignored. It is often considered synonymous with theological noncognitivism (the argument that religious language, and specifically words like "god", are not cognitively meaningful).\n\nAn apatheist is someone who has little or no interest in deities to point that he or she does not care whether deities exist and, typically, is not interested in deciding whether he or she believes in deities. In other words, an apatheist is someone who lacks belief in gods and lacks interest in gods to the point that he or she doesn't bother to determine whether he or she actually disbelieves in gods.
387161
I believe in both but, when we analyze our lives in relationship with the universe there is still MUCH we don't know and understand. So, looking at in from a non-religious and non-scholarly point-of-view; trying to make sense of it which you believe...doesn't much make sense. So pick one, both, or neither and you'll be RIGHT!!!
1097776
what does this have to do w/ religion and spirituality?\n\ntry to get interested....
949549
My best friend is an atheist. He doesn't claim to be spiritual. Actually, I have never met an atheiist who claimed to be spiritual.
784882
it is definitely more important to be spiritual\nreligion segregates whereas spirituality unites\n\nwhen one can fuse both though with a nice balance .. it can work
352180
Believing in Religion and having a since of Spirituality are two different things. I believe in God and consider myself a very spiritual person (which I define as a person who has belief in something more than just the physical/principles/morals, etc). However, I do not believe in organized religion or the institution of Church. Yet I have a strong connection to God. \n\nSo I say it all depends on your friends core belief. He can still have a belief system that does not revolve around choosing a religion.
960780
Sure....\n\nThere is a great difference between religion and spirituality. \n\nSpirituality is born from a personal occurrence with a divine, psychic or mystical experience of one form or another which inevitably connects a person to All that Is/God/Goddess/Allah/Great Spirit /whatever you want to call it. \n\nReligion is second hand opinion of someone else’s divine experience. I think you will find that religions, and especially fanatical religions, tend to separate and divide people, while spirituality brings people together. \n\nThank God that Spirituality is on the increase!\n\nFor those who are ready, no explanation is necessary and for those who are not, no explanation is possible! http://www.psychic-junkie.com
74621
the following Wikipedia article links some studies.  Personally, I think that such a relation likely exists, but not due so much to greater intelligence of those without religion, but because a) academic institutions can be hostile toawrd people of faith, 2) non-religious people are more likely to seek divine purpose and meaning in academic pursuits, while religious people seek meaning from religious pursuits, and 3) intelligent/educated people are going to place more faith on the powers of human intellect than those who do not have such values.
546113
Ask yourself this. Do you want religion in your life, or do you want spirituality? They are actually 2 different things. I think that relgion sprang from spirituality, but somewhere it got bogged down in power struggles, rules and dogma. There are very few people out there who actually believe in the spirit behind the religion, and just give their belief to the structure...i.e. the church/religion. \n\nI had the same problem a few years back. I felt guilty for not clinging to my christian roots, but had a hard time staying true to myself and hearing that I was going to hell by the same God that was supposed to be all loving. I took a long hard look and decided it was time to find something that would speak to the sanctity and spirituality of humankind...and ended up with Wicca. It's not the choice for everyone, and it's actually my own little form of Wicca. I have taken things from different spiritual paths and melded my own. And that is what works for me. \n\nLook to your heart to tell you what is right. Worship if you will, but do it out of spirit rather than fear and browbeating.  It is going to be a long journey, but you will figure out what you need in the end. It will take strength, but it looks as if you have started. Good luck to you!
1115201
Yes you can. Your belief is strong in fact, because you know you don' t need to be seen in church to feel more spiritual.\n\nChurch will only deaden your spirituality. And according to the work of Christ, you don't have to believe in Him either. He died for that act too. \n\nSo believe as you wish. It is your heart and your life. You cannot escape God. He is you. Religion will only teach you seperation.
105424
I believe religion is man made and spirituality is God made.\nToo many man made religious beliefs and rules, spirituality is the relationships between man and God.
25131
No, I have a strong relationship. There is a difference. Religion dictates belief while a relationship is nutured over time. I read the Bible and ask God to give me the details to understand. I have pastors that I mentor under, but I will challenge them if I think they are in error. It is not often, cause I got some great teachers.
5732
I believe there are differences in religions because otherwise we wouldnt have so many problems affeecting mankind today....religion is about serving the grand creator....worship that is pure and is based on the principles from the bible and not mans thinking....religions today do not live by bible principles
1178369
I wouldn't necessarily say so, I'm not super religious or spiritual, and definitely wouldn't consider myself egocentric or egotistical.  However, I do know some people who are religious or spiritual and they're not really people I'd like to surround myself w/, w/ their "holier than thou" attitude.
879609
SPIRITUALITY SAYS THAT GOD IS WITHIN US AND THAT WE DON'T NEED ANYONE ELSE TO MAKE THAT DIVINE CONNECTION FOR US.\n\nRELIGION SAYS THAT WE ARE SEPARATED FROM GOD AND THAT WE NEED "THEM" TO MAKE THAT DIVINE CONNECTION.\n\nSPIRITUALITY SAYS THAT WE ARE FREE TO MAKE CHOICES ON OUR OWN AND THAT WE MUST TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR ACTIONS.\n\nRELIGION SAYS WE MUST MAKE THEIR CHOICES AND ACT THEIR WAY.\n\nTHE THEME OF SPIRITUALITY IS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.\n\nTHE THEME OF RELIGION IS FEAR AND GUILT.\n\nSPIRITUALITY DOES NOT REQUIRE US TO MAKE DONATIONS.\n\nRELIGION HAS BECOME BIG BUSINESS.\n\nSPIRITUALITY SAYS THERE IS NO HELL, NO JUDGEMENT, NO ANGRY GOD... THAT WE ARE LOVED UNCONDITIONALLY.\n\nRELIGION SAYS THERE IS A HELL, GOD GETS ANGRY AND JUDGES US... THEREFORE, WE ARE NOT LOVED UNCONDITIONALLY.\n\nSPIRITUALITY SAYS WE ARE FREE TO CHOOSE OUR OWN PATH TO GOD.\n\nRELIGION COMMANDS US TO DO IT THEIR WAY.\n\nSPIRITUALITY SAYS WE GO TO GOD TO LIGHTEN OUR BURDEN.\n\nRELIGION HAS TAUGHT US TO FEAR THEIR GOD\n\nSPIRITUALITY SAYS WE SHOULD NOT BE ASHAMED OF OUR SEXUALITY... THAT IT SHOULD BE A SACRED CELEBRATION OF LOVE\n\nRELIGION HAS TAUGHT US TO FEEL ASHAMED, GUILTY AND DIRTY ABOUT OUR SEXUALITY\n\nSPIRITUALITY TEACHES US TO HONOUR AND RESPECT MOTHER EARTH\n\nRELIGION HAS TOLD US TO "BE THOU FRUITFUL, MULTIPLY AND SUBDUE THE EARTH" I REPEAT... "SUBDUE THE EARTH"\n\nSPIRITUALITY REMINDS US THAT WE ARE ONE WITH GOD AND ONE WITH EACH OTHER\n\nRELIGION TEACHES DISUNITY AND SEPARATION WHICH IS THE OPPOSITE OF GOD\n\nSPIRITUALITY SAYS GOD IS WITHIN\n\nRELIGION SAYS HE IS IN HEAVEN AND THAT "THEY" ARE THE ONLY INTERMEDIARIES FOR US\n\nSPIRITUALITY SAYS WE ARE BORN IN INNOCENCE AND PURITY\n\nRELIGION SAYS WE ARE BORN WITH SIN\n\nSPIRITUALITY TEACHES THAT WE ARE ON A LONG SPIRITUAL ADVENTURE AND JOURNEY WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY END BY REUNITING WITH OUR SOURCE\n\nRELIGION SAYS WE'VE GOT ONE LIFE TO GET IT ALL RIGHT AND THERE IS NOTHING BUT HEAVEN OR HELL AFTER THAT\n\nSPIRITUALITY SAYS WE ARE FREE TO EXPRESS\n\nRELIGION GAVE US THE DREADED INQUISITION\n\nSPIRITUALITY TEACHES UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR ALL\n\nRELIGION GAVE US THE CRUSADES IN WHICH MANY WERE KILLED AND SLAUGHTERED IN THE NAME OF GOD\n\nSPIRITUALITY TEACHES THAT WE SHOULD LOVE ONE ANOTHER UNCONDITIONALLY AND ALWAYS HONOUR THE RIGHTS AND CHOICES OF OTHERS\n\nRELIGION TREATED NATIVE AMERICANS, THE MAYANS AND OTHER INDIGENOUS CULTURES AS SAVAGE PRIMITIVES WHO "MUST BE SAVED"\n\nSPIRITUALITY TEACHES PEACE AND HARMONY\n\nRELIGION HAS CAUSED MORE WARS AND MORE KILLING THAN ANY OTHER REASON\n\nSPIRITUALITY SAYS RESPECT ALL LIVING THINGS\n\nI NEVER ONCE HEARD ANY RELIGION SAY STOP SLAUGHTERING MILLIONS OF TREES EVERY YEAR FOR CHRIST'S BIRTHDAY\n\nSPIRITUALITY TEACHES US TO HAVE FAITH IN OURSELVES\n\nRELIGION TEACHES US TO HAVE FAITH IN THEM\n\nSPIRITUALITY SAYS WE HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS... THAT WE CAN FIND THEM BY "GOING WITHIN"\n\nRELIGION TEACHES US THAT IT HAS ALL THE ANSWERS AND ONLY ITS ANSWERS ARE THE RIGHT ONES\n\nSPIRITUALITY TEACHES US TO SEARCH FOR THE UNIVERSAL TRUTHS AND OUR HEARTS WILL TELL US WHEN WE HAVE FOUND THEM\n\nRELIGION TEACHES WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO ACCEPT THEIR VERSION OF THE TRUTH