Originally written in 2016, this continues to be a popular post the question so powerful about religious people.
Are you Religious or Spiritual?
This is a post that has sat in draft since March, each day I come to it and write something, edit something out, fix a sentence or exit without making a change. It is a deeper article than most I write.
This is very personal. It is my experience. So many times I have hovered over the publish button only to save it because a voice inside of me said not yet….
Today I let it go. I have found peace with this topic. Digging deep, I understand myself better. I have wrestled with the parts of me that I am not happy with. The hard work towards correcting that which upsets me. I am not done, I have far to go on this Spiritual Journey. But on this topic I have some clarity. Perhaps my experience will help you as well…
I am not Religious, but I am Spiritual. I heard my grandmother (which today she was born in 1913 – 103 years ago) saying that many times when I was young and I would question the difference between her and my Father’s Mother, a Roman Catholic.
As an adult I have always struggled with this. As I started on this Spiritual Journey of my own, that phrase has been ringing in my ears a lot. It is only recently that I think I finally understand what she was saying.
Religious vs. Spiritual
Let’s start with definitions. For this discussion I used the Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary defines these words as follows:
Simple Definition of RELIGION
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: the belief in a god or in a group of gods
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: an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods
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: an interest, a belief, or an activity that is very important to a person or group
Simple Definition of SPIRITUALITY
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: the quality or state of being concerned with religion or religious matters : the quality or state of being spiritual
Simple Definition of SPIRITUALISM
- : a belief that the spirits of dead people can communicate with living people
Spirituality truly is a way of life!
I keep hearing that there is no dogma in Spiritualism. From where I sit, there is a lot of rules in the Spiritual Churches. I understand their striving to create context for the followers of Spiritualism.
Religion is defined by dogma. The religion of Spiritualism is full of dogma. Be it the NSAC or Independent Spiritualist Churches that I have encountered.
Gee, I wonder where you got that phrase “Spirituality is not a religion, but a way of life.” Glad you could use it.
From the best teacher I have every had ==> You!!!