The Difference Between Religion and Spirituality

Do you ever find yourself confused of what does religion and spirituality mean? Some might have mixed up the understanding within the two. But what is really the meaning of it. Are they alike? Having both essential for us living with faith in God.

The meaning of this phrase differs from person to person. However, the whole confusion stems from the fact that the words ‘spiritual’ and ‘religious’ are mistakenly understood as synonyms. For all of us Christians we must understand this word of faith and live by it according to God’s will. It is very important for us to distinguish the difference between religion and spirituality.

Many people can both have unbelievable beautiful souls and be religious at the same time, but eventually anything that splits or separates you is not good for your soul and definitely not good for the entire humanity.

You’ve probably heard some people say that they are spiritual but not religious when describing their faith. Majority of us often use the words "religion" and "spirituality" interchangeably, but they are entirely separate thoughts.

A Quote to Live By

“Religion is belief in someone else’s experience. Spirituality is having your own experience.”

 Deepak Chopra

Be True To Yourself

Between religion and spirituality. According to google dictionary, Religion is the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. While spirituality, is the quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.

There have been many debates when it comes to this two, but in this article we’ll just minimize the thought and connect it through our faith. Both religion and spirituality place an important role for us Christians. Religions somewhat points out that there is a God and that we are accountable to Him. Spirituality rule out that there is not just a physical world, like human beings we have a soul inside us.

Being spiritual and being religious are both part of being in relationship with God. Religion without spirituality becomes a dry list of imperative statements separated from the life of the spirit. On the other note, spirituality without religion can become a self-satisfaction separated from the wisdom of a community.

Spiritually Connected, Religiously Active

There is a very clear difference between spirituality and religion. The general public often confuses the two terms but they are very different and have varied significance. Spirituality is the connection with your soul and God. Religion is a personal or system grounded in belief and admiration for a supernatural power.

We needed to be both religious in terms of belief about Christianity and be spiritual as we draw near to God. We can say that we are religious as we live by praising Jesus, uplifting his holy name and glorifying his presence. And we can be spiritual by simply believing in the power of God through prayer. What is important to note about these is that they are always related to God or it is for God’s purpose.

Biblically speaking, religion and spirituality should be united, and the result should always be great for the glory of God. As Christians we should be religiously active by baptism, communions and believing in the existence of Jesus. "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

On the other hand, spirituality has been mentioned more in the Bible, but one verse to live by spiritually is in Romans 12:1-2 ‘’Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will’’.

You Decide Your Faith

Being both religious and spiritual benefits us as followers of Christ. It’s not just we are doing it to be faithful but it certainly draws us more to Him.

If you are wondering, "Am I religious or spiritual?" think about which rules you follow. Do you hang on in certain ceremonies of a church when your faith seems to disappear? Do you pick what you believe? Or do you follow some tradition in order for you to organize your belief. These are just some of the questions you might want to consider when you are trying to determine whether you are religious or spiritual.

But always know that whatever you do, you do it for the Lord. (Colossians 3:23) We are always free to make personal choices in our lives, but we are not to do anything that causes another person to fall apart or sin against God. We are to seek the good of others.

Are you more spiritual or religious? We’d love to hear your answers, so feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.