Are you Religious or Spiritual?

I think the question is clear enough. Some people think they are one and the same, others don't. What are your views?

 

Hmmm.. well that's a sensitive and sometimes dangerous subject to touch isn't it? Religion? Anyways, I am both in some ways. I mean in general and in a public setting I am sort of an atheist, because that's the circle I move around in and it doesn't make sense to get into an argument with anyone. But, since, religion came to my rescue when things were really bad, I consider it an important part of my personal life. I mean generally, if you pick up any religious text from any religion, it will read like a positive thinking or self-improvement guide, and that's how I read them. I am pretty sure I got out of depression because of that and because of Dale Carnegie.

Finally, I am spiritual and consider that to be even more important because connecting with your higher self or meditating helps a lot. It provides an interesting sort of energy. On a lighter note, I do feel like "Master Shifu" because I can take a look at my life from a 3rd person perspective thanks to meditation.

All in all, I believe if something can add positivity to your life or improve it, by all means use it.

 

I mean most religions have a spiritual bit to them, so I'm not sure I get it, so what's the difference?

Does it depend on the religion and how you approach things, your mindset and your interactions with other people?

What do you mean by spiritual, it covers such a large area of things that it would be difficult to say either way. It could mean anything from being calm within yourself and peaceful to those around you to sitting in a wood for hours on end communing with nature.

Religion could be anything from the standard Christian/Islam theologies which are wildly varied in themselves to things like Hinduism and Zoroastrianism, some of which would be considered spiritual in their practices, so there's also a massive cross-over.

Also, spiritual doesn't always mean good, it can also mean as self-absorbed as you like in the name of being positive to yourself.

Either way, I think the terms have become so far removed from what they should mean, in some way they have lost sight of their original meaning.

 

Religion is spirituality bastardized my man's interpretations of it, then telling other people that THIS is the right way. All the while getting a tax deduction and a mansion on the hill for their efforts. I'm spiritual with a strong nature bent, and I find the older I get the easier it is to incorporate my belief system into my writings.

 

I am a spiritual being (well, we all are...) living in a physical body. Whatever beliefs that any of us choose to take up while on this physical plane become our truth in this life but nothing can change the fact that at our core we are all spiritual whether we think we are or not.

 

That is really a great way to look at it. I have always believed in a higher power even before I could really define it properly. Of course for a lot of people it's not some dude with a beard in the sky but whatever it is, it's the right choice for them.

 

Strange that no-one seems to have a problem with the general idea behind religion, you know, don't do bad things and try to lead a good life. It's just the implementation of it that people seem to dislike.

Can someone explain what the goal behind spirituality is, what's its purpose and so on. Religion I can understand, but I never got a handle on the other.

 

I think religion is more about having a set of rules to follow so that certain 'bad' things don't happen to you. But people who are spiritual know that the Universe (or God, or whatever you want to call it) will give you the essence of what you yourself offer vibrationally and so a spiritual person doesn't need that 'middleman' so to speak to find and become one with their true self.