The difference between Spirituality and Religion

[Dover]

"Spirituality is not a way of life, it is life.
To truly embody spirituality it must become a verb."
- Julia Butterfly Hill, on Spiritual Activation


A Brief Historical Survey
of Spiritual Traditions

by P.T. Mistlberger


The Difference Between Spirituality and Religion

Before delving into the history of humanity’s spiritual and religious traditions, it will be useful to define and clarify the difference between spirituality and religion.

There is a marked difference between spirituality and religion, with the former being the original “prototype” from which the latter eventually developed. Almost all bona fide spiritual schools, no matter how loosely organized, begin with the impact of a deeply realized or awakened person. Depending on the communication skills and/or charismatic force of this person, a following usually forms around him or her, with the size and quality of the following being roughly commensurate with the depth and clarity of the teacher’s awareness (though there are no fast rules here. Jesus may be said to have been roughly comparable to Buddha in terms of depth of understanding, but Buddha had a much larger following).

In time, if the following grows to a certain number, an organization of sorts inevitably begins to develop around the teacher. The “organization” is usually led by a particular follower, or followers, who are strong-willed and highly devoted to the teacher. In time, after the teacher’s death, the organization may grow in complexity (or dwindle and disappear). In the case of where the organization flourishes, there eventually comes a time when it is run by “second generation” followers who may never have met the original teacher. At this point, the organization is becoming a religion. It teachings usually consist of written “scriptures” that were either spoken or scribed by the original teacher.

In the case of “high impact” teachers who had large followings, there is usually no one spiritual successor. There may often be a group-succession, where a body of close followers assumes administrative control of the organization upon the teacher’s passing.

In other cases, a direct spiritual successor may be appointed, in which case a lineage is begun. In these cases, where the successor is a worthy and qualified leader, the chances of maintaining the purity of the original teachings are good. In essence, what distinguishes spirituality from religion is the focus of the teaching material. In pure spirituality, the focus of the material is on understanding Consciousness and the Present Moment. Everything is ultimately geared toward that. As such, the dignity and integrity of the individual is upheld, above all else. In a spiritual school, the individual is, fundamentally, more important than the organization.

In a religion, the reverse is true....>

http://www.geocities.com/annubis33/HistoryofSpirituality/TEXT1.html

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"Actually, I believe there is an important distinction to be made between religion and spirituality. Religion I take to be concerned with faith in the claims to salvation of one faith tradition or another, an aspect of which is acceptance of some form of metaphysical or supernatural reality, including perhaps an idea of heaven or nirvana. Connected with this are religious teachings or dogma, ritual, prayer, and so on. Spirituality I take to be concerned with those qualities of the human spirit - such as love and compassion, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, contentment, a sense of responsibility, a sense of harmony - which bring happiness to both self and others. While ritual and prayer, along with the questions of nirvana and salvation, are directly connected to religious faith, these inner qualities need not be, however. There is thus no reason why the individual should not develop them, even to a high degree, without recourse to any religious or metaphysical belief system. That is why I sometimes say that religion is something we can perhaps do without. What we cannot do without are these basic spiritual qualities."
- His Holiness, The Dalai Lama in Ethics for the New Millennium, p. 22


"But we love trees, we love the snow, the friends we have, the world we share
And you find magic from your God, and we find magic everywhere"
- Folk Singer Dar Williams from her song, The Christians and the Pagans



"The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of."
- Blaise Pascal



"I'm not an Atheist because I just can't be that certain."
- Mike Rosen, Radio KOA 850 talk show host
Wednesday, December 19, 2007, 10:56 am

[I Have A Dream]

1. Lunch is over, and I haven't finished it yet, but...

I like what I've read so far. (I'll read the remaining part tonight.)

This quotation is perfect: "In a spiritual school, the individual is, fundamentally, more important than the organization. ...In a religion, the reverse is true..."

You always include such wonderful images, Dover.

[Celebration]

2. I like the idea

That the individual is more important than the organization. Even though I do like a certain amount of order in my life, and in systems (for example, airports where there is not a free for all to get taxis, and cable companies that actually answer the phone) in some ways I feel a little like an anarchist. I am just not into discipline for its own sake, believing what authority tells me, feeling about something the way that I "should" or falling under the cult power of a leader. So, I am not mainstream "anything".

Most people seem comfortable with "group think." I have to admit I don't get it. Any type of organized spirituality, whether it is some Wicca group or the Catholic Church, just is not going to hold my attention. I suppose that there is more individual freedom to think for oneself under some groups than others. Still, I seem to have any slight interest I might have had in all that.

I've been thinking of taking another meditation class because my meditation practice could use some serious help, but then that would be joining a group (class). This is a little bit of a dilemma for me. Maybe I am just a tiny bit anti social!

[Dover]

4. Hi Dream. Yeah, it would have to be a loooooog lunch to finish this article...lol!

It's a lengthy history lesson and I haven't made it all the way through yet either. I liked the quote you gave as well. Hadn't ever thought about it quite that way. And with Pluto heading into organizational Capricorn, we will be reworking just how we define, use and create 'organizations' in general (not just the religious kind). What are the implications to our current organizations if the individual is most important? How would that look and what organizations already operate that way?


So glad you enjoy the pix.
I do love finding inspiring images and matching them to the subject. Kind of like cooking a nice meal and arranging it on the plate to enhance the experience.
OMG! I sound like Martha Stewart...aaagh!

And that's not a 'good thing'............

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Thanks for cross posting

You were very brave to put it out in R/T. I noticed only one atheist there at the time I posted, and found his comments worth a smile. I said that spirituality is to BE. He said it was not logical, or something like that. It dawned on me that, in his way of thinking, just being could not happen, was a total disconnect.

[Dover]

6. Yeah, even if truly understanding it was what he was after (which is not the case)

it's a journey in which the intellect can only take one so far. And it's fueled by a longing for that inner connection, not belief. So not really interested in pursuing that with him.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. Yes,

he appears to be one who lives in his head and doesn't venture out much.

[Shine]

5. aweesome images, dover. and yes, I totally agree.

:D :hi:

[Dover]

7. Hi Shine! Thanks.

What do you 'totally agree' with?
You can use Cliffs Notes for your answer...:think:

lol!

[Shine]

9. I agree that there is a difference between the two.

and I liked those cool quotes you posted, as well. :D

[Dover]

10. On spirituality and politics

The focus in a religion is more on the preservation of the past (through ritual and tradition), and the anticipation of the future. The emphasis on the Present Moment that was the core of the original teacher’s message, has faded, owing to the fact that less and less people have prioritized inner awakening. With spirituality, the “inner work” is primary, and as such so is the emphasis on the Present Moment. Naturally, this requires vigilance and great sincerity on the part of the practitioner of the teachings, and thus the calling is steeper for those in a spiritual school. In a religion, there is much less of a demand made on the sincerity of a given member. One can, literally, pay only “lip service” to the religious party line, and remain a member in good standing.

Spirituality has minimal, or no, interest in politics. Religion, however, usually has a deep and vested interested in politics, and in many cases interfaces directly with it. Good examples of this are geopolitically driven wars, which often have the roots of their conflicts in religious differences.


I've really struggled with this one. Felt I wasn't doing enough to bring about change and kicking our ineffective system, angry that it wasn't serving me.
Hooked into a system that operates much like a religion. And our government has moved a long way from it's core intent as values and priorities have shifted. However, now it doesn't function either for traditionalists who want to revive that core intent, or for those who have grown beyond even it's purer original core intent and substructure.

Is government ultimately necessary when each person is committed to one's own and other member's inner awakening where all functions support that purpose? Now there's a reality shift! Perhaps there are some remnants of early Matriarchal societies in this shift. Natural systems that are very much connected to the earth and to personal enlightenment. And I also think that this is not something that we can design ahead of where we are spiritually (if we build it they will come). It will be the natural manifestation of the inner work and deeper connections to our world.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

11. Many people feel quite limited by organized religion.

That's why so many people say "I'm spiritual but not religious."

They are tired of having churches dictate to them what they are allowed to think, question and believe.

Religions who state that their religion is the only true religion, and all other religions and people are sinners and going to hell, just don't work in a world with so many different cultures and traditions and ethnic groups, as well as instant communication.

[Fire Walk With Me]

12. People don't kill each other over spirituality. -Spider Robinson.