Spirituality vs Religion The Journey Exploring Spirituality in 2023 How Religion Differs from Spirituality

Spirituality vs Religion — The Journey Exploring Spirituality in 2023

Many people think of religion as something spiritual.  But spirituality and religion are not the same.  Learning how religion and spirituality differ is the goal of this discussion.  Welcome to “the journey exploring spirituality in 2023.”

As society evolves, more people are beginning to question traditional religious doctrine.  The debate on the differences between religion and spirituality intensifies.  The shift in public opinion is that religion and spirituality are not the same things.  But who will ultimately win the argument?

“Mythology may, in a real sense, be defined as other people’s religion.  And religion may, in a sense, be understood as the popular misunderstanding of mythology.”  — Joseph Campbell

The journey exploring spirituality in 2023 is a quest to dispel the confusion.  In the end, you will have a clearer understanding of these two approaches.  You will see how spirituality and religion are not the same things.

How Religion Differs From Spirituality

Much of this debate is on the meaning we apply to words and the perspective of our worldview.

The religion of one person is the mythology of another.  Looking at any religion from the outside gives us a clear perspective on the use of language and metaphor.  Many people use the words religion and spirituality interchangeably.  In reality, spirituality and religion are not the same things at all.

It’s important though to distinguish between religion and spirituality.”  — Paulo Coelho

The best way to understand how religion differs from spirituality is to see how these terms got confused to begin with.  Then, we can look at how these two terms are defined.  This perspective will help us compare the differences and similarities.

Spirituality vs Religion Just Meaningless Terms

spirituality and religion are not the same

Words become meaningless with overuse and misuse.  Semantic satiation is the loss of meaning because of repetition or overuse.  We lose the real meaning when it is used for different things.  So, when people use these three terms interchangeably, it further distorts their meaning.  All three words have different meanings.  However, today, it’s common for people to think they mean the same thing, making these words meaningless adjectives.

The overuse and misuse of these words create confusion, complicating matters more.  However, people continue to use them interchangeably because they are a part of the common language.  It is like saying common filler words such as okay, yeah, and sure.  It is doubtful this situation will change.  Hence, we need to learn how to deal with it.  This kind of misuse hides the conflict of spirituality vs religion.

Spiritual terms are prone to overuse because they have become some of the most commonly used adjectives.  Spiritual words depend upon their use and social context.  We can use spiritual terms to enhance any conversation.   For instance, you might hear someone say eating hot, spicy food is a spiritual experience.  There is a sense of respect attached to spirituality.

So, one of the best ways to find out if they understand the terms they use is to ask them to define the term in the context.  If they confuse religion with spirituality, you can correct them.  Fixing the context is an automatic function of language.  We immediately know when someone uses a term as a meaningless descriptor.  If you learn to listen, you’ll find people use these terms to spice up or spiritualize their language.

The Solution to Overuse and Misuse

The key to unraveling this confusion is twofold.   First, we find the dictionary meaning of the word.  The second part is more complicated because we need to determine the context of its use.   To find the context, we need to know the intent behind its use.  What was the person trying to convey with its use?  Was it used as an adjective, or does its use point to a deeper, more intrinsic meaning?

Most of the time, people use these words as meaningless adjectives or jargon.  It is part of their memorized lexicon.  Even though spirituality and religion are not the same things, they don’t know the difference.  They use these terms because it makes them sound spiritual.

Understanding the intent can be more challenging.  For this reason, we need to hone our listening skills.  Sometimes, we can grasp the meaning of the word if they elaborate.  Above all, the best way is to ask them directly what they mean when using one of these words.  If they can’t explain the meaning of the words, or if the meaning is vague, then you know they are using it as meaningless jargon.

The Journey Exploring Spirituality in 2023

The confusion over the terms religion and spirituality isn’t by accident.  Western organized religion usurps everything spiritual to present itself as the only path.  The goal of spirituality is to provide a framework for the inner quest.  Spiritual exploration is the process of exploring consciousness.  It opens our spiritual gifts so that we can reach our full potential.   Organized religion attempts to assimilate this concept into its mythology and superstition.

However, science has helped society to evolve beyond the answers provided by theology.  More and more people are questioning the motives of organized religion.  Are the myths and superstitions of Western theology a viable path to spirituality?  Let’s look at some definitions which help clarify this issue.

What is Spirituality

Spirituality is the exploration of the Spirit.  Our Spirit is consciousness.  Exploring consciousness is a path that helps us understand who and what we are.  In turn, this helps us to understand the intrinsic value of life.  When someone lives a spiritual life, they promote harmony and the positive virtues of the Spirit.  At our core, we are Spirit, synonymous with our Soul or the Observer of our experience.

“Religion is the rules, regulations, ceremonies and rituals developed by man to create conformity and uniformity in the approach to God. Spirituality is God’s call in your soul.” — Iyanla Vanzant

Even people who do not have religious beliefs want to know more about the unknown, the mysterious inner world.  What is consciousness, and who is the person we talk to inside our heads?   These questions come into play when we use the term spirituality.  The bottom line is that you don’t need religion to be spiritual.  Spirituality isn’t a belief in mythology.  Spirituality is a way of exploring important questions.

What is Religion

If you ask a religious person to define spirituality, they will describe their beliefs in mythology and superstition.  Their religion has nothing to do with consciousness and awareness; it’s all about believing in things beyond proof.

Religion focuses on doctrines and dogma, which are based on mythology and superstition.  Western organized religions promote sectarian prejudice and discrimination.  They use their belief in an imaginary friend and ancient texts to justify their bigotry.  The primary purpose is to create a cash flow system.

There are over 10,000 religions today.  Each one claims they alone are correct.   Undoubtedly, Western organized religion is the most influential of these religions.  These are Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, and account for about 2,000 sects.  Together, they have over 4 billion followers.  As a result, they can influence cultures on a global scale.  That’s cultural clout.

We remind you of the beginning discussion on how religion differs from spirituality.  One thing religion does well is to sell answers for the unknown.  For instance, heaven or afterlife beliefs are one of the top-selling items.  To do this, they use faith to overcome any opposing arguments or facts.  So, a believer must cling to their faith in the afterlife to avoid facing the fear of death.  In short, you secure your place in heaven with belief and monetary contributions.  There are zero customer complaints.

A point often overlooked is the slippery slope of religious doctrine.  Instead of bringing out the best in humanity, it can bring out the worst.  People use sacred texts to justify hate.  They try to explain away everything from ethnic, gender, and belief discrimination to war and genocide.  It’s all done in the name of their imaginary friend, God.

Religious people claim fundamentalists and extremists are to blame for everything done in the name of religion.  So, the violent acts done by people who follow their religion aren’t their fault.  The legislative attacks on the personal rights of the female gender aren’t their fault.  Nor are the attacks on those of different sexual preferences.  Their religion isn’t the problem.

Think about that.  If the fundamental principles of a system inspire people to do harmful acts, who then is to blame?  If a system promotes bigotry, discrimination, sexism, and genocide, the system is flawed.  There is something fundamentally wrong with the belief system.  (1).  It underscores the ongoing battle between fact and fiction, spirituality vs religion.  But how does faith fit into this equation of spirituality, religion, and faith?

What is Faith

Faith is a term that some use interchangeably with religion.  When someone says they walk by faith, they tell you they follow a religion.  However, the term faith means to have complete trust in something.  It’s the reason faith is the primary element of the largest religions.  But we have good reason to believe spirituality and religion are not the same thing.  Calling religion faith doesn’t change the equation.

Religious leaders teach followers that faith and unwavering trust are requirements.  This mindset of certainty and confidence is a shield.  Some people are proud to say they live by faith while consciously ignoring any facts contradicting their beliefs.   Therefore, it’s also important not to confuse faith with confidence.  Nor should you confuse myths with facts.

For instance, we have confidence that when we sit down, the chair will support us.  We draw this conclusion from historical evidence of sitting in this chair.  Simultaneously, faith in religion requires belief in things with no credible proof.  Faith is asserting the validity of mythology and superstition.  The biggest fear is that of eternal punishment in hell.  It brings us back to the antidote for death, the afterlife.

“The constant assertion of belief, is an indication of fear.” – Jiddu Krishnamurti (2)

The word faith is a good example of how religion adopts a word as a smoke screen.  They use faith to deflect questions and doubts about mythology.  One does not need to understand; one is simply to obey.  Faith is the assertion of religious indoctrination.  This tactic keeps people from considering any information that contradicts their beliefs.

Now, you can see why the journey exploring spirituality in 2023 has been so confusing.   But if you keep the definitions of religion and spirituality in mind, you will be able to navigate the issue.

How Spirituality and Religion Are Not The Same Things

In recent years, spirituality has gained significant traction, particularly among the younger generations.  Unlike religion, which adheres to rigid dogma, spirituality allows individuals to forge their own path.  Spirituality emphasizes a personal approach to spiritual exploration.  The focus is on using tools for inner growth and developing your potential without the constraints of a specific belief system.  This autonomy appeals to many who seek a more personalized and inclusive approach to spirituality.

On the other hand, religion has stood the test of time, providing solace, guidance, and community to millions worldwide.  People are born into families and societies that are already dedicated to a particular belief system.  Its organized structure, rituals, and teachings provide a sense of stability and consistency.

Religion offers a clear moral compass, which creates a sense of belonging.  People cling to these beliefs even if they conflict with scientific evidence.  The long-standing history and legacy of religion cannot be discounted.  It has shaped cultures and societies for centuries.  Although these systems contain bigotry and sectarianism, it is difficult for people to leave them behind.

Ultimately, we must abandon the winner-takes-all mentality to move beyond spirituality vs religion.  We can acknowledge that spirituality and religion are not the same thing.  Then, rather than pitting one against the other, we should move beyond the labels.  Instead, we need to focus on cultivating our spirituality.

The true victor of this conflict lies in adopting a holistic approach.  This allows individuals to grow spiritually, discovering their own path.  This way, they can learn how to leave behind biased and bigoted worldviews.  It gives the freedom to move toward progressive and inclusive worldviews.  Knowing how religion differs from spirituality is the starting point.  It provides a foundation for deeper discussions about beliefs and values.  We hope this discussion helps you in “the journey exploring spirituality in 2023.”

References

(1)  Mom, Dad, I’m an Atheist, The Guide to Coming Out as a Non-believer, David G. McAfee, Good Reads. 
(2) Jiddu Krishnamurti, Wikipedia