Contrasts between spirituality and religion

Contrasting religion versus spirituality gives us a clearer understanding and appreciation of spirituality. The main differences of religion and spirituality lie in the traditional areas of doctrine, rituals, and morality. All religions have these three basic components: 1) doctrine or beliefs; 2) rituals or ceremonies; 3) morality or a set of laws that govern conduct. It is in these areas that I will contrast religion with spirituality.

Doctrine versus Experience

Religions have a set of teachings that all members must believe. If a member thinks differently and teaches others to do the same, he or she is labeled an unbeliever and may be excommunicated or expelled from that religious group. Thus, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and other religions have a different set of doctrines. In religions the unity of doctrine is of paramount importance.

In spirituality, while there are certain teachings, they are not emphasized as much as personal experience. Spiritual people may be members of different religions but have the same or similar experience. Christian mystics focus on the experience of union with the divine. So do Hindu or Muslim mystics. They may differ on the means of achieving this union with God, but agree that this must be experienced as the goal of their spiritual life.

Rituals versus intimacy

In religions there are certain rituals or religious ceremonies designed to express the human relationship with the divine. In Christianity we have the sacraments and religious services like the Mass, the preaching service, the worship song, etc. In certain religions this is so important that a person is obliged to perform these rituals as a means of salvation, such as the ritual of baptism.

In spirituality, the emphasis is not so much on these rituals as on a personal intimacy with the divine, usually achieved through personal prayer and meditation, activities that are in a sense opposed to rituals. Rituals are performed in a crowd or group of people. Meditation is usually done in solitude and silence.

Now you can see that there really is a contrast between religion and spirituality.

Morality versus compassion

Religions produce a set of rules to follow. This is often expressed in written laws and oral traditions. Thus, the Catholic Church has a Code of Canon Law. The other Christian churches have written policies or a set of precedents. Muslims have Shariah Law. Hindus have their own laws, particularly the laws that regulate their conduct in their respective castes. After a while, the tendency is to increase the number of laws and codify them.

In spirituality, the central focus of human conduct is to become compassionate with all of creation. He was about to write “love” instead of “compassion” in the subtitle. But over the years the word “love” has lost much of its true meaning. In almost all seminars, lectures on spirituality, compassion is emphasized as the most important attitude required of the human being towards creation. This compassion begins with the realization of our oneness with the divine and with all of creation. It is not just a matter of feeling, but is expressed in acts of kindness towards everyone we meet, human beings or other parts of creation. The trend in spirituality is to simplify the laws, as Jesus did, reducing them all to two: love of God and love of neighbor.

The question I would like to ask is: Which do you think is better, religion or spirituality? My opinion is that both are necessary for human life. Religion works like cement in human culture. But with the recent ongoing studies on spirituality we are going to see an increasing number of men and women who are becoming more spiritual rather than more religious. Perhaps churches that have lost their active members, such as in certain areas of Europe, can shift their focus from religion to spirituality and bring meaning to the lives of more and more people. Religion versus spirituality will raise awareness for more people to learn more about enduring values ​​in life.