Religion, Spirituality, Beliefs

@ladysun (635)
United States
November 10, 2006 10:51pm CST
Do you consider yourself a Spiritual person or a Religious person? Both...Neither?
2 people like this
6 responses
• Philippines
20 Nov 06
Being Spiritual and Religious are two different things. SPIRITUALITY says that God is within us and that we don't need anyone else to make that divine connection for us. RELIGION says taht we are separated from God and that we need 'THEM' to make that divine connection. SPIRITUALITY teaches that we should love one another unconditionally and always honor the rights and choices of others. RELIGION treated native americans, the mayans and other indigenous cultures as savage primitive who 'must be saved' SPIRITUALITY teaches peace and harmony. RELIGION has caused more wars and more killing than any other reason. SPIRITUALITY says that we are free to make choices on our own and that we must take personal responsobility for our actions. RELIGION says we must make their choices and act their way. SPIRITUALITY does not require us to make donations. RELIGION has become big business. SPIRITUALITY says there is no hell, no judgement, no angry God that we are loved unconditionally. RELIGION says there is a Hell, God gets angry and judges us so therefore, we are not loved unconditionally. SPIRITUALITY says we are free to choose our own path to God RELIGION commonds us to do it their way. SPIRITUALITY says we go to God to lighten our burden. RELIGION has taught us to fear their God. SPIRITUALITY says we should not be ashamed of our sexuality that it should be sacred celebration of love. RELIGION taught us to feel ashamed, guilty and dirty about our sexuality. SPIRITUALITY teaches us to honor and respect mother earth. RELIGION has told us to BE "THOU FRUITFUL, MULTIPLY AND SUBDUE the EARTH" ...'SUBDUE THE EARTH' SPIRITUALITY reminds us that we are one with God and one with each other. RELIGION teaches disunity and separation which is the opposite of God. SPIRITUALITY says God is within RELIGION says he is in Heaven and that they are the only. SPIRITUALITY says we are born in innocence and purity RELIGION says we are born with sin. SPIRITUALITY teaches that we are on a long spiritual adventure and journey which will ultimately end by reuniting with our source. RELIGION says we've got one life to get it all right and there is nothing but heaven or hell after that. SPIRITUALITY says respect all living things. I never once heard any religion say stop slaughtering millions of trees every year for Christ's birthday. SPIRITUALITY teaches us to have faith in ourselves. RELIGION teaches us to have faith in them. SPIRITUALITY says we all the the answers that we can find them by 'GOING WITHIN' RELIGION teaches us that it has all the answers and only its answers are the right ones. SPIRITUALITY teaches us to search for the univeral truths and our hearts will tell us when we have found them. RELIGION teaches us that we have no choice but to accept their version of the truth. SO with this, I answer your question, I am Spiritual than Religious.
2 people like this
@ladysun (635)
• United States
20 Nov 06
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR RESPONSE. It is well written and a beautiful description of the differences between the two. Again, my sincere thanks for your contribution to this thread!
• Philippines
20 Nov 06
You're welcome. Hope this enlightens those who read this thread. Thanks for choosing my answer to be the best.
@marciascott (25529)
• United States
20 Nov 06
I think i am a spiritual person. is'nt it the same thing? i would think so.
1 person likes this
@ladysun (635)
• United States
20 Nov 06
To me they are very different things. I see a Religious person as someone often steeped into the rituals and semantics of a particular Faith or Doctrin, while those who tend towards Spiritualituy have a much broader means of worship and connection with God and the Universe as a whole
• India
12 Nov 06
I consider myself as a Spiritually inclined person.
1 person likes this
• India
11 Nov 06
i would luve to be a christian.. cos nothing is as superior relion than this.. cos i know some one who is agreat idol worshiper ..you wouldnt imagine he has a power of DISSAPPEARING,i heard him saying that atlast every knee shall bow..i used to be a both da sides nighter cold nor warm. but when a unbeliever says that ur god is true. my heart wept.and i m into christ now..
1 person likes this
@koushika (693)
• India
20 Nov 06
this is really an intelligent discussion and i wud have to congratulate ladysun for such a simple yet powerful question...as it turns out to be u can see both atheists and theists and who have various beliefs about religion and devotion. well, i say i m a spiritual person more than i m religious, i m a hindu, and i do idol worship and believe that evrything what i follow in my religion is true to perform...the only difference between a completely religious hindu and myself is that i visit temples less...not that i dislike them, but i m disinterested, temples now adays, have gone to the edge of losing their verity, they are visited by people who never regret their wrong doings but give donations to god in exchange for their sins, as though they carry out a business transaction... faith is a relative term, its just a belief, and as long as ur heart is oure with faith, no matter what the religion, u can always find peace in what u do...
@valmiki9 (1171)
• India
20 Nov 06
I am a spiritual person i respect my religion but I do not accept blind faith in all that is said. many norms in religion are introduced considering the political condition of various times.These make no sense in the present day world . so one has to sort these things while accepting a religion.But religionists do not like the change and the chief priests do niot allow change because of the fear of loosing their hold.
1 person likes this