Spirituality and religion are two different things. Find out the difference between being religious and being spiritual and how you can practice them both together or separately.
Some religious people would tell you that they are quite spiritual and their religion gives them the framework to experience their spirituality. Other people say that religion gets in the way of their spiritual practices and you can't be spiritual if you're religious. Who is right? Join Mysticsense to find out. Find out what spirituality is and then what religion is. Find out how to tell if you're religious or spiritual. Find out easy ways to practice religion, some easy ways to practice spirituality, and some ways to practice both at the same time. Decide for yourself whether you're spiritual or religious and how to best practice it.
What is Spirituality?
If you are spiritual, you seek for meaning beyond the physical, and explore self-discovery. You will reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and the sense of connection that you feel with the rest of creation. Your spiritual beliefs will be based on things that make sense to you instead of things that other people tell you to believe. If you are on a spiritual path, you may do a lot of reading, visiting with people of many different paths, and include things like meditation, journaling, and introspection in your daily practice.
Some spiritual people are solitary, and they don't seek to join with others for validation or spiritual dialogue. Instead, they explore on their own and while they may talk to other people, they don't feel the need to include other people in their spiritual journey. Quiet time in nature, personal study, and going within yourself to discover what you believe about the mysteries of life are all spiritual pursuits. Some people step from a religious path onto a spiritual path to find answers for themselves because what other people told them made no sense to them. It takes a lot of confidence to do this and you can discover how to cultivate some of your own confidence here: Learning Self-Confidence by Loving Your Body
What is Religion?
Religion is an exploration of the relationship you have with your higher power. It utilizes a set system of beliefs, practices, and taboos that are designed to bring you closer to that higher power you believe in. While private study and prayer are accepted forms of practicing religion, people often practice religion in the company of other believers. Temples, mosques, churches, Groves, Covens, and other groups are organized to practice religion together. Religions are organized around leaders who have been ordained as clergy and who plan meetings, extracurricular activities, and education to help the people who gather as members of whatever group they lead.
Some people say religious organizations are too constrictive and they stay away. They don't want anyone telling them what to do or how to believe. Other people find great comfort in the structure and organization of religious groups. They like being with like-minded people and they love having the support of the clergy and the larger organization. For some people, their religion gives them a sense of meaning, and helps them to understand how to navigate the difficulties that life may present to them. What is the meaning of life? Find out here: What is the Meaning of Life
Religion seeks to explain belief. Belief about where the world came from and where the world is going is contained within the teachings of religion. Belief about right action versus wrong action is addressed in religion also. Ways to have a good relationship with your higher power as well as a good relationships with other people are taught by religious groups. Most importantly how to have the best relationship with yourself and be your best self are taught by religions. Some people would be lost without their religion.
Are You Spiritual or Religious?
To find out if you are spiritual or religious, ask yourself these questions.
1) Should people seek to follow a deity and make that their true focus in life?
2) Do we need authority figures to tell us right from wrong?
3) Do we need sanctification within the community?
4) Is solo spiritual practice bad because nobody guides us?
5) Is there one way to believe and groups tell us the right way?
If you lean toward answering yes to any of these, you are religious and would operate better within a religious group, having membership in some form of congregation. Learn about the importance of community and how to build it here: Our Communities: Building and Nurturing Them
Now, ask yourself these questions.
1) Is ONE absolute truth impossible and we all need to find our own path?
2) Do you function better when you find your own answers after research?
3) Do groups of people distract from finding spiritual truths sometimes?
4) Is there more than one right way to live and believe?
5) Is it impossible for one person to know the right way, but truth is found everywhere?
If you lean toward saying yes to these questions, you are more spiritual than religious. You may circle with others at times, but you find comfort, answers, and meaning on your own.
Ask yourself these questions next.
1) Is religion good for some things, but not for everything?
2) Can clergy help find answers, but we have to decide what is right and wrong ourselves?
3) Does our higher power expect us to do things, but human beings overshadow the divine’s voice sometimes?
4) Is god too big to fit into one religion?
5) Do religious activities serve a purpose beyond socialization and recreation, but too many people forget that?
If you lean toward agreeing with these by answering yes, you are likely both spiritual and religious. You will find comfort, answers, and like-minded individuals at religious organizations, but your focus is more on personal growth and your one-on-one relationship with your higher power. Read about the great mother goddess and how to cultivate a relationship with her here: Embracing Divine Feminine Spirituality
How to Practice Religion
Religion is best practiced with other members of a religious organization. It isn’t always easy to find your organization of choice, but over time it will happen. You have to ask yourself what your beliefs are and then find a religious organization that matches those beliefs. There may be a few things that you disagree with that aren't deal breakers. Small things like what days are best for worship services and preferred types of ritual clothing are not usually things that will make you avoid a group. You have to decide what is most important for you and what makes you want to commit to a religion long term.
However, while you are finding a religious organization to call home, be very honest with yourself. Big issues like what you believe about life after death, your concepts of right and wrong, views about society and social justice, and the essence of the divine are the type of things that will guide you to a religion that is a match for you. What should your religious tradition include? Should adult education be offered? How close to your home should it be? Cost of attendance should be taken into account as well. Some organizations have no financial expectations of members, but others have mandatory pledges members must meet. How prayer is done matters too. Read about prayers and spells for healing here: Your Spell and Prayer for Healing Guide
A religious group should be on the same page with you about political and social beliefs as well. Your views about marriage and sexuality should be in line with what your religious organization preaches. Your views about things like charity, housing the homeless, feeding the hungry, and kindness to animals should match what your religious organization teaches. Beliefs about family and gender roles need to harmonize between you and your religious group. Something a lot of people don't think about that's how they feel about the leadership of the religion that they belong to. If you disagree with the type of hierarchy that your religion embraces, it's going to cause problems for you down the road.
When you're looking for a religion or a religious group to belong to, it's not necessary to settle on one group immediately. Attend worship services at different organizations. Talk to members and see what they have to say. Be very honest with yourself about anything that makes you uncomfortable. Go to other groups that are very different from one another. Give yourself plenty of time to decide on membership and initiation. There are countless different religions and with each religion, there are countless different groups. You will find the perfect religious organization for you if you are patient. Read about Odin, an ancient god who is still worshiped today here: Norse God Odin- His Many Names and Myths
How to Practice Spirituality
Spirituality is practiced differently than religion. It's more solo and it's more focused on personal growth. Spirituality happens anywhere, not within the confines of a building or religious group. Spirituality can be something that you focus on during meditation, time to read, or just sit and journal. It also happens by surprise when you are emotionally open to it. Spirituality can be something as simple as seeing your spirit animal in nature. It can be having a sudden realization when you hear a profound saying. It can happen the moment you open your eyes in the morning and you're happy to be alive. It can happen when you have an attitude of gratitude even in moments of despair. Spirituality happens anytime and on your own terms.
For some people, spirituality is a daily thing and it happens because of their awareness. People who feel a connection with the earth and believe that everything on it is alive have spiritual moments often. Hearing the wind blow can feel like the lungs of the living planet. Touching the waters of the ocean can be like touching the tears of the mother goddess. Working the soil in your own garden can feel like tending the body of a father god. When you're spiritual, you are aware of the life forces of all living things surrounding you. It might be difficult for you to step away from that in order to focus on mundane things. On the mundane level magic is still possible. Find out how to include magic in your daily life here: How to Include Everyday Magic In Your Life
Instead of sitting with a group of people and listening to a lecture from a clergy person, you might prefer to be marching in a protest rally fighting for social justice. Instead of giving money to a religious group, you may prefer to give money directly to people who benefit from it when you're doing charity work. You might feel more kinship with the earth or even the stars in the sky than you do with groups of people. Living your faith might translate into action instead of gathering with a group of people at some extracurricular activity that a religious organization hosts.
Spirituality with no religious emphasis happens on your terms. You might find teachers along the way and you might become a teacher yourself. However, the emphasis will be on walking your own path and your own way by living your own truth. It's not easy to be spiritual instead of religious. You have to find the answers yourself and your path may be very different from anyone else's path that you know. It may feel isolating at times, but when you walk the spiritual path instead of their religious path, you look for answers within yourself and you stay true to your own beliefs no matter what anybody else says. Your words matter. Discover the power of words here: Magical Words: The Amazing Power of Words
How to Be Spiritual and Religious
Spirituality and religion don't have to be separate, they can work together. While some people are strictly religious and don't focus on their personal spirituality, others don't focus on religion at all and are only spiritual. Some people say that their spirituality is strengthened within their religious group however. Choosing the best religious group for you can help you with this. Being very objective about who is leading your group and where they are leading you will help you to get the most out of your spirituality in a religious setting. Religions are actually supposed to support spirituality. Religions are just different toolkits that groups of people use to enhance their relationship with the divine, other people, and learn how to be their best selves. Conduct and ethics taught in religions are supposed to help people to do the right thing and bring themselves closer to their higher power.
If your religion is taking you away from those things, it's time to find a religion that works for you. You should be encouraged to open your mind and heart to all of the knowledge that the universe has to share. If a religion condemns you from thinking on your own, it is constricting your spirituality. You should be encouraged to explore other belief systems and that there is truth and all religions, not just one. You should be encouraged to doubt things that you are told by your religious leaders. They should support challenging dialogue and they should be available to answer tough questions. To be spiritual and religious, you should be proactive in your own spiritual development within a group of other believers.
Religion focuses on personal development within a group led by a clergy person. Spirituality focuses on personal development on your own. The way to practice religion is within a group and the way to practice spirituality is solo. You can be a religious person who focuses on your own spiritual growth during your alone time. Are you spiritual, are you religious, or are you both? Only you can decide.
Would you like support for your spirituality? Get a reading with one of our psychics started today!
We have selected the most relevant psychics for this article, you can connect with any of them and get accurate advice on this subject.
