Religion & Spirituality

[Sriram]

Hi everyone,

What is the difference between religion and spirituality?  Many people don't seem to know. In Hinduism the distinction is very clear but other religions teach spirituality more as a 'secret teaching' than as a part of normal religious tradition.

Religions are cultural and traditional beliefs and practices that any community adopts.  However, most major religions have spirituality as a basic part of their teachings in addition to cultural and social issues.     

Spirituality is basically about self development and secular aspects of human spirituality.

https://tsriramrao.wordpress.com/2016/06/06/spirituality-and-religion/

Cheers.

Sriram

[Roses]

I thought religion and spirituality went hand in hand.

[BeRational]

I thought religion and spirituality went hand in hand.

I think you can be spiritual without being religious.

Spiritual is not well defined.

[Roses]

I think you can be spiritual without being religious.

Spiritual is not well defined.

However you define it, I don't think I have ever felt spiritual, even when I had a faith.

[SusanDoris]

I think you can be spiritual without being religious.

I'm absolutely  positive about that! Nobody is going to tell me I am not a spiritual person, and if they try to do so, then they are going to have to come up with some very clear and objective evidence as to why, how etc!! 

[bluehillside Retd.]

Sriram,

What is the difference between religion and spirituality?

"Spirituality" is unspecified woo; religion is codified woo.

Anything else I can help you with?

[Stranger]

Spirituality is basically about self development and secular aspects of human spirituality.

https://tsriramrao.wordpress.com/2016/06/06/spirituality-and-religion/

Spirituality can be interpreted in several ways but the substance-free fantasy in your blog was particularly unedifying, complete, as it was, with an anti-science, anti-rationality rant. The idea that a question could be called an 'argument from incredulity' was particularly daft and serves only to underline the depth of your misunderstanding.

[Walter]

Hi everyone,

What is the difference between religion and spirituality?  Many people don't seem to know. In Hinduism the distinction is very clear but other religions teach spirituality more as a 'secret teaching' than as a part of normal religious tradition.

Religions are cultural and traditional beliefs and practices that any community adopts.  However, most major religions have spirituality as a basic part of their teachings in addition to cultural and social issues.     

Spirituality is basically about self development and secular aspects of human spirituality.

https://tsriramrao.wordpress.com/2016/06/06/spirituality-and-religion/

Cheers.

Sriram

You've got more woo woo woo there than THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE

[Enki]

Hi everyone,

What is the difference between religion and spirituality?  Many people don't seem to know. In Hinduism the distinction is very clear but other religions teach spirituality more as a 'secret teaching' than as a part of normal religious tradition.

Religions are cultural and traditional beliefs and practices that any community adopts.  However, most major religions have spirituality as a basic part of their teachings in addition to cultural and social issues.     

Spirituality is basically about self development and secular aspects of human spirituality.

https://tsriramrao.wordpress.com/2016/06/06/spirituality-and-religion/

Cheers.

Sriram

I consider myself a spiritual person but not in the way you mean it. For some reason you do like to keep publicizing your blogs.  I suppose you're completely obsessed with your own ideas. Perhaps you need to take a more objective, more encompassing, less 'microscopic' view. You just might learn something of value. This latest blog I find particularly unedifying, full of bias, totally unfounded assertions and unwarranted conclusions. You could at least start by opening your mind to other ideas, being willing to take advice rather than being focused constantly on giving it, and at least attempt to understand some very basic and general scientific principles.

Just some thoughts which no doubt you will reject with your usual dismissive attitude.

[Bramble]

This has been well covered before, such as here http://www.religionethics.co.uk/index.php?topic=13736.0

Your claim that spirituality is 'basically about self development' is not my take on the matter. Perhaps this is a case where we might well heed Wittgenstein's advice: 'Don't look for the meaning; look for the use.'

[Sriram]

Spirituality is essentially about finding oneself.  As our animal nature reduces, our  higher nature increases and we realize  our true nature.  That is what evolution and development is all about.

OK...ok...I know the refrain! We ARE animals! 

No, we are not!

[Maeght]

Spirituality is essentially about finding oneself.  As our animal nature reduces, our  higher nature increases and we realize  our true nature.  That is what evolution and development is all about.

OK...ok...I know the refrain! We ARE animals! 

No, we are not!

Yes we are.

[BeRational]

Yes we are.

Of course we are.

Anyone that denies it is very silly

[Stranger]

Spirituality is essentially about finding oneself.  As our animal nature reduces, our  higher nature increases and we realize  our true nature.  That is what evolution and development is all about.

OK...ok...I know the refrain! We ARE animals! 

No, we are not!

You are, as so often before, simply wrong. You seem to inhabit a fantasy world all of your own...

[Roses]

Spirituality is essentially about finding oneself.  As our animal nature reduces, our  higher nature increases and we realize  our true nature.  That is what evolution and development is all about.

OK...ok...I know the refrain! We ARE animals! 

No, we are not!

Of course we are animals.

[Walter]

Of course we are animals.

but Sriram is very special you know !

[SteveH]

However you define it, I don't think I have ever felt spiritual, even when I had a faith.

"Spiritual" and "spirituality" mean anything and nothing. I avoid the words.

[SteveH]

Spirituality is essentially about finding oneself.  As our animal nature reduces, our  higher nature increases and we realize  our true nature.  That is what evolution and development is all about.

OK...ok...I know the refrain! We ARE animals! 

No, we are not!

We are not merely animals,and to assume otherwise is ontological reductionism.

[Roses]

Humans are animals but rather further up the food chain than other species.

[SteveH]

Humans are animals but rather further up the food chain than other species.

The food chain has nothing to do with it. What sets us apart are language, abstract reasoning, and self-awareness.

[Roses]

The food chain has nothing to do with it. What sets us apart are language, abstract reasoning, and self-awareness.

I could comment but I will refrain!

[SteveH]

I could comment but I will refrain!

Not helpful. You appear to disagree with me, so it'd be interesting to know why (preferably with logical arguments, evidence, or both).

[Walter]

I could comment but I will refrain!

Steve H makes a good point

[jeremyp]

The food chain has nothing to do with it. What sets us apart are language, abstract reasoning, and self-awareness.

No, what sets us apart is the extent to which we can do those things. Other animals have demonstrated a capacity for all of those, albeit to a limited extent.

[Sriram]

We are not merely animals,and to assume otherwise is ontological reductionism.

It is a continuity. We cannot suddenly stop being animals and become something else. There are no discrete stages.

But the developmental process that slowly but surely reduces certain traits and increases certain other traits is obvious. It has been going on for thousands of years.

Religions, spiritual theories, philosophies etc. have all been trying to understand and aid this process in various ways.

Whether we call it a spiritual process or a religious objective or simply being more civilized....doesn't matter at all.  It is happening and will continue.