Define “Spirituality”
3 Distinctions that Make a Difference
1- Religion is adherence to specific beliefs and/or rituals which are arguable.
2- Spirituality is Life, of which all things are a part which is not arguable.
3- God- the notion that there is some force in the universe holding it all together. There is something that started it all and so there has to have been something existing before the universe as we now know it. Even if the universe did burst into existence out of “thin air”, thin air is still something. Even if it occurred out of nothing, what caused it to. There is always the issue of First Cause of Life, of physical form or Life “in formation”. This is worthy of discussion in light of the difference between religion and spirituality.
It should be very clear that when we talk about “invisible” or ”spiritual” qualities we are talking about things that are as simple as the sense of smell. These are abilities or qualities that we know exist though we cannot see or touch them. Other “spiritual” qualities or characteristsics would be “love” or realities like “dreams”, natural impulses, inclinations or tendencies that later prove to be valuable or important. Again, these are things that exist but they are not tangible in that our five senses (sight, touch, smell, hear, taste) are directly affected by them or can make sense of the origin of their existence. BUT, with our inner-senses we understand what our outer-five sense can not. These experiences we all share prove an invisible world of action and interaction, a world of connection.
Spirituality is Life. Being spiritual, according to its truest definition, has nothing to do with being religious or participating in ritual of any sort. Being spiritual has everything to do with living, breathing, thinking, speaking, acting- being human. To be alive is to play a role in Life- spirituality. To be alive is to be spiritual. Hence the you are a human “being”. Being what? Alive… spiritual.
*This is hard to grasp is your mind sees spirituality as ALWAYS being married to religion.
*Note how the definition of religion does not say the set of beliefs being adhered to are required to be about “God”. Religion can be a set of beliefs about anything.
For example: Most Religious Belief of All Time- there is only one way to do [ANYTHING]… All [deadlifting] must be sumo or it’s “evil”); All [running] must be backwards and barefoot or it’s “blasphemy”); All [baked goods] must be gluten free or those who eat them are worthy of punishment); All [ people wanting to live good lives] must have a college degree, get married before they turn 30, have 2.7 children before they are 35, and go to church regularly or they wasted their life.
We are all guilty of being “religious” about something. Remember, being religious doesn’t have to be about “God”.
