Are you spiritual or religious?

I think religion is a social aspect of spirituality. It makes people feel like they belong to something they believe in. Spirituality is beyond this physical universe in my opinion. I think we are all binded together and to the universe with a source of energy that flows abundantly through us. When it flows freely through us, we get that great feeling of love and appreciation. Religion is based on externalities while spirituality is about cultivating inner peace and happiness. People that are truly spiritual know that all they need is their inner loving voice to guide them.

I wish someone would explain just what being spiritual really is. I know what being religious is but don't understand the being spiritual is.

I am not given to emotions, so figure I am not that spiritual. I am a little bit but that is in trusting God, but not in the fact that others feel, that I stare out in the sky and meditate and look at the trees and sigh. I am religious in that I studied the Bible, and took catechism, read the scriptures, etc., but not that like some of my friends who when the question comes up about an aspect of the Commandments come up with "we must not steal" or repeats an adage instead of giving an example or expanding on it. For instance some say "you must not lie," but I will go into "what if you were protecting Jews from the Nazis," would you say "come right in they are in the basement?" So I guess I am rather evenly balanced between the both. And a person can be spiritual, the gazing into the sky and sighing, for instance and that leads to people becoming Buddhists or believers in the American Native beliefs. Whereas in religion you believe in that particular religion because you study it. Spiritualism just needs emotion, it does not need studying.

Hi lakshmi: I agree with you. In fact a person can be religious, which means following in theory what a religion says you have to do but not a spiritual person. You are being spiritual when you make a real connection with God and change the way you live so I have to say that I totally agree with you. ALVARO

Yes, I think this statement is most probably true. A person in my eyes can be spiritual without religion. The difference between the two that I was once taught at school was - Religion is the belief or practice of faith in a religion and a higher being (God) to worship. A path of life with set ideals. Spirituality is an inner feeling and emotion, where people try to live by the doing of good deeds, meditation, acts of kindness and believe not in one rligion but in a multitude of different religious beliefs blending them into a set of values to live ones life by. These people don't need a temple, church or place of worship nor a written book to follow as they believe worship can be at any time, anywhere. Whether this is true or not I don't know. It was just what I was taught.

I agree that there's a difference between spiritual and religious. I have no religion but I am a very spiritual person. I have my own beliefs based off what I feel, dream or what I am witnessing with my own eyes.You are right people do become religious and you can be spiritual without a religion. Can someone please tell me the definition of a religion?

I am spiritual, but I am not religious. I do not belong to any church nor identify with any religious group, but I believe in something more than just the physical world. I identify with what someone could call a spirit. Spirituality is connectedness with the true self; exploring and listening to your inner-self. I do not believe in any god or higher being. I believe that all things are equal and connected. I believe in a collective conscious. I believe in energy and the balancing force called karma. I agree that religion is a way to become spiritual. It is a type of spiritual path. We just all need to remember that you don't need to be religious to be spiritual and you don't need to be spiritual to be religious.

I am a Christian who feels more spiritual than religious!!! I trust in my faith & my heart feels the blessings of the world. I don't feel the need to brow-beat everybody else into submission of my religion!!! I feel my faith is between me & my God & don't feel that you MUST believe the same as me in order for us to share this planet!!! Religions have started 99.9% of the wars since the beginning of time!!!

I consider myself to be spiritual and I am not religious. I don't follow any system that was already here from when I was born. I've created my own judgements based on my experience and others but nothing to categorize with. But I do believe in my spirit and my well-being for my spirit.

Anyone can be reliious in their faith and beliefs. It takes more than religion to be spiritual. Spirituality is a feeling that you have deep in your heart. I believe myself to be a very spiritual person and i find comfort each day in that.

I am hindu, we believe in gods/goddesses and also on spirits/ ghosts too, spirituality is certainly part of religion.

Hi! lakshmi11! I agree with u. religion is the path to reach spirituality. Sirituality, I think relates to the soul where as religion relates to society. So many religions r there in our society. Though the religions r different spirituality is same. To attain the goal that never deals with any religion is , I think spirituality. It is above all religions. I want to name it humanity to its full core. Though we are not able to help others, we should not cause harm to any creature in this world. I think the scholars say that spirituality is to be always in thought and deeds of God. If we think our fellowmen r equal to god, we can serve them and make god happy.