Religiosity and Spirituality, the difference.
By lhenpaule
@lhenpaule (495)
Philippines
July 11, 2011 5:51am CST
I have heard so much of these words, "religious" and "spiritual". Allow me to share with you what I have read regarding this from the writings of a Catholic preacher, Bo Sanchez.
A man asked Bo why the Philippines, being the only Christian nation in Asia and a religious country, is so corrupt and so poor? Here's Bo's view.
Yes, Philippines is a religious country, no doubt about it, but there is a a giant difference between religious maturity and spiritual maturity. According to him, religious maturity means you do your religious duty very well-you pray daily, you attend church, you read the Bible, etc. But Spiritual maturity is totally different: It means you love like Jesus. There are three signs of spiritual maturity. One is "service". When you say "yes" to serve God, you act on it immediately, no analyzing why and how you serve. Just like Mama Mary, after she said to angel Gabriel, "be it done to me according to your words", she got up on her feet went straight to her cousin Elizabeth to serve her and take good care of her, not minding that she too is also conceiving, not minding her own pain, her own self. When you make a decision to serve, act on it immediately.
The second sign is "simple". Live simple, serve simply. Mama Mary did not conquer armies, run organizations, preach to millions. She went to Elizabeth to cook meals for her, to mop floors, to wash clothes, dry dishes, clean toilet, etc. She serve simply, but with great love. Mother Mary is a model of simple service. She never serve in a high profile manner. She never had a title. She just served.
The third one is "sacrifice". Spiritual people are sacrificial people.
In my own point of view, this is probably the reason why spiritual people could serve with a smile eventhough how hard and how painful it may take, because they know how to make their suffering a sacrifice. It is not enough to carry the cross, we must die for it, because it is only then that there will be a resurrection.
I am so blessed having reading this. I pray that God will not allow that these words remain only n my mind, may i be inspired by these to strive to become more spiritually mature.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
18 Jul 11
Well I am a non-religious, spiritual atheist. While I agree that there is a big difference between religious and spiritual maturity, these definitions of the terms greatly differ from my own.
You've reminded me of this quote,"Who understands what giving means must laugh at the idea of sacrifice." ? A Course in Miracles
I do not believe that spiritual people "know how to make their suffering a sacrifice", but rather they know how to make their hardships into lessons.
@apsara60 (6610)
• Israel
11 Jul 11
hello Ihenpaule, thanks for sharing beautiful thoughts. My two children have changed from religious to spiritual. They say that they don't believe in going to any temple,mosque or church to find God as God is every where and specially inside every human being. Also they don't believe in reading heavy religious books which you don't even understand and don't even follow.They fear God and think that being good human being is what God loves and thats what they try to be.....and I very much agree with them. Have a nice day.