The Difference Between Religion And Spirituality

  Most individuals consider religion and spirituality to be one and the same thing. They are under the impression that a highly religious person is also a highly spiritual person. Where this may be true in some cases, most often it is not. The reason for this is simple, and yet so often overlooked. Religion is a socially driven organization of laws or rules, rituals and teachings that have been generated by men for the purpose of maintaining a social structure and spirituality is a self driven, intrinsically personal process toward a greater realization of the meaning of life and ones position within the greater whole.

      I realize that religionists will argue that all of their rules, laws, rituals and structures were inspired by God within spiritual individuals. My point of contention here is that once they are written down and thus become a social mandate, they lose their spiritual quality by virtue of the fact that they no longer issue from a self driven, personal process. Clearly, there is a need for rules, laws and rituals, and for social organization and these may very well be the foundation upon which spirituality develops. Nevertheless, in order for spirituality to develop, it must be a totally personal, internal process based upon personal responsibility and choice. Surely, if social structure is the foundation of spirituality, then personal choice and personal responsibility are its cornerstones. In truth, if these are not allowed to develop and flourish then spirituality becomes a stillborn experience for most individuals. Of course, there will always be a few rugged individualists who will develop that inner reality in spite of any and all stultifying and constricting social mores.

    The Religious path requires education, indoctrination, confirmation and/or ordination. To become a member of a church, individuals are generally required to attend classes at the conclusion of which there is a ceremony or ritual, which confirms that he understands the rules and ideologies of the group and agrees with them. To become a leader, or to obtain ordination, one must attend a college where he acquires a degree in that churches curriculum. This requires that an individual be willing to accept, whole-heartedly, the concepts, tenets and rituals of that particular church. This does not mean that there are no free thinkers, who have become members or have been ordained into any specific church, but it does mean that any freethinking and actions based upon that free thought will be severely limited by the rules and tenets of that church.

      The spiritual path is one of inner self-discovery. It's total focus is based upon ones personal, inner process and the search for greater meaning. The only requirement for spirituality is a willingness to commit oneself to total self-honesty and personal responsibility. How one chooses to define the deity of their understanding, or God if you will, is up to them. There are no rules or rituals beyond those, which the individual defines for themselves.

       Spirituality is not about morals, it is about ethics. Morals are based upon the rules and rituals of the religious based society, whereas ethics are based in self-honesty and personal responsibility. Spirituality is not for those who are dependent upon others to define the rules for them but rather for those who are willing to honestly and diligently search and discover who they are and what they truly desire and then take the responsibility of building a code of ethics, which will assist them in attaining it. Spirituality is only for those who recognize that life delivers to them that which they create, through their thoughts and actions, and that they are totally responsible for their own life experience. The truly spiritual individual recognizes that the only real savior lives in the heart of he who is totally self-honest and takes personal responsibility for all of his thoughts and actions.

       It is important to add here that, to some people, religion is very important. I have no desire to discount the teachings of any religion, for in truth, such teachings are of great benefit to some individuals. In all religions, be it Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, or Judaism there are Avatars, the promise of Avatars or Saviors, if you will. It is not my desire to debate whether these figures are real or simply symbolic of the desire for perfection personified within man. The issue here is one of personal responsibility. If you have the ability to live your life, as these Avatars or Teachers taught, then you know what I mean.

      The most important thing in life, beyond rigorous self-honesty and personal responsibility is harmlessness in thought word and deed. I personally weigh everything I think, do and say according to three criteria, "Is it Loving? Is it Harmless? Does it promote Unity?" When something does not fit these criteria, I choose not to align with it. Although religion plays an important part within our society and I recognize the need for this, I am also aware of much abuse, and highly separatist ideologies perpetrated in the name of certain religious sects. I, personally, cannot align myself with such activities.


       It is my belief that the New Millennium will herald in a "New World Concept". One in which mankind will begin to perceive itself as one contiguous whole, and no longer as factions, races, religions and nations. Due to the advances in communication for the common man and thus the shrinking of the world, in non-geographic ways, mankind will become more aware of his sameness, and less concerned by his differences. I also see, rising out of this new concept of humanity, the development of a new world order based upon service. To be sure, when the average individual gains the capacity to share with other individuals, world-wide, his deepest inner feelings and needs, he will also become aware of the need for international organizations and fellowships that will address these needs within all men, regardless of their race, color, creed or national origins. But this fellowship cannot develop until we come to the point where we can celebrate our commonalities and ignore our differences. Herein lies the secret to true spirituality.


Kerry Dennis