The Distinctions Between Religion and Spirituality

What is the difference between religion and spirituality--religion is a pathway towards God and Spirituality is also a pathway towards Him. However, their distinctions lie in their approach. The central idea of religion: Obey God and fear Him. The essence of Spirituality: Love God and also become another God. 1.) Love vs. Fear. Oftentimes, the fear of God is the approach of religion. It reminds us in doing the right and proper thing to prevent suffering in what the future may bring. On the other hand, through the journey of love—that is the spiritual approach to God. The spiritual approach teaches us to honor Him through the path of love and not to fear him.

2.) Where is God-Religion often talks of God as being high above the heavens. Sometimes, He could be seen far away from the humanity’s aspiring reach. However, the spiritual approach is showing us that God is omnipresent and all-knowing and could be felt as a living presence within our own hearts. In addition, He is not only reachable and accessible, but we could achieve the inner actualization of The Supreme Being. 3.) The Present vs The Past-The religious approach tends to acquire great inspiration from the past. It regards with great respect and devotion—those ancient religious texts as the path to attain ete
al salvation.

Spirituality on the contrary, is not very conce
ed regarding about the past. It believes in the timeless now. It is neither the future nor the past that brings us to liberation. To achieve liberation we have to live in the present. We attain peace of mind when we focus on obtaining and doing the right thing here and right now. 4.) Inner Worship vs. Outer Worship. Religion places conce
and great emphasis on outer rituals and other forms. These are helpful for providing a sense of formality in the way to worship God. Yet, spirituality is never really conce
ed with outer rituals.

Through the practice of spirituality, we seek and find to create and build an inner shrine within our hearts. Through spirituality, it says that what is essential is a seeker’s inner attitude. 5.) Universal Logic. Most followers of religion feel that only their way could lead to ete
al salvation. They have such great faith and belief in their own religion, yet at the same time, they feel that other religions are wrong and therefore can’t lead and direct a seeker to The Supreme Being. On the other hand, spirituality knows that there are many paths that could lead to the same goal.

Spirituality accepts and welcomes all religions from around the world, but at the same time, is never constricted by any religious forms or doctrines. Religion and Spirituality have their own unique and various distinctions yet at the same time, religion could embrace and welcome spirituality. Through following their faith, great saints have achieved and reaped the fruits and actualizations of a spiritually symbolic approach to God. And this includes Christian mystics such as Teresa of Avila and St. Francis of Assisi.