What does it mean to be spiritual or religious?

1. 74

   breathe2travelposted 11 years ago

   What does it mean to be spiritual or religious?
   
   If someone is spiritual, do you think they're religious?  Or, do you think someone can be spiritual without being religious?  Do you think someone can be religious without being spiritual?

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2. 60

   zduckmanposted 11 years ago

   religion is for people who are afraid of hell, and spirituality is for people that have been there.

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      breathe2travelposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Well, that's one way of looking at it.   Which are you?

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3. 69

   LailaKposted 11 years ago

   A monumental question! I think that not every religious person is necessarily spiritual. I am religious myself, but I am definitely not spiritual. Therefore, certainly someone can be religious without being spiritual. Great question!

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   Angelme566posted 11 years ago

   I guess to be spiritual is same as to be religious , it boils only to one thing and that is our connection to God . And to have this connection to God we must act and do things in accordance to His teachings. We must try to live life according to God's teachings. We must line a sinless life and must do our part as a christian , meaning we must be a light to our fellows...willing to share and care and lobe all people despite our social status in society.

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5. 68

   crazymom3posted 11 years ago

   Personally I think spiritual people are born with a gift to feel spiritual things and have spiritual thoughts and feelings.  I think religious people are people who conciously choose a religion and  choose to practice it. I think a person can be religious without being spiritual and I do think some people can be spiritual without choosing a particular religion.  However; I think a person is more likely to be religious if they are spiritually inclined.

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   dashingscorpioposted 11 years ago

   Religious to me means one has selected a particular denomination (Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran, Muslim, Buddhism, Judaism...etc) They gather with others at specific times and are ministered to by a leader, follow specific teachings written in a book or on scrolls in an effort to be in God's good grace. Those who don't agree with them are going to hell or in trouble.
   Spiritual means not participating in a formal or organized sect. The person may not call God, God. They might use terms such as "Universal Mind", "Collective Mind" or simply "spirit". They relate to God in terms of being connected in a (personal way) as it relates to (their life and times) without feeling the need to learn or understand historical teachings. In fact they may not believe or trust what has been written in religious books. They would rather not follow the "middle men/women" (ministers/church leaders) or deal with church politics. Lastly they have no desire to "recruit" others to their way of thinking. They tend to have a live and let live philosophy.
   I do believe it's possible to spiritual and not relgious. However I don't think it is possible to be relgious without being spiritual. Both groups agree there is something bigger than themselves.

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   Mmargie1966posted 11 years ago

   I believe that religion is organized, ritualistic, and something that is taught to us.  Religion is an attempt at collective spirituality.  Some holy places are successful, and some are not.
   
   Spirituality is a personal relationship with God.  Feeling His presence and hearing His words.  It is using your God given intuition to make decisions that ultimately will  benefit someone. 
   
   ...just my two cents

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8. 60

   Dubuquedogtrainerposted 11 years ago

   These are both vague terms. Here's how Dictionary.com defines religion:
   
   "A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs."
   
   And here's how they define spirituality -- you have to look up "spiritual" to find out what "spirituality" means and then it is still not very clear:
   
   1. of, pertaining to, or consisting of spirit;  incorporeal.
   2. of or pertaining to the spirit  or soul, as distinguished from the physical nature: a spiritual approach to life.
   3. closely akin in interests, attitude, outlook, etc.: the professor's spiritual heir in linguistics.
   4. of or pertaining to spirits  or to spiritualists;  supernatural or spiritualistic.
   5. characterized by or suggesting predominance of the spirit; ethereal or delicately refined: She is more of a spiritual type than her rowdy brother.
   
   I think spirituality is a New Age concept. It sounds more appealing than "religion." I think religion is a set of rules; to me it is a set of man-made doctrines. I think people can be "religious" about anything - exercise, work, etc.
   
   I think people can abide by rules and rituals without being "spiritual" or being Spirit-filled, whichever the case may be, and I think it's possible to be "spiritual" without being "religious."

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      breathe2travelposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes - I believe people can be religious about anything -- I personally believe you can be both.  I am spiritual, I attend church - but I receive more from a small group I host in my home or my one on one time seeking God.

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9. 60

   taw2012posted 11 years ago

   it is the state when man loses the love towards  material pleasures started searching the meaning of life.

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10. 82

    pstraubie48posted 11 years ago

    To me being spiritual means that I am connected to something larger than myself...in my case, that means being in touch with God. I do not consider myself 'religious' because that term has somewhat of an unpleasant connotation to me. I do not believe that I need a 'religious' setting to have this spiritual connection. I am disillusioned with many religious groups for a number of reasons.
    I do attend a small local church because being surrounded by others who share this spiritual connection to God is strengthening to me. Each of us is there for a renewal of our spirit in one place, together.
    To reiterate, I believe one can be totally spiriitual without a 'church' setting; some who say they are spiriutal do not believe in God. Those that I know that feel that way say they believe in a power greater than themselves.

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    Jaggedfrostposted 11 years ago

    Sure, there are people who are spiritual without being religious and I have known people to be heavily religious without being spiritual about it.  I would imagine that the two concepts need to be pared.  Religion that will do anything for you beyond this life needs to teach principles that will help you reach out beyond what you can see and make a connection.  There are a number of spiritual teachers I know who succeed in touching the unseen in a way their followers can repeat successfully.  The method they go about in order to touch the unseen could be seen as a religion.

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    glmclendonposted 11 years ago

    When man loses sight of material things and falls in love with God's teachings and the things of God. He gets tied up and wrapped up in following  the teachings and path of God.
    
    You may have a spiritual  man on your hand.

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    finewordsposted 11 years ago

    i think spirituality is the ultimate thing . religious teaches us how to become spiritual in all means. If someone is spiritual like Swami Vivekananda , he will not become a religious. Anyone in the world can become spiritual without being religious. Being religious only means that they are surrendering them to a sYSTEM

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    jbosh1972posted 11 years ago

    Spiritual means you are thinking and feeling beyond your self and the physical universe.  You are seeking the creator, the one greater and more magnificant than yourself.
    
    Relgious can be good or bad.  It can mean the mindless routine of engaging in rituals.  But, conversely, be religious can mean perserveance and commitment to obey and worship.

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    phillippeengelposted 11 years ago

    Spirit and religion are distinct and opposite things, but somehow they are similar. They both involve the supernatural, a deep, unwavering belief, peace and stability. They both bail people out of plights momentarily, giving people a sense of encouragement and power.

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