Spiritual vs Religious: Which One Is Better?
It’s common to wonder what is the difference between being spiritual vs religious. That’s because the terms “religion” and “spirituality” are often used interchangeably.
That is also one of the reasons why it’s pointless to try to determine which one is better. They share similarities, each has its benefits, and which one is better is ultimately a matter of preference.
But it will be helpful to understand the differences so that you can choose the methods that best suit your needs.
Here we will look at the difference between spiritual and religious. I’ll also list the similarities and some pros and cons of both.
Different means to the same end
Keep in mind that there are an estimated 4’000 – 10’000 different religious and spiritual practices in the world, so most of the concepts here are extremely generalized. When I compare, I mostly refer to Christianity and other similar religions.
Religion and spirituality have many similarities as well as differences. Roughly generalized, religion is an organized system of beliefs and practices that teaches people how to live their lives.
Spirituality refers to the search for meaning and purpose in life.
But ultimately, both are means for understanding the same truth: That man contains the essence of the creator.
The essence of being human
Religions teach us that man was made in the image of God. Humans are imbued with immense creativity and unconditional love, as well as a sense of justice, morality, and spirituality. And even though Jesus is worshipped as the son of God, he made no distinction between himself, others, and God. “Father and I are one”, means that there is no separation between man and God, the creator.
That is what spirituality also teaches us: that humans and God* are one. We contain the essence and boundless love of the creator and are an individuation of the one that is everything.
Although spiritual “teachings” are more like tools for helping each practitioner come to her own conclusions, not concrete statements.
*Other terms are often used, such as The Universe, The Source, and Life.
What is the difference between religion and spirituality?
Religion contains many spiritual elements, and spirituality can have facets resembling religious beliefs; It is possible to be spiritual without being religious, but it is not possible to be religious without being spiritual.
The main difference comes down to focus:
Religion focuses on the external and the beliefs are often that of separation. Separation of man from god, spirit from the body, creation from evolution.
Spirituality focuses on the internal and is all about unity. Everything is one and connected on the deepest level: God and man. Mind, body, and spirit. Evolution and creation.
So the differences stem from this contrast of focus.
See the chart below for a comparison of spiritual vs religious. It is of course generalized and as mentioned, there are overlapping concepts.
Spiritual vs religious: the similarities
Even though they are practiced differently, religion and spirituality have similarities. And as I already pointed out, ultimately both are means for understanding the same truth.
Let’s take two examples.
This is from “the basics” of Christianity:
“Did you know, for example, that Christianity isn’t about going to church, or doing good things? It’s about having a relationship with God”.
I’m not going to comment on whether that relationship is based on love or fear. But it’s a good sentiment at the heart of Christianity.
Spirituality is all about your relationship with God as well. Living your life as one with God will be the transcendent experience you are looking for.
The difference is only in who or what is perceived as God. Religions depict God as separate from man, while spirituality establishes man and God as one.
The difference might also be in the name, as in spirituality God is often labeled the source, the universe, your subconscious self, and many other names.
Even so, both spirituality and religion tell the same story: It is your relationship with God that matters.
Rejecting God
The second example is a classic one: Suffering
Why is there suffering and why does God allow suffering? Religious texts establish that suffering was not part of God’s original plan. God made the world perfect. There was no evil, no pain, and no suffering.
But people were given free will, and people chose to go their own way rather than follow God’s way. That disobedience created a divide between humanity and God.
In Christianity, this is called disobedience, and it allowed evil into the world. So suffering is a consequence. Wars, violence, racism, abuse, corruption, and a thousand other evils are not caused by God. They all result from humanity’s self-centered godlessness.
Forgetting God
Interestingly enough, spirituality tells the same story, but (you guessed it) from a different perspective.
The suffering in the world is caused by our separation from God, but not because we choose to “disobey God”. God has no demands, no requirements, no laws or commands. “Godlessness” is caused by the forgetting of our connection to God: That man and God are one.
If we would remember the connection and start living as if there were no separation between the self, others, and God, we would end all suffering in an instant.
In the end, being spiritual vs religious is all about your relationship with God, or whatever name you wish to give this higher power.
The benefits of being religious
Although based on the previous heading, it may seem that religion does not encourage independent thought and takes away an individual’s power, which may not seem that beneficial, the “good” or “bad” is in the context, not the practice itself.
Even the most loving actions can lead to sadness if performed in the wrong context. For example, keeping a child safe from danger by not allowing certain activities, like climbing trees, may lead to the child being fearful later in life, or perhaps being resentful because they were denied freedom of choice.
I know people who have found great comfort in religious practices. I also know people, who have lost their freedom to strict Christian upbringing.
So it’s the way religion is used in everyday life that matters. That being said, religious faith can be a positive force in life, and in fact, it has been studied, that being religious has some mental health benefits:
- Giving people structure
- Building a community with a group
- Creating a sense of belonging
- Helping people cope with stressful events
- Can encourage forgiveness, compassion, and gratitude
Religious people are often happier than those who are not religious. In addition, they are less prone to anxiety and depression and tend to be optimistic about the future.
People who believe God is merciful are more likely to forgive themselves and be more understanding of their mistakes.
The downsides of religion
As mentioned previously, it is the context that matters. Religion can improve mental well-being, but it can also have a negative effect.
If practicing religion feels like a struggle, it may impair well-being and lead to higher levels of anxiety and depression. These conditions are also negatively influenced by the belief in a punishing or judgemental God
The strict rules, codes, and rituals may also take a toll. Religious people may feel guilty if they fail to meet expectations. It may also burden other areas of life to attend church services out of perceived necessity.
In the modern world where atheism and spirituality are ever more common, being religious can also feel like being isolated because of the inability to share beliefs with others.
The benefits of spirituality
Spirituality is more about inner understanding than outer worship. It acknowledges that all the answers you are looking for are already inside you. Better yet, spirituality is about finding and using your inner power to create a happy, meaningful, fulfilling life.
Being spiritual can be a powerful tool for transformation. It is an inward journey that shifts your awareness about life, the universe, and everything.
This newfound awareness often translates into less stress, greater feelings of well-being, and ultimately even a decreased fear of death.
Spirituality (and connection to a “higher power”) has been linked to:
- Better Health
- Greater psychological well-being
- Less depression
- Less hypertension
- Less stress, even during difficult times
- More positive feelings
- Superior ability to handle stress
But the most amazing benefits of spirituality come at the end of the inward journey.
At the end of the journey, so to speak, you will find your true self. The one who you are under all the layers of beliefs, habits, stress, fear, and anxiety. Understanding who you truly are will be a joyous experience.
You realize that happiness is your natural state of being and that being happy requires nothing outside of you. You will come to know that there is nothing to do, nothing to lose, nothing to fear, and that life is all about joy and love.
The downsides of spirituality
As is the case with religion, it is the context that matters with spirituality as well. How you bring spirituality to your everyday life is what matters. It can be a tool for creating a life of peace and joy, but it can also be a way to avoid confronting difficult situations.
This use of spirituality as a defense mechanism is known as “spiritual bypassing”. This way spirituality is used to avoid or sidestep problems, emotions, or conflicts.
As mentioned, it is context-driven. If, for example, you find yourself in a difficult situation, rather than trying to solve it or comfort those involved, you might just say:
“Everything happens for a reason”
“Just focus on the positive”
“It was a blessing in disguise”
etc.
True spiritual understanding is that everything is perfect and happens for a reason, but it may not be beneficial for you or for others involved to state this.
Ask yourself who is the comment helping. Is it meant to give someone comfort or insight, or is it your way of dismissing a difficult situation?
Conclusion
In the “fight” between spiritual vs religious, there is no winner because there are too many similarities between the two and it’s all contextual.
Roughly generalized, religion is an organized system of beliefs and practices that teaches people how to live their lives.
Spirituality refers to the search for meaning and purpose in life.
Often people use the terms “religion” and “spirituality” interchangeably, and they do overlap in many parts.
Which one is better is a matter of inclination: What are you trying to accomplish? From that perspective, choosing one or the other may become beneficial.
The difference between being spiritual or religious is mostly about where you focus your energy:
Religion focuses on the external and the beliefs are often that of separation. Separation of man from god, spirit from the body, creation from evolution.
Spirituality focuses on the internal and is all about unity. Everything is one and connected on the deepest level. God and man. Mind, body, and spirit. Evolution and creation.
Disclaimer
The entire contents of this blog are based upon the opinions of the author. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The information in this blog is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care professional before trying any of the products or methods based on this content. I cannot guarantee that you will be free of stress, anxiety or depression, or that you will be happy. I simply want to share with you what I have discovered during my twenty years of seeking happiness and what has worked for me may not work for you.
