My Musings

RELIGION VERSUSES SPIRITUALITY

Recent debates about Religion on PN has given me a noteworthy blog topic, Religion is defined as:

–noun 1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. 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.
2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.
5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.
6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice.

In most of these definitions I see as having to conform to a certain belief or set of beliefs..which to me does not leave much room for free thinking, but its the free thinking that often leads to egotism. Often egos corrupt the ideal of Religion with self deception and selfessness which causes a breakdown in the religion it self. The definition of Spirituality is
1: of, relating to, consisting of, or affecting the spirit : incorporeal
2 a: of or relating to sacred matters b: ecclesiastical rather than lay or temporal
3: concerned with religious values
4: related or joined in spirit
5 a: of or relating to supernatural beings or phenomena b: of, relating to, or involving
So I guess the question we need to ask ourselves is do we want to be considered a religious person or a spiritual one? To me, spirituality comes from within..and is radiated outward with generosity of spirit and selfless kindness and tolerance of those who are hurting inside and out. For me, spirituality is walking home alone, on full moon lit nite and calling out to the Goddess and ASKING her to be WITH me and a PART of my being. It is not about selfish wants and needs..I have a small statue of God Buddha that I keep above my doorway, and everyday on my way out to my mundane job, I look up and think to myself “He is short, bald, and fat, but that smile speaks volumes!”