Religion and Spirituality

 

In the earlier article posted, I had clearly established that Hinduism (or Santana Dharma) is a Religion and it is "Not a way of Life" and it would be suicidal to term it as a way of life. Hinduism clearly fulfils the core foundational definition and characteristics of a Religion.

It is fashionable nowadays for many to say "I am not religious, but I am spiritual", more so when one is questioned as to wny they do not practice some of the religious rituals - such as rituals to the Pitr (forefathers), some of the festival rituals. So we need to know the difference between Religion or being religious and Spirituality.....

By Definition:

Religion -

- 1. the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.

- 2. a particular system of faith and worship.

- 3. a pursuit or interest followed with great devotion, as a connection with the Divine

- 4.  the belief in the existence of a god or gods, and the activities that are connected with the worship of them, or in the teachings of a spiritual leader

- 5. a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices

Spirituality:

- the quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.

So unlike Religion - the definition of Spirituality does not have "Superhuman controlling power. Personal God or Gods, Faith" and hence people with the scientific background with the understanding of the "rational" thinking, get convinced that there is No Superhuman Controlling Power, or a God who "sees us from above", there are No God whom we can "see", the unscientific "faith". Such people who are so called scientifically progressive, but still have the "inclination" of existence of a "Power or Force or Energy" and who have not gone fully in to Atheistic views and become an Atheist... tend to call themselves as "Spiritual" and Not Religious. In my opinion they are one step away from becoming an Atheist or Agnostic.

In other words, Religion is more from the Societal and Institutional and "collective" practice of performing rituals and activities as prescribed by the Scriptures, while "Spirituality" is more individualistic in the "direct connect with the divine". And not following the "Religious dictates". - This is the unspoken definition given by the Spiritualists.

 

Such Spiritualists differentiate themselves from 'religionists' and give an impression as if they are more "progressive" or "advanced" with a superiority outlook and look down upon the general religionists and portray the religionists as "primitive" without actually saying so.

 

These "spiritualists" are more prevalent among Hindus and very scarcely found among Christians and never among Muslims. Why?

In the case of Christianity, the whole religion is based on the "institution - the Church" and "attaining God" can happen only through the Church. Though the concept of Spirituality is within the teachings of the Bible, that is to the "service of God, through the transformation of the world to build the kingdom of God". However the central teaching of Jesus through his life as given in the Bible is also the same, based on which the Religion - Christianity is itself formed. So there is no difference between Religion and Spirituality within Christianity, but very few want to differentiate by disassociating themselves with the Institution - The Church, but follow the principles of the teachings of Jesus, that is spreading his Word and trying to transform the Society. There is no "personal" connection with "divine", but they believe that Jesus will "favour" them if they follow his path.

In the case of Islam, no Muslim will ever say that he is a "Spiritualist and not a Religious" - simply because, in Islam, no one can have "realisation" or connection with the God, Allah. He has connection only with the Prophet and no one else. So the question of an individual Muslim to get "divine connection" through Spiritualism is forbidden and meaningless.

Only in Hinduism, the definition of Religion and Spirituality clearly merges - It is only in Hinduism that an individual can have "realisation" of the divine and can realise that he himself is Divine in its purest form.

In Hinduism, this attainment of realisation can be achieved in many ways, through Bhakti, through rituals for a Karma yogi and through self enquiry through Gnana of Self knowledge through meditation - so there can not be a differentiation between "religious practice" and "Spiritual practice"....

Any Hindu who says that "I am not a religious person, but a spiritual person" does now Hinduism and neither understands what is religion and spirituality from Sanatna Dharma perspective