Many philosophical debates naturally end up reaching a point where the concept of 'god' enters the picture. Along with it comes use of terminology such as religion and spirituality.
But I feel the difference between the two terms is little understood and therefore the discussions tend to splinter and become largely unproductive.
Would anyone else care to share their understanding of the terms or debate that they are essentially interchangeable ?

GS

Well just for a start, I would suggest that "spirituality" tends to be an individual form of belief system whereas religion tends to be more of a community, organized, structured form of belief system. People increasingly turn away from organized religion to refer to themselves as "spiritual but not religious" a label that many self apply.

Organized religion has become associated with dogma, creed, doctrine and divisiveness, in additional to the historical problem of sectarian violence, inquisitions, crusades and other problems of violence and intolerance. Individual spirituality is generally not associated with those problems or that history.

Many philosophical debates naturally end up reaching a point where the concept of 'god' enters the picture. Along with it comes use of terminology such as religion and spirituality.
But I feel the difference between the two terms is little understood and therefore the discussions tend to splinter and become largely unproductive.
Would anyone else care to share their understanding of the terms or debate that they are essentially interchangeable ?

GS

Spirituality is the emotion, religion is the institution.

There's an emotion called "spirituality"?

There's an emotion called "spirituality"?

Yes, I hope you won't ask me to pin it down exactly though. I would put it at something like: inner peace + elevation (opposite of disgust) + faith.

A spiritual awakening could cause emotions.

The Anemoi and the Aniti, the Anima or "having " The Spirit may be simply in the joy of Life...

Are you sure you don't mean something else? None of those things are emotions. Maybe there are emotions involved, and you're using figurative language with me. I do know that faith is not an emotion, it's just belief without proof.

Sure, but what do you feel when you believe something without proof? I guess I'm describing a feeling rather than an emotion, but isn't an emotion just a strong feeling?

I'm not trying to add "spiritual" to the list of the six basic emotions. I'm talking about the feeling people are describing with they say "spiritual". Some emotions are complex.

You're right, emotions are complex. That's why I like the more complex models of emotion. Scroll down the bottom of this page and look to the right; there are almost 50 different emotions there.

Emotion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Which of these emotions, if you could guess, correspond with spirituality? Also, does everyone experience these same set of emotions whilst having a spiritual experience? Would a different spiritual practice or ritual produce different emotions? Is spiritual experience directly tied into emotion? Can a sociopath have a spiritual experience? Can someone with autism or asperger's?

Not asking you to pin point, a ball park will do!

This list is good as well:

List of emotions - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I do suspect that different people have different feelings. I don't often have it so I'm working off memory here.

Inner peace--serenity, contentment, relaxation
Elevation--I think this is one they are still studying. Described as the opposite of disgust.
faith--I'm thinking of a trust and optimism type of combination.

I would add wonder and perhaps awe as well.

So someone might go from their stressful job in retail to a big park somewhere. Climb up a hill with a nice view. Sit down and relax, let go of worries and appreciate the purity of nature. And then, if they are a bit spiritual or in that mood, get a feeling of being a part of nature, that this is how things should be.

Or they might be out in a storm and awed by the power of it. Many of the original gods were tied to the power of nature.

Or the happy glow some people get when they get a lot of personal fulfillment from helping someone in need.

So yes, I would describe it as quite varied and vague. But basically, we have a set of emotions or feelings that led us to start religions in the first place. They drive people who are in those religions. But they can also be independent.

Well just for a start, I would suggest that "spirituality" tends to be an individual form of belief system whereas religion tends to be more of a community, organized, structured form of belief system. People increasingly turn away from organized religion to refer to themselves as "spiritual but not religious" a label that many self apply.[1]

Organized religion has become associated with dogma, creed, doctrine and divisiveness, in additional to the historical problem of sectarian violence, inquisitions, crusades and other problems of violence and intolerance. Individual spirituality is generally not associated with those problems or that history.[2]

It is en vogue to say you are spiritual these days. Spiritual sounds freeer, less restrictive! I imagine these people must feel like they're newage hippies. Not to mention, people who are spiritual don't have to bear the scrutiny that comes over religious institution. You know, like when a Catholic priest rapes a little boy. [1]

Oh, and I think a religious person would be more than happy to call themselves spiritual, but I don't a spiritual person would necessarily be comfortable calling themselves religous[2]. In fact, I think they would have a problem with it, since "spirituality" seems to be a religious rebellion of sorts!. . .

A spiritual awakening could cause emotions.

In Holland we say also "bezield" which would mean animated, inspirit or inspired in Englich.

So I do see connection between spirituality and emotions.

Sure, but what do you feel when you believe something without proof? I guess I'm describing a feeling rather than an emotion, but isn't an emotion just a strong feeling?

I'm not trying to add "spiritual" to the list of the six basic emotions. I'm talking about the feeling people are describing with they say "spiritual". Some emotions are complex.

You're right, some emotions are complex. That's why I like the more complex models of emotion. Scroll down the bottom of this page and look to the right; there are almost 50 different emotions there.

Emotion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [1]

Which of these emotions, if you could guess, correspond with spirituality? Also, does everyone experience these same set of emotions whilst having a spiritual experience? Would a different spiritual practice or ritual produce different emotions? Is spiritual experience directly tied into emotion? Can a sociopath have a spiritual experience? Can someone with autism or asperger's? [2]

I see it like this. Religion is concerned more with worship and faith and deities, and following dogma set up by a "prophet" (as most major religions have) that people follow blindly (faith). They worship or follow certain figures. It's an institution and, even though there are many sects in each religion, all the people of that religion follow the same basic dogma and beliefs. Plus, people do horrible things in the name of religion.

Spirituality is something that I see as nothing more than living with your spirit in mind, trying to improve and develop yourself, not for the sake of any promised "eternal reward" or fear of "damnation" . . .. but just because you feel the desire, the push . . . something . . telling you to try to " be the best you can be" (without the army) . . . to try to feel "whole" . . . to know yourself and see deeper into yourself, thereby helping you see others and the world (which you are one with) in a new and mystical light. . . to discover you "self" (this is in another thread).

I see several good points that many of you have made though . . . . .





1. I would agree with the community things, but spirituality doesn't always have beliefs tied to it . . . except for the belief in yourself. . . maybe belief's the wrong word here. Let me know if you figure out the right one, cuz' I don't know it.

You're right though . . I would call myself spiritual, but not religious and most epople these days would roll their eyes and scoff at me for saying so, because they assume this make me some "new age hippie". This may be the case for other, but not me. I've also seen very religious people who don't seem to have one spiritual bone in their body. Their religion is a facade, an image. It's like a vegetarian who eats chicken or fish . . . In me eyes . . . that means you're not a vegetarian, but others disagree. These people don't see the "true message" that their religion may be trying to tell them (as most were founded with good intents). They are hypocrites!!!
How can you assume to save your soul, if you pay no mind to it?!

2. Good stuff. I agree.





1. Precisely, but I wouldn't call the rapist priest spiritual, by any definition of the word, only religious . . because he obviously has no concern for the affect of his actions on his fellow man. Please don't misinterpret this as me saying that spiritual people have a specific "moral guidline" . . but I've found that this is always the case . . . .the spiritual person (esp. one who has seen his connection to the rest of creation) would keep in mind the effects of their actions on others (in general), and generally follow the "Golden Rule"
2. This is mostly true, I'd say. . .at least from what I've seen.




I agree, in a way. I think that a spiritual awakening causes emotions because of some "releasing of energetic blockages" because you are becoming more "open". Releasing blockages has long been know to cause emotional release, whether in a psychiatric setting, during deep bodywork, or any spiritual "awakening". I theorize that it has something to do with meridians, chakras, as well. . .you become a more whole and open person.



This may apply to a certain degree, but I also think that there are a grreat number of people who enjoy life very much, and know joy well and aren't spiritual in the least.



It's like instincts. You may "feel" like you must go and do some certain task, without any proof of a physical need to do so . . . but you act on your instincts, and (in many cases) avoid disaster or improve your situation, whatever it may be.

I can see how you would describe "spiritual" as an emotion. It may not be a major one or even a recognized one . . . "spiritual" may even be the wrong word for it . . but I don't know the right one, and I understand what you mean when you say it how you did . . . .good enough for me :a-ok:




1. I caution against using Wikepedia as a factual source. It's definitions are made by the majority . . . it's a vote, a common consensus, and not always the truth. . . . .I refer you to the experiment that Steven Colbert did, making it say in Wikepedia that he had saved some endangered species, just by telling people to go to Wikepedia and saying he did (I don't remember the exact story) . . I believe it was the African Elephant. . . anyways, no one had actually improved the numbers of the species, just submitted that their numbers seemed to have grown. Majority isn't always right . . . but there's more of them than me . . . or you . . .so the majority makes it so just by saying it's so.

2. I think it releases emotions, but you're probably right . .it would be different emotions for different people. As for sociopaths, I think it would likely that they could not produce any "real" spiritual feeling. . . but maybe they could be religious!! . . . *shrugs* but I'm no mental health care pro!!