RLST 100 (Online)_ Forum 1

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Dashboard RLST 100 (Online) Assignments and Exams Unit 1 (Spirituality v.s. Religion) Discussion Forum 1 Search forums Faculty of Arts RLST 100 (Online) Spring 2016: Introduction to Religious Studies Leona Anderson Unit 1 (Spirituality v.s. Religion) Discussion Forum 1 Subscribe Display replies in nested form Faisal Sabri Forum 1 by Leona Anderson - Sunday, 8 May 2016, 9:39 AM Do you think there is a difference between religion and spirituality? Can you give examples to support your answer? Link to this post Re: Forum 1 by Chelsea McLaren - Monday, 9 May 2016, 3:30 PM I do think there is a difference between spirituality and religion. Religion is an organized set of beliefs and prac㏠̽ces, whereas spirituality refers to almost any kind of meaningful ac㏠̽vity. Spirituality can be sought out through religion, but is more about finding a greater meaning and purpose in a person’s existence. Religion is more precise on telling an individual on what is wrong and right, or acceptable and unacceptable. Spirituality allows you to discover what you believe in and experiencing things on your own, religion has already discovered what an individual believes. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Abigail Tremblay - Wednesday, 11 May 2016, 1:51 PM Good post Chelsea! I like how you mention right and wrong. I agree that spirituality is more about self-discovery than defining right and wrong. Spirituality allows individuals to be more free and find their own path, I like that. It reminds me a bit of the Hinduism unit where it talks about the different paths one can follow and different ways they can choose to see and experience God. The video says their is no right path, whereas not all religions are that open. It's closer to spirituality in that sense. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Saeed Alsaqqaee - Friday, 13 May 2016, 8:51 PM Hi Chelsea! I liked how you mentioned that spirituality can be sought through religion. While one thinks the this concept cannot over lap with the other, this point is quite valid. They may be two different concepts yet, they may come on common grounds at some point. Also, yes religion talks about what is right and wrong and provides a guideline to the believer without stated logic while spirituality lets you explore this logic in a way that you think is right. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1: Kelly Granil by Kelly Granil - Monday, 9 May 2016, 9:17 PM Religion and spirituality has their differences and similarities. I would agree to Smith (2004) when he said that religion is a structure that is composed of rules that needs to be followed or practiced by its followers (as cited by Juschka, 2010, p.5). For example, members of Jehovah’s Witnesses need to obey the rule of not participating in any kind of blood transfusion While religion needs to be followed in a certain way to be considered part of it, spirituality is a free process. People use spirituality to find the meaning of their life (Forman, 1998, p.1184). People’s spirituality gives them freedom to use different resources to find purpose in their lives. Some examples of spiritual practices are yoga, reading, meditation or practicing a specific tradition. Both practices give meaning to a person’s life, but they are different when it comes to the process of practicing. Reference Forman, D. (1998). The Meaning of Spirituality: A Literature Review. Journal of Advance Nursing. Doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.1997.tb00811.x Juschka, D. (2010). Religious Studies & The Study of Religion. In Religious Studies 100 (4 Ed.), Introduction to Religious Studies (pp. 4-14). University of Regina: Faculty of Arts th Link to this post | Show parent
Re: Forum 1: Kelly Granil by Ronda Harrison - Wednesday, 11 May 2016, 9:20 PM I like that you included some examples spiritual practices in your answer. I do think that for some people, practicing a religious tradition is spiritual. Something such as celebrating Christmas or Easter, could help them in their spiritual practice, yet there are part of the Christian religion. Its what you believe to be best for your own growth, I guess. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Jenna Neufeld - Monday, 9 May 2016, 11:21 PM Yes, I definitely think there is a difference between religion and spirituality. Religion, as stated in the textbook, is "a process of classifying particular actions and beliefs as different from other cultural actions and beliefs." I think that religion is something external that has been formed and interpreted. For example, we have churches and other religious buildings and symbols to better allow people to practice their religions. However, I think that spirituality is something that is internal. It is a feeling deep within you - it can stem from being a part of a certain religion, but I don't think it has to. I think you can be spiritual in any part of your life, such as, simply, having good morals. Something that stuck out to me in a reading I was doing recently was: "Spirituality is chosen while religion is often times forced." Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by JayCee Dallyn - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 1:17 PM That was a perfect quote to end your post Jenna. As I too believe spirituality is chosen and expressed how each individual pleases while religion often time is forced or rather an individual is just accustomed to being a part of it and continues to follow the religion. To me spirituality can be whatever a person wants it to be, whatever gives them comfort or happiness while religion has very set ideals which are to be followed to accomplish adequate "spirituality." Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Jenna Neufeld - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 1:42 PM Above quote taken from: "Religion vs Spirituality - What's the Difference?" About.com Religion & Spirituality . About.com, 7 Apr. 2016. Web. 12 May 2016. <http://atheism.about.com/od/religionnonreligion/a/spirituality.htm>. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Noora Ashrafi - Tuesday, 10 May 2016, 7:36 PM Yes I do think there is a difference between religion and spirituality because even though they may have a similar concept of believing in something, religion is more rule based while spiriutality is more based on freedom. In religion there are rules that are to be followed such as not eating pork, dressing appropriately, not acting in vulgar behavior. While in spirituality I found that whatever path a person takes, it will be accepted and there will not be major consequences like there are in religion. The difference between religion and spirituality is that one is a set of rules that a person should follow while the other lets a person make there own path and live in a way that is comfortable for themselves. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Shelby McGillivray - Friday, 13 May 2016, 5:00 PM I agree that religion is about rules and you are judged by how well you obey them, therefore it's not really about what's going on in your heart, but how well you can conform to please others. On the other hand, spirituality is freeing. You are on a journey, seeking truth and applying it to your own life and hopefully growing and becoming a happier, more fulfilled person. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Samantha Lautsch - Friday, 13 May 2016, 9:42 PM Hi Noora, I definitely agree that in a religion there are rules and consequences, however I have never really thought of spirituality outside of being connected to religion. I like that you bring up the idea of spirituality being more care free and ultimately freeing for a person in that they are able to select the comfort in the way they choose to live. I can relate to that actually as I myself, do not identify with any particular religion (one of the reasons why I took this class is so that I could learn more), but based on your view I would consider myself more spiritual. Thanks for the post! Samantha Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Farhima Rahman - Tuesday, 10 May 2016, 9:07 PM I believe that although religion and spirituality have similarities, they are still different. Each religion have their own set of laws, and rituals that have been imposed since their inception, which are expected to be followed by each individuals, depending on their religion. For instance, as Muslims, we pray daily, read the Qur’an (Holy book), and fast during the month of Ramadan. These practices are done by Muslims and by doing so, they are identified as a Muslim by religion; the same goes for other religion, and their laws/rituals.
A religion might have actions deemed as right or wrong, and individuals are expected to perform the rightful acts, and forbidden to perform the wrongful acts. Spiritual beliefs on the other hand, involves ones own devotion and connection to life. Spirituality generally does not have rules or regulations, and most often are based on an individual’s own choice or freedom. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Kelly Granil - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 11:57 AM Hi Farhima, What I read from your post made me realize that religion has two sides; there is the white and black part. While in spirituality the people that are practicing them creates their own standards whether their spirituality practice makes them better or harms them. Unlike spirituality, religious practices already have a set standard and you have the responsibility to follow those rules because you are part of the ir congregation. What I learned is we as individuals all have choices whether we want to follow a certain religion, just like we have our choice whether to continue our spiritual beliefs, such as meditation or yoga. At the end of the day I feel like at the end of the day we are still the majority holder of our choices when it comes to spirituality and religious choices. Spirituality and religion might be different in some aspects but they are similar in a way that they can help a person to find the real meaning of life and their purpose in this world and to the people in this world. Thank you for sharing your wonderful thoughts about religion and spirituality. Sincerely, Kelly Granil Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Yanxing Wang - Friday, 13 May 2016, 11:52 PM Thanking you for your insights into your own and general religious practice. I agree there is this sense that the religious 'body' as a type of historical institution, including sacred texts, are providing more of an 'imposed' view about how the followers should live and practice their faith; and there also being a kind of division between the good and bad humans -- those who are faithful members and those that are outsiders. But I think one weakness in this view of the dominant force of a centralized religious or instiutional force imposing everything on the follower is not completely accurate because religions themselves change constantly over time, just as the human life and history changes. I am in strong agreement that many people see spiritualism as their own way to pursue a devotion and connection to life. I think many people may wish to take a purely secular view but in one sense they are also thinking the spiritual forces of the world are able to enter them in a person way. Such as something we can feel, or shape our choices through meditation and prayers or other personal rituals. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Amy Kapeller - Tuesday, 10 May 2016, 9:43 PM I think even though religion and spirituality are very closely related and intertwined, that there is still a difference between them. I believe religion is defined as a system or set of beliefs that are concerned with the cause and nature of the world, where as spirituality focuses more on the quality and the being. This being said I believe that religion relates to the content of beliefs, accepting beliefs, and observing rituals; where as spirituality focuses more on the process of becoming attuned beliefs, being spiritual, and participating in spiritual things. Another difference between religion and spirituality is the establishment. In my opinion religion is more of a set system of beliefs. Religion is already an established institution. This is opposite in spirituality, as spirituality is more of a personal and authentic belief. Spirituality develops within a person and can be said to be born within a person. These concepts also relate, as spirituality has the potential to be started or encouraged by a religion. Although I believe there is a difference between religion and spirituality, I also think that they both are crucial in understanding and experiencing the world. Both spirituality and religion help us to understand the complexities of the world, as well as help us to discover where we stand within the world. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Orisha Boychuk - Wednesday, 11 May 2016, 7:44 AM I really like how you articulated your thoughts on religion and spirituality. I agree with you that "[r]eligion is already an established institution." Religions have definitely evolved over time and continue to do so today. You also discussed how both religion and spirituality are vital for an individual to understand the world and their part in it. This reminded me a lot about a point written by Darlene Juschka in unit 1 of our textbook. Juschka stated that "[s]ystems of belief and practice, or religious worlds in Paden’s nomenclature, are powerful construc-tive forces that determine how we understand ourselves, those around us, and existence it-self" (9). I think that Juschka accurately describes how people need religion in order to function in society and understand where they belong. If the world did not have any standards to live by it would be a confusing place to be in. Religion provides a guide for people to construct their lives on. Do you think spirituality can be a part of an individual without that person following a particular religion? I can see how religion and spirituality are connected to each other. On the other hand, spirituality is separate from religion. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Orisha Boychuk - Tuesday, 10 May 2016, 9:53 PM
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I believe that there is a difference between religion and spirituality. Religion is a general term for an organized system where there is typically a sacred text, rules, customs, ceremonies, stories and ideas about life. Spirituality is when the inner spirit of an individual is connected to something higher than themselves. I believe that every person is a spirit, has a soul (mind, will, emotions) and lives in a physical body. Since man is a spirit being first, this means that spirituality is an extremely deep, inner connection to something not seen/perceived in the physical world (such as a god or deity). A person may follow a religion but connect with the religion on a spiritual level where they are fully convinced in their inner-self that what they believe is true and will guide them through life. Spirituality is private and unique to every person. Overall, definitions of religion and spirituality depend on perspectives. For instance, Sigmund Freud approaches religion from a psychological lense. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Caroline Laoye - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 5:49 PM Hi Orisha, Thank you for your candid opinion. I like how you said spirituality is the inner spirit of an individual connecting to something higher than them. The definition of ‘something higher than them’ also differs, depending on the individual’s perspective and values. For example, spirituality can be linked with God, inner self, peace, love and so on. I also like the analogy you mentioned about the connection between a man’s spirit & spirituality. It makes perfect sense. Caroline Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Tiffany Klemack - Tuesday, 10 May 2016, 11:55 PM I do think there is a difference – spirituality and religion have the same outcomes/effect on one’s “spirit” or “feeling of well-being,” but the difference between the two is the way they are structured. Spirituality is more subjective and religion is more objective. As stated in video 1 (as I have not purchased the textbook YET) spirituality is “personal and authentic.” I feel that spirituality is a task one does on their own time to feel rejuvenated. For example, if someone prays or meditates, they feel spiritually energized – but it is not a “set in stone” religious ceremony that was created by someone else that you performed. It is a personal, spiritual “time out” that you take because you have your own personal relationship to that task that helps you maintain spiritual wellness. If you were to make some random pray for for a job interview or meditate on a tough life decision you had to make, that person would not feel rejuvenated if because they do not have the same connection to the “ritual” as you do. Religion is different because everyone who belongs to a specific religion has the same basic connection to each ritual. For example, Christians take part in communion because it represents Christ dying for their sins. This is not as personal because its not something you created yourself. But, this action makes you feel rejuvenated and happy, just as someone would feel after performing a spiritual action – such as praying. This action is more objective because it is an action that takes a specific amount of time, and can be measured because it is done the same way every time, and has the same meaning every time the ritual is performed. Both religion and spirituality have the same purpose – to achieve a feeling of well-being. But I think that spirituality is tailored to one’s specific needs at the time, and religious rituals are geared towards the group’s common purpose. For this reason, I feel that spirituality is “subjective” and religion is “objective.” I feel that both are equally important in maintaining good mental health and overall happiness. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Jenna Neufeld - Wednesday, 11 May 2016, 10:25 PM I think spirituality and religion work together to create one's personal connection to the beliefs and rituals of the culture. I liked how you stated the example of spirituality being "a task one does on their own time to feel rejuvenated." Although I think this is true, I believe that spirituality is more of a feeling, and tasks like meditation are simply to enhance this feeling, but you do not have to perform these tasks to be a spiritual person. Religion specifically relates to those "tasks" that one does, but they are man made and can be forced. I liked your example about Catholics and taking communion. It would be easy for someone to have grown up in a Catholic family and not really understand the meaning of taking Communion. Religion does not necessarily have to have meaning to everyone, but spirituality does have meaning because it is deep within yourself. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Halar Shahani - Friday, 13 May 2016, 1:08 AM Hey Tiffany, I like how nicely you explained and distinguished these two complex concepts. For example how you classified religion and spirituality to be defined as objective and subjective, respectively. I do believe that religion is more structured in the sense that a certain action such as prayer has to be performed at a certain time for a specific reason. Whereas spirituality is trying to connect on a personal level to achieve a more authentic or unique experience. I would also like to add that in my opinion spirituality is perhaps influenced by other factors such as your personal upbringing, society you live in and also age. You might disagree, but i do believe with age, your degree and idea of spirituality changes or matures at least. For example, when we go through hardships or personal tribulations we are bound to have a more spiritual reflection and we reevaluate our personal relationships with everything, may that be god, our fellow human beings etc. Most people are born into a religion or some faith- belief system and are set to follow its predetermined rules but with time our spiritual reflection allows us to understand and connect to this on a more personal level. Finally, i really like how you mention that ultimately both have the same purpose which is to achieve a feeling of well-being. I agree with this because religion is said to lead to a more righteous and better path and spirituality will elevate us to a greater degree of happiness through attaining a more personal clarification and understanding of what we believe in. Thank you very much for your thoughts and insight, very interesting. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Abigail Tremblay - Wednesday, 11 May 2016, 1:21 PM
I definitely think there is a difference between spirituality and religion. Religion seems to be easier to categorize as a set of set if beliefs and practices. Spirituality seems more personal and different for everyone. Spirituality is more of a state of mind and religion is more of a practice. I certainly think you can be both spiritual and religious, but since spirituality seems to be more adaptable to individuals it's more common. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Farhima Rahman - Wednesday, 11 May 2016, 11:19 PM I definitely agree with you that religion is easier to categorize as a set of beliefs. Each religion has its own set of rituals and practices which are performed by individuals, and as a result they can identify themselves by that religion. It also consists of right and wrong actions. Yet, spirituality is more about ones personal connection to themselves, and allows them to discover their own preferred path. Therefore, spiritual beliefs are completely different for each person, with no right or wrong path. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Riyadh Al-awbathani - Friday, 13 May 2016, 2:45 PM Hi. I liked how you portrayed your point of view in such simple words. Firstly, I would like to say that I agree with the point that spirituality deals with something that is different for everyone. Everyone is allowed to choose their individual paths. Also, yes, spirituality is a state of mind. It requires willingness from once side and a dedication to finding the truth, not by force or fear but by one's ability to question different aspects of life and the world altogether. However, I believe religion is more common and the concept of spirituality still needs to grow. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Caroline Laoye - Wednesday, 11 May 2016, 5:51 PM Although religion and spirituality have been used interchangeably, I certainly think there is a difference between the two terms. Religion is a structured view and a way of worship practiced by a group of people while spirituality is the interior inspiration to pursue anything, be that religious or otherwise. According to Ivtzan, Chan, Gardner, and Prashar (2011), “spirituality is used to describe an inner, subjective experience that makes us feel a strong interest in understanding the meaning of things in life” (p. 2). Religion, however, refers to practices that members of a social organization engage in; for instance outward worship, and theology that reflects their understanding of God and the world. In other words, you can be spiritual and not religious, an example would be not going to church every Sunday but still believing in God. It makes me wonder, can an atheist be spiritual since it does not necessarily have to do with God? What do you guys think? Ivtzan, I., Chan, C.P.L., Gardner, H.E., & Prashar, K. (2011). Linking Religion and Spirituality with Psychological Well-being: Examining Self-actualisation, Meaning in Life, and Personal Growth Initiative. Journal of Religion and Health. Retrieved from http://www.awarenessisfreedom.com/wp- content/uploads/2014/12/LinkingReligionSpiritualitywithWellbeing1.pdf Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Jenna Neufeld - Wednesday, 11 May 2016, 10:28 PM I definitely think an atheist can still be spiritual. I think spirituality is deep within someone, and agree that you can be spiritual but not religious. Personally, I think an example of being spiritual would simply be having good morals or wanting to do the right thing. A person doing that does not have to do it to please a higher power or because of any "rules" their religion has, but they might do it to feel good about themselves and make others feel good. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Alexandra Burnett - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 1:48 AM I agree with your answer, Caroline! I like that you addressed the two terms are often used interchangeably and that spirituality is the interior inspiration to pursue anything, religious or not. In response to your open question, I believe that an atheist can be spiritual, as just because one does not believe in god, doesn't mean that they don't believe in anything; not all atheists are nihilists. I believe that an individual can be spiritual, as in believing in a higher power, or an inherent interconnectedness, but that higher power doesn't necessarily have to be a god. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Chelsea McLaren - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 9:27 AM I agree with your statement that religion and spirituality have been used interchangeably. I do beleive an aethist can be spiritual as an aethist is simply a person who does not believe in God, or gods. I beleive a person can be spiritual with nature and the earth as well. Since it has been previousl stated that you can be spiritual and not religious, I strongly belive that because an individual does not beilieve in God/gods they can belive in other things and become spiritual in that sense. Thanks for the great question to start a discussion,it really made me think more in depth on what spirituality actually is. Link to this post | Show parent 1st Post of Orrin Wick by Orrin Wick - Wednesday, 11 May 2016, 8:42 PM I believe spirituality and religion are different. I think that religion is the belief system that you follow, where spirituality is how you practice your beliefs. An analogy that I would like to use as a comparison, to hopefully clarify my view, is that religion is a story book, and spirituality would be the way in which one would read the story. After reading through the material given to us in the course I found similarities. For example, in the first video titled “The Category of Religion”, Professor Anderson speaks of spirituality as personal, and religion as a reflection of an institutional life.
Link to this post | Show parent Re: 1st Post of Orrin Wick by Brayden Folk - Friday, 13 May 2016, 9:09 AM Hey Orrin, I agree with you. I like that you referred to religion as a material object (story book) and spirituality as a non-material object (the way you interpret the story). Religion may not be a material object, but it can be seen as one with respect to all of the practices, beliefs and rules within said religion, that have been set in stone and developed over time. I like to think of religion as the earth as a whole, it can be very hard to alter unless everyone's beliefs are the same as yours. Spirituality is a non- material object that forms over time within someone and can be altered as truth is discovered and is a sense of connection that is bigger than ourselves. Well said. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Ronda Harrison - Wednesday, 11 May 2016, 9:07 PM There is a difference between Spirituality and Religion. Religion is a set of beliefs that a person accepts as their own and also follows the rituals as part of the religion, it is more of the act, per say. Spirituality, on the other hand, is more of an abstract idea of being. It is the idea of becoming attuned to something higher than yourself and the world around you. That being said, Religion can be spiritual and spirituality can be religious. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Ronda Harrison - Friday, 13 May 2016, 10:29 PM As I have read the posts the last couple of days, I noticed that posts showed that people believe that religion and spirituality are different. I think the distinction is important as you can have one without the other hence why the question about athiests being spiritual was great. I have always thought of myself as spiritual but I don't subscribe to any one religion, though I tend toward Buddist Taoist teachings. I really liked the post someone posted about how as you age, your level of spirituality goes up. As I have gotten older, I have questioned religion and spirituality. I have begun to explore the difference see it in a whole different light than when I was in my 20's. I still feel that both can be separate or they can be used together. It is an individual's choice. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Halar Shahani - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 12:53 AM Religion and spirituality are complex and interpretive fields of thought. I say interpretive because one’s idea of religion and spiritually could be influenced by many factors that involves upbringing, society, education etc. Perhaps an agreeable distinction between the two can be that spirituality is usually associated with something that is personal or private whereas the other tends to involve public rituals or organised doctrines. Religion possesses a more Institutionalised and established impression where fundamentals have been set for a mass audience to believe in and adhere to. A belief system which is governed by its principles and involves participation, respect, obedience etc. Spirituality could be considered a component of religion where the interdependence could be explained by the individual’s response and personal understanding of what the religion has provided for them. A personal example for me is the Holy month of Ramadhan, where the set rules lie in regards to requirements for fasting, prayers and donations as provided by the Islamic belief. The spirituality comes in understanding the purpose and ramifications of these actions and connecting on a more transcendent level. For example, how fasting can be understood to cleanse the conscience from desires and initiate a heightened consciousness of God where the heart and mind has the freedom to reflect on deeper spiritual matters such as his/her relationship with God and fellow human beings. Similarly, it would be interesting to see how other religious doctrines and rules are understood by individuals to lead to a more spiritual reflection. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Haley George - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 10:42 PM I really like how you stated spirituality is a component of religion - how true! Before I read your post I had kind have thought that religion would be the foundation of our spiritual self. However, after reading your posts I came to realize just how important spirituality is to a religion! Without spirituality, religion almost seems meaningless now that I think about it. Thanks for this emergence of realization! You brought up how it might be interesting to see how other religious doctrines and rules are understood by individuals to lead to more spiritual reflection. One example of this I can think of in Christianity beliefs is the importance of daily devotions. Personally, I find when I am avoiding or neglecting to do daily devotions/prayer to God, I am always left with a void in my everyday life. I personally believe it is due to almost as if, ignoring that God does not play a role in my life and therefore I am trying to do life on my own strength rather than His. Spiritually speaking, devotions are highly awakening in my spiritual life and I often learn of new things whenever I pray or read my bible which in turn, fulfills that void that I feel when I choose not to do them. Thanks for your thoughts and insights Halar. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Mohammed Jafar Alribh - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 11:19 PM Good evening Halar and thank you for some interesting points in your post! I think it is very important to realize that religion and spirituality are determined by a person's background, like you said "upbringing, society, and education." I think a few more to add to the list would be historical aspects of a persons culture, political forces of a culture, and a cultures relation to another culture. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Daisy Martinez - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 12:59 AM
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Yes. As the text states, religion can be viewed as a system of practices that organizes the world in what is deemed sacred. The videos also states the elements of religion. Ethics, institutions, and rituals are what I think when the term 'religion' comes to mind. Spirituality is, in my opinion, entirely different. As the video mentions, spirituality was used similarly to faith. Religion is a set belief of rituals, ethics, and a place that allows for gathering, community and support. Any given religion, however, is very broad - able to speak to large crowds and connect with a variety of people. Individuals who are spiritual have their own idea, connection, and relationship with the deity in which they believe. Spirituality is not a one-size-fits all, it's very personal. A question to pose would be, can a person be spiritual without following a particular religion? Or vice-versa? Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Alexandra Burnett - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 1:30 AM Yes, there is a difference between religion and spirituality. Religion is usually based on a belief whereas spirituality is often based on an experience. Individuals are often spiritual after overcoming certain obstacles in their lives, for example, many individuals who overcome alcoholism or drug addiction adopt a spiritual belief through the Alcoholics (or Narcotics) Anonymous program. Religion involves an adherence to a strict set of beliefs and rituals whereas spirituality tends to be a much more individual experience. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Eilysh Kirkpatrick - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 12:40 PM I absolutely believe that there is a difference between spirituality and religion. In my family my mothers side is very spiritual and my fathers side is very religious. When looking on my mothers side and the relatives I have who are spiritual I would say that people who are spiritual search for the meaning in life, they are open to a variety of perspectives and they do not have specific guidelines in how they want to live. My relatives on my fathers side are religious, they have one perspective, this perspective has allowed them to already find the meaning in life. The religious people in my family have direction that they believe in and follow to be the best people that they can be, direction that is created and has been around for thousands of years. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Ethan Gardner - Friday, 13 May 2016, 1:57 PM I think it is fascinating that you had the two sides of your family being on separate ends of this discussion. If you don't mind me asking which one would you say has influenced you the most? Or have they both in their own ways? Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by JayCee Dallyn - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 12:50 PM As a nursing student we are taught to understand that there is a difference between religion and spirituality. You do not need religion to be spiritual. Some people may express their spirituality through art forms such as music, painting etc... Each individual can be different in their understanding and expression of spirituality. Spirituality helps to assist individuals in finding comfort and happiness and many people do not need religion to find that spiritual comfort. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Daisy Martinez - Friday, 13 May 2016, 4:53 PM Hey JayCee, Your take on expressing spirituality, I thought, provided really great examples. When I think of spirituality, prayer comes to mind as well meditation. To me, meditation in my yoga practice is a way of connecting with my spirituality; however, just as everyone is saying - spirituality as individual as every being on this planet. So naturally, music, painting, being outdoors, literally anything could help someone connect. Also, prior to my first post - I didn't think you needed religion to be spiritual - and nor do I now. But after careful consideration, I now think religion really guides a person to their spirituality -- and after a certain age/point in one'e life, we take that and start developing it further. Unless people were to be born into a strictly 'spiritual' household, that has a very set idea of what spirituality means to them, I would imagine the concept of spirituality to be difficult to grasp for young ones. It's really hard to imagine, and I would be interested to read about a stories that did follow these guidelines. So although, as adults, we may not necessarily need religion to be spiritual, I do think spirituality for those without religion derives the best of all religions. To do good, be kind, and be respectful. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Emmanuel Joy Gaudia - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 1:26 PM For me, there is a difference between religion and spirituality. According to William Paden, religion is a "system of language and practice that organizes the world in terms of what is deemed to be sacred". Moreover, religion is a system of beliefs and practices that should be followed in order to be in the chosen religion. On the other hand, spirituality is having a belief that there is a bigger force or a supernatural force in which human beings should believe of. In spirituality, there is no need of having a set of practice unlike a religion. However, both spirituality and religion is having the same goal which is the search of meaning of life. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Mohammed Jafar Alribh - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 11:15 PM Good evening Emmanuel and thank you for your thought provoking post!
I agree with your opinion on religion and spirituality meaning different things for different people. Being spiritual for someone can mean being religious for someone else. I also agree with your closing sentence stating that "both have the same goal which is the search of the meaning of life," but would like to add it is also the relation of life including a beings past, present and future (in some cases including after death experiences) in order to bring about meanings of existence. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Faisal Sabri - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 3:25 PM It is important to start with the meaning of the two words. Religion is the belief in a deity to be worshipped, often involving a code of ethics. Spirituality lets you more likely to follow your heart and what feels right to you. It does not asks you to bow down to anything. It is your way of loving, accepting and relating to the world and people around you. However, the views are dependent upon person to person. Every person has different views about it. I feel that spirituality is attained by following the religion. The set of beliefs and structures in a religion help people to attune to their innate spirituality. In simpler words, religion tells you the truth whereas, spirituality lets you discover it. The religion helps the soul to grow and develop. For example in Islam, it is one’s duty to use all his abilities and powers to help others and make world a better place for others. Islam tells you to take out a certain amount from your income to be given to the poor and needy in society. It is a right act that everybody would perform. The good deeds a man does with a sense of responsibility and obediance, as per religion, the nearer will one be to God. In Islam, being spiritual is considered being close to God. Similarly, being lazy and disobediant would not let one to come close to God, thus not being spiritual. However, in this era people may believe that religions and spirituality are two separate things. A person does not need to be religious to be spiritual or vice versa. People may believe that religion makes a person perform good deeds by imposing fear of punishment of what might happen after one’s death. Whereas choices made out of love will empower oneself and truly sets you free to bring out the best in you and be a good person with no promise of punishment or reward. I would like to conclude that the views vary from a person to person. For some spirituality is part of the religion whereas for others they might be two separate beliefs. I look forward to hear about other people views in this topic to further enhance my knowledge. Average of ratings: - Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Ronda Harrison - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 4:16 PM I like your take on religion and spirituality and I agree. I don't personally subscribe to intertwining the two but I think its important to realize that some people do. It is most definitely individual preference. As I stated in my post, I feel that religion can be spiritual for some and spirituality can come in the form of religion. I find Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Samer Dargan - Friday, 13 May 2016, 6:22 PM Hi Faisal! I agree with what you have to offer in regard with religion and spirituality. I mentioned in my post that we can either see them both at different ends of the spectrum, or going hand in hand. You mentioned that religion helps people attune their spirituality, but sometimes it is the other way around. I believe it varies depending more on the context we are looking at. For instance, religion might restrict you to do something, but spirituality is more about following your instincts. For example, in Judaism, women are not allowed to touch Torah, but most women in the modern era do revolt against such norm and do hold Torah. This revolt can be seen as a result of their spiritual attachment with the religion, not the religion tuning their spirituality. I agree that religion helps tune spirituality, but sometimes it is the other way around. Therefore, we can say that they are both complimentary to each other. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Brayden Folk - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 7:41 PM I believe the differences between religion and spirituality include: Spirituality allows someone to seek and discover the truth. We can all study a religion but it is the li㔠͑le voices in the back of our heads that ul㏠̽mately choose the way we think and what we believe in. Therefore, religions can be forced, but spirituality cannot. For example, many children are forced into religions because of their parents. Where spirituality develops over ㏠̽me and is based on one’s inner beliefs. Spirituality allows someone to create their own beliefs from what they believe to be the truth. Any religion’s beliefs and prac㏠̽ces are pre㔠͑y much set in stone. Therefore, there exists fear within these religions. Fear of the consequences of your ac㏠̽ons. For example, Chris㏠̽ans have fear and do worry about if they will go to heaven when everything is all said and done. With spirituality, it allows you to make choices out of love and not based on fear. Spiritual people believe that any choice made out of fear is not good for the soul. As men㏠̽oned in the previous point, religious people do live in fear. This is due to the fact that in every religion there are rules. Rules that if broken, may affect the outcome of one’s life. Spiritual people follow their heart and make choices based on what they believe is right and for the good of their soul. I believe that spirituality cannot be taught, it is non‐material object that is found deep within someone. It is what controls our every move, how we love, how we accept and relate to the world and how we interact with people. Something that cannot be found in a church, but it one’s heart. To summarize, religion invents and spirituality discovers. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Amy Kapeller - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 9:18 PM I like how you referred to spirituality as discovering the truth. I agree with this because I feel like religions are often so set in place and can be set into some families that individuals may not have a choice as to what they are supposed to believe. This is different with spirituality, as it comes from within and is much more personal. Spirituality develops within an individual as they learn and grow. I agree with you that spirituality is something developed over time and based on inner beliefs. As religion may not always allow an individual to discover their true beliefs, spirituality does. I also agree with you overall statement, 'spirituality discovers'. I like the way you worded this because spirituality is something that forms as individuals discover themselves and the world around them.
Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Sean Boczulak - Friday, 13 May 2016, 7:08 PM I agree with your descriptions "r eligions can be forced, but spirituality cannot." It seems that we share the idea that spirituality is internally mo㏠̽vated and can grow or change uniquely for each person. In contrast religion is more absolute, and binds people together under a similar belief system that can be "set in stone" as you say. As for your feelings on fear and spirituality, I think that if you are religious and spiritually agree with that religions teachings that ins㏠̽ll fear, that fear can reaffirm your belief in the religion which could even be good for the soul. As a counter to this though, I think that choices "made out of love" as opposed to choices "made out of fear" are far be㔠͑er for developing a person's spirituality. Link to this post | Show parent Spirituality vs Religion by Ethan Gardner - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 9:32 PM Comparing Religion and Spirituality in the hopes of coming up with differences is not an easy task as both are born from the same basic idea. What I think truly sets them apart is what people get from each one. I think that two of the most powerful human needs are a sense of purpose as well as a sense of belonging and I feel that this would have been the base that religion was built on. People yearn to believe that their lives hold a higher meaning than the physical world that we exist in. The ability to hold onto a belief in something that arguably never shows its true face in the physical world is a very rare thing especially when you feel that you are alone in that belief. Sharing those beliefs with others and gaining a sense of reinforcement can be a very comforting thing. Religion was formed from people sharing somewhat of the same views on their spirituality and coming together to support one another and expand on that view. How this can be seen more clearly is in the differences between religions. I think that if you look at certain cultures and their religions you will see that each culture shaped its religion to fit the ideals of its people. What I mean by this is they all seem to share the pillars of believing in a higher powered entity, caring for one another and doing the greatest good you can in your life. Outside of these pillars though lie the everyday norms of these religions which seem to be extremely different. The stories, prayers and worship of these different religions all seem to mimic the cultures in which they reside. It’s as if Religion is a mixture of Spirituality and Culture. In a very Canadian fashion I will use an analogy of the relationship I feel spirituality and religion share. Religion is to Spirituality as the NHL is to Hockey. The NHL is viewed as the popular accepted norm with different teams to cheer for and support. Choosing what team to cheer for can come from a few different things like what area you were born in, what characteristics a certain team exudes, or even the one your loved ones/friends support. All three of those previously listed are some of the most influential reasons people choose their religions. Even though the NHL is that accepted central place of “worship” there are millions of people that express their “faith” or love for hockey in a very different way. Some may find their peace late at night all alone on a frozen patch of ice with just themselves and hockey (their spirituality) and others just love the time spent with friends bringing a sense of belonging and deeper meaning to their life. Religion and Spirituality will always hold some very common characteristics but I hope this was a slightly obscure way to look at the differences. If anyone else has any more analogies I would love to hear them! Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Haley George - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 10:21 PM Before I could really dig deeper into this question, I first had to google the definitions for both spirituality and religion. After doing so, I realize that although both words are very closely related, they do have some differences. While religion is more of a term used to describe a set of beliefs or a value system of faith, spirituality is the connection that a person feels towards that particular set of beliefs or value system of faith. It is believed that all humans have the three core principles that make up who we are - the mind, the body, and the spirit. Regardless if you believe in a religion or not, it usually is not argued that you do not possess a spiritual aspect in your life. As if to fulfill that spiritual aspect, many chose to follow a certain practice (or system) of faith (i.e. Religion). Religion helps us fulfill the void that we are missing in our spiritual selves and helps us better understand us as not only a person but as a whole as well. Spirituality is something that can somewhat be measured - it can be as vague as an underlying belief that there is something more to life that simply breathing oxygen or as intimate as a personal relationship with a faith-based system (such as a God for an example). An example that I can think of is my own life. I follow the faith based value system or set of beliefs of Christianity. This helps fulfill the void in my spiritual life by allowing me to have a deeper connection with God, which in turn, helps me understand who I am as a person and as a person of God. The religion of Christianity guides me through different aspects in my life such as understanding and following specific moralities, decisions in everyday life, and the relationships I choose to have or don't have. The religion of Christianity is ultimately the foundation of my spiritual aspect in life. Spirituality is the connection I have with God and the intimacy I possess with Him and the world in general. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Faisal Sabri - Friday, 13 May 2016, 5:04 PM I somewhat agree with your point Haley. I understand your point of view on how you mention that your religion guides you in different aspects of your life. I believe that religion provides us with the basis of the rules through which you can attain profound spirituality. Religion guides you through different situations in your life and influences your actions based on the values of the faith based system you were raised in. In addition, I believe with age and experience your spirituality diversifies as you encounter hardships and various types of distinct beliefs. Average of ratings: - Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Samantha Lautsch - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 10:48 PM When I think of religion, I immediately associate it with the formal practices of going to church, reading a bible and following a set of rules laid out by such a religion in such a one like Catholicism, for example. When I think of spirituality, on the other hand, I think of the internal feeling of connectedness to the paranormal, or any entity or thing that a person cannot physically see or touch, like the idea of God. Therefore I do not feel like the two are the same thing, but rather two different parts that contribute to a wholeness of an idea for a belief system. One without the other would lacking a critical component of any belief system. Link to this post | Show parent
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Re: Forum 1 by Noora Ashrafi - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 10:58 PM I think it is interesting how you believe that both religion and spirituality need to exist to make a belief system. I actually didn't think about that in my response and I focused much more on the differences between the two and not how they can work together. I've always had a strict religious beliefs but have always been open to other beliefs as well. Spirituality has never occurred to be a religion to me mostly because it seems to have almost no rules and lets a person be content with how they are which is not a bad thing at all but it wasn't how I viewed a religion to be. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Mohammed Jafar Alribh - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 11:03 PM According to unit one and our readings, religion is a category and has systems of beliefs and practices. It is often intertwined with differing ideologies based on a given culture. Personally, I identify as someone whose identity holds a religion, namely Islam. Contrastingly, spirituality is closely related to concerns of the soul or inner spirit of a being in relation to others and the world at large. Being spiritual does not necessarily connect you with a religion, such as Christianity. But, it is more concerned with the inner thoughts, feelings, and beliefs one has. I believe this is often private matter while religious identity is often an outwardly spoken or shown one. What do you deem as spiritual vs. religious? Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Jiawei Huo - Thursday, 12 May 2016, 11:11 PM There is a difference between religion and spirituality. Generally, in my opinion, religion makes people dependent while spirituality makes people independent. As Karl Marx proposes that religion is “a system of oppression”, which indicates that people are limited under circumstances of religious guidelines. People in religion have to rely on these limitations. However, spirituality is more like a specific term of unbound life. It is more like to believe ourselves. People do not need or rely on anything to receive happiness or sorrow. Furthermore, religion is well­built spiritual system. That's why all the world religions can be spread out extensively from region to region. Spirituality is like a Utopian world that people can feel and realize their own beliefs, but cannot see it. That's why each person in a region has different spirituality. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Faith Ogundipe - Friday, 13 May 2016, 8:42 AM I believe there is a difference between the two. However in order to understand the difference, one must define each term. Religion: Is a set of rules if you will set in place year prior before people join in the call to follow or prasie a certian higher power. religion has been refered to in the past as belifs in a god, and is the act of worshiping. and usually have certian rituals and ethics to which members adhere to. and spirituality is often look to as a physical connection through thought and emotion. one can be spirituality believe in spirits and powers of the earth and not be "religious" in the sense that they do not follow a certian ethic or ritual. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Maria Kary - Friday, 13 May 2016, 9:59 AM Yes, I think religion and spirituality are different. Religion is the beliefs that you follow and practice and spirituality goes deeper to how your feel about these beliefs and incorporate them into your own life. I think there are different levels of spirituality that a person can be at. For example, my religion is Roman Catholic and I go to church occasionally on Sundays but my spirituality can be much different from others with the same religion. I think that my grandma's level of spirituality would be deeper and more established than mine. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Jiawei Huo - Friday, 13 May 2016, 2:32 PM Your example remains me that my mom's religion is Buddhism. She believes that if we treat elders kindly we may get good luck at the end, so she worships ancestors every single week. Sometimes she may force the family to do the same things with her. That is what religions make people choose their own beliefs. I agree Spirituality incorporates beliefs in our own life, but it is not about how it goes deeper into our feelings. It is about how spirituality makes changes in our life. that's how elders get deeper level of spirituality then youths. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Jessica Pouliot - Friday, 13 May 2016, 1:14 PM
I believe that the two are tied together, but they do not mean the same thing. To specify, I think that spitituality is meant to portray one's inner self and is with someone when they are born. We can maybe say that religion is on the more political side. People have religions which have certain beliefs. A religion is specific whereas spirituality can be developed with thoughts and more reason. Also, we can say that threre are many religions, about which we will learn, but people only have one spirituality. There are many ways to describe spirituality because it is more than just one simple thing. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Omar Alsaady - Friday, 13 May 2016, 1:59 PM Hi Jessica. I believe that you're right. The two concepts are undoubtedly quite interlinked. However, they do not mean the same thing. One is about commitment following a set of rules while the other is about creating your own. For example, spirituality talks about doing away with one's self and exploring the 'real' aspects of one's spirit. On the other hand, religion is restrictive in nature which brings me to your other point. I agree that religion is specific while the concept of spirituality encompasses a number of wide ranging areas and aspects. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Omar Alsaady - Friday, 13 May 2016, 1:44 PM Religion is more about a commitment to one's faith or dedication to an institute or a set of beliefs. On the other hand, spirituality is less rigid and revolves around loyalty and compassion towards one's self and the world around. Where religion talks about following the teachings by God, spirituality allows one to choose the path he or she may think is morally right. Religion fuels a bit of a debate while spirituality isn't concerned with others view, acts or perspective but one's own identification and relation with oneself and their surroundings. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Ahmed Altharman - Friday, 13 May 2016, 3:21 PM Hey. I agree with the idea that both concepts are different and do not mean the same thing. However, less rigid? Spirituality is does not depict even the slightest bit of rigidity. It is wide ranging and not confined to a single phenomenon. Yes, it does allow one to choose their own path and follow it according to their judgement. The concept to read seems better. However, realistically religion too is an important aspect as it aims to guide us and protect us in life. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Riyadh Al-awbathani - Friday, 13 May 2016, 2:33 PM I believe there is a difference between religion and spirituality. Religion talks about following a strict set of rules (with incentives) while spirituality requires the surrendering of one's self and discovering and exploring the world around. Also, spirituality is more about love, loyalty and justice while religion is based on fear for example, if you do not speak the truth, you will be sent to hell. Spirituality lets you think on your own. However, religion is not all bad. It does provide you a guideline as to how to live your life. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Ahmed Altharman - Friday, 13 May 2016, 3:11 PM In my opinion, spirituality and religion are two different and distinct concepts. Spirituality aims to surpass fear and sets you free. This is done so one could explore and discover the truth on their own. Spirituality helps to come to a conclusion by one's own efforts and uniting all those that to do come up to face the truth. However, religion is based on the idea of fear and incentives to performing or not performing an act. It's a set of guidelines but most see these as rules to be followed. Link to this post | Show parent 2nd post of Orrin Wick by Orrin Wick - Friday, 13 May 2016, 3:28 PM After reading through posts, I still believe that Religion and Spirituality are different. I do believe now that their differences are not as substantial as I originally believed. Samantha Lautsch’s post contains an indication that spirituality and religion together make one belief system. I do agree with this and realize that part of my first post is misleading. Instead of saying that religion is the belief system, I should have stated that it was the system in which you follow because of your beliefs, this better indicates that it is a system, and together with spirituality form their own complete belief system. Aside Note: From Caroline Laoye post and the opened question and replies to the questions, I would agree with atheist being able to be spiritual. I also wondered if they could believe in a religion as well. I did a little bit of research, and I believe that atheists can believe in a religion. My initial understanding of religion is that it includes a Deity, but after a little research my new understanding is that not all religions required a belief in a Deity, one of which was Hinduism, so I am interested in the following unit to come. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Kamille Teichreb - Friday, 13 May 2016, 4:35 PM The difference between religion and spirituality is that religion is a practice involving multiple people with the same beliefs, practices, and traditions. They have a central belief system and a place of worship. Religion has a set of rules in which one must follow and a distinct belief system everyone shares. Where as spirituality is specific to each individual and allows more freedom to determine what they want in life and how they want to achieve this. Spirituality acts as guidelines to happiness, and states that you can find happiness within yourself. Examples of religions are; Islam, buddhism. Examples of practising your spirituality include; praying and meditating. Link to this post | Show parent
Forum 1 Answer by Shelby McGillivray - Friday, 13 May 2016, 4:37 PM Yes, I do believe there is a difference between religion and spirituality. I believe religion is a set of rules that you are expected to follow if you belong to that religion. Whereas spirituality is your personal journey within your religion, the connectedness between you and what you believe. An example of religion versus spirituality in Christianity; a person could go to church and do all the ritualistic things expected of them, therefore being perceived as religious and spiritual. However, a person may be very spiritual, having a relationship with God, but does not go to church, therefore being perceived as non-religious and non-spiritual. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Samer Dargan - Friday, 13 May 2016, 5:21 PM As evident from the online video and the required readings, Religion is a set of beliefs and practices and is institutionalized, whereas spirituality is personal and authentic (Anderson). Religion emerges with the norms to follow and beliefs to practice in the society, and also becomes the reason to follow those norms. As pointed out by Freud, It is a projection of ones' own fears and desires. Spirituality on the other hand is the reason we look for the religion in the first place, as spirituality is "personal" and about finding yourself. It compels us to look for a purpose of living and why we exist, and that is where we can connect it to religion. Spirituality is the reason we look for religion in the first place. They can both go hand-in-hand, or might even be seen at the different ends of a spectrum. For example, praying five times a day in Islam, and going to church on sundays might be seen as religious, as it is a norm, practice, or belief in these respective religions, whereas finding yourself as a result of these actions might be due to spiritually being involved in these norms, practices, or beliefs. In this manner, they can be seen as working together. We see religion and spirituality at different ends of a spectrum in a way that spirituality is open to perspectives and experiences, whereas religion might tell us what to do and what not to do. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Mohammed Jafar Alribh - Friday, 13 May 2016, 5:50 PM Hi Samer. I agree with your point that both Religion and spirituality can go hand in hand. Being personally and spiritually involved in the social religious norms and discovering yourself can be seen as a union of spirituality and religion. However, sometimes religious traditions are followed without any spiritual attachment and just as a requirement to be completed to be a part of the society. We can distinguish this from being spiritually involved in the traditions and finding One's own individual self as a result, and this distinction clearly demonstrates what religion without spirituality looks like. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Syed Farrukh Mukhtar - Friday, 13 May 2016, 7:56 PM Hello Samer, I agree that religion and spirituality can go hand-in-hand and also be on the opposite sides of the spectrum. I believe it would depend on the individual and their views. While there are some people that are purely spiritual and do not practice a certain religion, there are also those individuals that practice a religion, identify with particular set of beliefs, and are spiritual. As you mentioned, I agree that spirituality can lead to finding religion and religion can lead to finding spirituality. Humans sometimes need one, either religion or spirituality, to connect to the other. Regards, Syed Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Tiffany Klemack - Friday, 13 May 2016, 8:32 PM I also agree that you can be spiritual and not religious. But, I think religion cannot exist without spirituality. Religions have specific elements that define them- as stated in the required videos, religions are composed of three key "ingredients." A religion must have myths/central stories, ethical guidelines, and a sense of the sacred/spiritual. Spirituality is a component of religion, and it is what makes one feel passionate about the religion that they follow/believe. If one were to not be spiritual, they could not be religious because one of the "ingredients" is missing and they would just follow meaningless rules and read meaningless stories. To conclude, I do not think there is a distinct "difference" between spirituality and religion - but rather a relationship similar to a matchstick and a lantern. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Mohammed Alshammari - Friday, 13 May 2016, 11:01 PM Hey Samer, I really like your perspective on the topic. I agree that they both can be seen as together, but then they can also be seen as seperate from each other. I totally agree that sometimes religion does tell us what to do and what not to do. An example can be seen as Hijab in Islam, which Is mandatory for women, but on the other hand we also see modern muslim women with no hijab, and we cannot say that those modern women are not spiritual, as sometimes those women are more spiritual about religion than the ones with hijab. In this manner we can see that spirituality is not all about religion, but they can coexist. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Kelly Granil - Friday, 13 May 2016, 5:47 PM Through out this week, I learned different point of views of people regarding religion and spirituality. What came up to me while reading their posts, is that we all have different interpretation between the two factors, but most of us agree that religion and spirituality have the power to help us improve our view towards life and these two factors can light our path towards the goodness in this world. I still stand to my view that we need to assess if the religious and spiritual practice that we are following are serving us goodness and
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helping us to be better citizens of the world. I feel that following a certain practice is non-sense if it only makes us more confuse about our purpose in this world and the purpose of life. Thank you. Kelly Granil Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Halar Shahani - Friday, 13 May 2016, 8:44 PM Hi Kelly, I think this sums of this whole discussion rather well. It is true that we have different views regarding religion and spirituality but ultimately both aim to improve ourselves in our minds and our heart. I think it is important that religion should not be followed blindly without understanding the reasons for why we do certain practices. We should be able to connect and attempt to understand with what our religious practices ask for which i think is being spiritual in itself. However, i do understand this is a tough and confusing task rather than simply said and done. Many of us are born into families that sustain some religious background and thus expectations to follow the practices are put upon, thats why with time and maturity a person should assess the purpose and impacts of the religious and spiritual practices. Link to this post | Show parent Religion Vs Spirituality by Iliana Roman - Friday, 13 May 2016, 5:51 PM I do believe there is a difference between religion and spirituality. Spirituality, refers to moral values, intimate communion with our inner self and God. Spirituality lets a person find satisfaction, interior peace which is reflected in our exterior being, it let us have faith and conviction which lead us to a good constant relationship with God. Religion on the other hand refers to the expression of human beings by ways of rituals, prayers, signs and celebrations which are the result of a particular or unique relationship with God. Spirituality is deeper and wider than the religion, religion could be an expression of our spiritual experience, although not all spirituality is expressed religiously. Spirituality is only one inside of us, each person has an spiritual side, but religions there are many of them and we can chose the one we think might be the right for us, some people are born in it and they are taught to follow it and believe in it. People also have the right to change religions if they choose so. Spirituality is our infinite conscious, something deep inside of us which makes us love, and accept the world around us, is the way we love our neighbours and religion is a set of rules made by men to make us believe in them. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Sean Boczulak - Friday, 13 May 2016, 6:40 PM I think that religion and spirituality are different things that are often tied together. Religion is an institution that acts to prescribe how believers should live their lives, while spirituality comes from each person and is how they wish to live their lives. For myself, in school I learned of many religions and certain aspects of them changed how I am spiritually, but I am not religious. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Syed Farrukh Mukhtar - Friday, 13 May 2016, 7:03 PM I believe that there is a difference between Religion and Spirituality. Although they sometimes do go hand in hand, people will often only practice one or the other. Religion is more rule oriented, in which a deity of some sort is worshipped through certain rituals such as prayer. There are also rules and codes of conduct that the members of the religion are told to follow, in order to gain a reward, such as heaven. Spirituality is more of a personal experience, where a person through observation and thought aims to become a better person. The individual becomes aware by their experiences and self reflection, guiding them to find the connection with others, nature (mother earth), and the cosmos. Many times they are not associated with a particular religion and do not necessarily practice rituals. To conclude, religion and spirituality can often be found together but they can also be separate as they are two different states of mind. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Saeed Alsaqqaee - Friday, 13 May 2016, 8:40 PM Spirituality and religion are in fact two different concepts. Spirituality is all about finding the truth. One lets themselves free in order to explore themselves and that around them. It requires thinking on all levels, whether optimistically or even critical in order to get to a conclusion. On the other hand, religion is a set of beliefs and is hence, restrictive in nature. It may unify people on some ground. However, it talks about the truth as portrayed but not exploring it by one's self. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Emmanuel Joy Gaudia - Friday, 13 May 2016, 9:07 PM Hi Saeed. I agree with you that Spirituality is letting oneself free to explore for which belief and/or practice is to follow. And yes, thorough thinking and contemplating will lead that man/woman to the answers that he/she searches throughout his/her life. I also agree with you that religion is a set of beliefs which has restrictions and rules to be followed. You also said that a religion talks about the truth. But what if, a religion talks about a different "truth" from another religion. I am not saying that there is a wrong or right one. Thank You for sharing your thoughts and a brain stimulating statements. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1
Activities Navigation Administration by Inderpreet Lohcham - Friday, 13 May 2016, 9:22 PM Religion is a broader term which can include spirituality as a part of it. for example Sufism. Spirituality could be more independent as it is much more personal as it deals with one's own experience. Religions tend to have some specific codes for a way of life. For instance, in Hinduism, a Brahman must be a pure vegetarian. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Mohammed Alshammari - Friday, 13 May 2016, 10:39 PM Where religion forms us into a society or a group, and becomes our identity as a whole, spirituality is more about personality and how we make sense of ourself. That is why in my opinion, we can be religious and spiritual at the same time. Religion is something majority of us may get from family at birth, but spirituality is something that helps us to make sense of that religion we get at birth from Our parents. I feel that we were born spiritual, and that spirituality is something we incorporate into Our parent's religion that we get as a heritage. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Jill Jacobson - Friday, 13 May 2016, 11:21 PM Hi Mohammed, I agree that religion is something that brings people together in society--something that people can relate to collectively and practice together; and that spirituality is more of an individual thing. You talked about "getting" a religion at birth--I want to suggest that even though spirituality is more personal, religion is also something that we can choose for ourselves. Do you think religion is something different from a culture that is inherited? I would say that culture or ethnicity is passed down from our families; however some religions, such as Christianity, would say that it can not be automatically passed down--it is a personal decision. I agree with you that spirituality and religion often go together. Jill Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Jessica Pouliot - Friday, 13 May 2016, 10:49 PM Hi Saeed, I like your idea about spirituality meaning "finding the truth". To me, this means that there are many ways to build one's spirituality. One may use different ways to build it by following certain rules or concepts of things they may have learned before. People can continue to learn as they grow, which will help their spirituality to grow even more. In order to be completely involved with our own spirituality, we must understand all the truths behind it. As for your definition of religion, I also agree with it being a set of beliefs, no matter what religion it may be. The textbook explains religion as a category, which can go hand in hand with what you said about a "set of beliefs". There are many components in religion which are placed for each culture to fully proclaim their beliefs. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Jill Jacobson - Friday, 13 May 2016, 10:53 PM I think that religion and spirituality are two different things. Spirituality is a personal experience through which an individual seeks to fulfill meaning in their life. Religion is something that embodies ideas that are more universal, or understood among the many people practicing it. Although there are different ideologies for different religions, and although people may view the purpose of religion differently (for example as a virus, mother, ritual, etc.), it is something that is put in place in the form of specific beliefs and practices, and "ethical guidelines." Spirituality does not always involve guidelines or practices, but is more based on someone's inner experience and involvement with what they deem important. An example in the introductory videos was that religion always focuses on the idea that there is a problem with humankind, and it gives a solution for that. Spirituality does not necessarily encompass this belief. Link to this post | Show parent Re: Forum 1 by Yanxing Wang - Friday, 13 May 2016, 11:23 PM A very interesting statement is made in attempt to define religion, which stating: A strange thing about religion is that we all know what it is until someone asks us to tell them” (Bowker 2003 – The Meaning of Religion). I do not belong to a religion, and in the one sense I try to understand it from the position of religious studies, which is as ‘outsider’ but willing to look in systematic ways to define and understand different traditions. Religions have many characteristics which are broadly shared: they include a belief in a supernatural power(s), and set out the relationship between the people, especially the believers or followers, and the God figure. There are beliefs, many times organized structures (institutions), sacred teachings or texts and ritual practices. Spiritual refers to an ability to somehow personally encounter or experience a greater sense of connection with supernatural forces – but these do not have to be a specific religious figure or organized in the same way as religion. We seeing in many Indigenous spirituality the sense there is not a sharp distinction or disconnecting between the human life, the natural world and the supernatural; they can be integrated and balanced. Religion may or may not offer a ‘connection’ with the spiritual sense, but I think it is fair saying many secular and spiritual people believe they can encounter the spiritual without religious practice. Bowker 2003, “Religion: The Meaning of Religion.” The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions.” Oxford University Press – Online version: eISBN: 9780191727221 Link to this post | Show parent
Activities Choices Course Email Databases Forums Glossaries QU Quizzes Resources Wikis Navigation Dashboard Site home UR Courses Current course RLST 100 (Online) Participants Start Here! Syllabus and Grading Rubric Units Assignments and Exams Introduce Yourself Unit 1 (Spirituality v.s. Religion) Discussion Forum 1 Unit 3 (Sikhism) Discussion Unit 5 (Shinto) Discussion Unit 6 (Chinese Religions) Discussion Unit 10 (Aboriginal Religion) Discussion QU Digging Deeper: Hinduism QU Digging Deeper: Buddhism QU Digging Deeper: Judaism QU Digging Deeper: Christianity QU Digging Deeper: Islam Library Resources Frequently Asked Questions My courses Administration Forum administration Course administration You are logged in as Faisal Sabri (Log out) Home | Terms of use | Copyright Information Optional subscription Subscribe to this forum Subscribe to this discussion Don't track unread posts
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