Being religious and being spiritual are two different things. There’s a fine line that can be distorted at times to promote the agenda of one group and/or religious leader. Being religious is adhering to one’s faith. Such as being a very religious Protestant or being a very religious Muslim. Being religious is focused on concerns of teachings and philosophy of your respective faith.
Spirituality focuses on the spirit, mainly your own spirit. Such as finding "meaning" in your life or fighting a cause greater than your own life. For example, you’re having an epiphany which is an awakening. The more correct term is a spiritual awakening. Focuses more on your own personal experiences like some form of mysticism. Being spiritual is taking some sort of "path" in your life to finding your true self of finding the meaning behind your existence.
Spirituality is present in numerous cultures such as African culture, Asian culture, Native American culture, and African culture.
To be "spiritual," you’re looking for your purpose. You’re looking for your reason to exist or whatever reason you’ve been brought onto this green earth for. You’re looking for some sort of transcendence beyond you actual form or fleshy shell. Or looking to connect with yourself, other people, religion, nature, philosophy, and so forth. There’s also trying to find who you are as well.
Sprituality revolved around this one question: "who are you?"
If I say "my name is John" or "my name is Shelly," you’re saying your name. But name doesn’t say who you are. Are you a name? A name is merely a label.
If I said that I’m Vietnamese, I’m saying my nationality. Are you a nationality? A nationality is merely a label.
If I said I’m a guy, I’m saying my gender. Are you a gender? A gender is merely a label.
If I said I was a cook, painter, or some other occupation, same thing. Are you your job? A job is merely a label.
If I said I was gay, straight, or bisexual, same thing. Are you a sexual preference? Sexual preference is merely a label.
Taking a path of spirituality is taking a path to gather knowledge and apply that knowledge for any sort of reason that transcends yourself. You’re walking a path that goes beyond you or anybody else.
There’s directed spirituality where you want to improve yourself and become wiser. Wanting to removie "illusions" that bring falsehood and such. Basically trying to find truth and meaning. Or you could take a path of spirituality to improve your spiritual health or heal your soul if its in pain.
It’s universal in all faiths. You don’t have to be religious to walk a path of spirituality. I do think of myself as walking somewhat of a past of spirituality which is encouraged in Buddhism, my practicing faith. But I’m not a devout Buddhism, I’m a moderate Buddhist.
You don’t have to be religious to be spiritual. Being spiritual doesn’t mean you have to believe nor acknowledge some higher being. Buddhism doesn’t believe in worshipping the Buddha. Buddha wanted desciples to look at him as merely a teacher and nothing else. He didn’t consider himself a god.
If you can walk a path of spirituality in any faith and not be devout, then you be Atheist and still walk a path of spirituality.
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