Religion vs Spirituality

[ivory]

There are many distinctions between religion, and Sprituality. Yet far too many people fail to make, or understand the distinction. Hundreds of Millions of people are religious, I often wonder how many of us are Spiritual. I believe religion can be anything that the person practicing desires. God, on the other hand, defines spirituality. Since religion is man defined, Religion is a manifestation of the flesh. But Spirituality, as defined by God, is a manifestation of His nature. Religion bears ill fruit. Spirituality bears the fruit of eternal life. Or, more accurately, a religious heart is a creation of man, and a Spiritual heart is a creation of God. Each of us sows seed into our hearts daily. What we focus on, love, choose, and give ourselves to is planted into our hearts, and eventually, if nothing uproots it, produces the fruit that it is destined to. If we sow Spiritual seed, we will reap the fruit of the Spirit, or put another way, Spirituality.

How do you feel about this

 

[Sketcher]

You can't be spiritual without being religious. Our relationship with God is built on faith, prayer, obedience, and other "religious" actions. Jesus was religious, as was Abraham. While one can be religious without being spiritual, true spirituality cannot come without true religion.

 

[ivory]

You can't be spiritual without being religious. Our relationship with God is built on faith, prayer, obedience, and other "religious" actions. Jesus was religious, as was Abraham. While one can be religious without being spiritual, true spirituality cannot come without true religion.

Wouldn't these be spiritual actions?

 

[Sketcher]

Wouldn't these be spiritual actions?

Yes, but they are also religious actions.

 

[ivory]

Yes, but they are also religious actions.

Wouldn't our ability to have faith come from the Holy Spirit?

 

[Sketcher]

Wouldn't our ability to have faith come from the Holy Spirit?

Everybody has faith in something, not everybody has the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enables saving faith in Christ though.

 

[ivory]

Everybody has faith in something, not everybody has the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enables saving faith in Christ though.

We are talking about religious, and spirituality not other things.

 

[Sketcher]

We are talking about religious, and spirituality not other things.

That's what I'm talking about too. Every false religion is founded on faith too. It's faith in the wrong thing, but it's faith nonetheless. The faith that God enables and strengthens is really a faith that is in Him.

 

[christianmomof3]

I think different people have different definitions of "religion" and "religious".
To me, religion is man's way of trying to please God on his own without Christ.
The same action may be religious if we do it because we think it is a good thing to do or spiritual if we do it because the Lord leads us to do it.
All of our actions for the Lord should be initiated by Him, not by us.

 

[JDIBe]

[F are many distinctions between religion, and Sprituality. Yet far too many people fail to make, or understand the distinction. Hundreds of Millions of people are religious, I often wonder how many of us are Spiritual. I believe religion can be anything that the person practicing desires. God, on the other hand, defines spirituality. Since religion is man defined, Religion is a manifestation of the flesh. But Spirituality, as defined by God, is a manifestation of His nature. Religion bears ill fruit. Spirituality bears the fruit of eternal life. Or, more accurately, a religious heart is a creation of man, and a Spiritual heart is a creation of God. Each of us sows seed into our hearts daily. What we focus on, love, choose, and give ourselves to is planted into our hearts, and eventually, if nothing uproots it, produces the fruit that it is destined to. If we sow Spiritual seed, we will reap the fruit of the Spirit, or put another way, Spirituality.[/I][/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[F do you feel about this [/COLOR][/FONT]

Ok, if religion is only man-made and bad, how do you explain the use of the term here?

(BTW, this has been brought up before, but it seems the "spiritual" people never seem to answer it. They just ignore it and move on. I'm not being argumentative. I'm really curious as to how folks would view this in light of their belief.)

James 1:26-27
26 If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man's religion is vain.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.


What is this "pure and undefiled" religion? It seems to imply there is "good" and "bad" religion. How does this reconcile with the view that religion is man-made?

Can one be "spiritual" and yet not pleasing unto God?

 

[thenewageriseth]

There are many distinctions between religion, and Sprituality. Yet far too many people fail to make, or understand the distinction. Hundreds of Millions of people are religious, I often wonder how many of us are Spiritual. I believe religion can be anything that the person practicing desires. God, on the other hand, defines spirituality. Since religion is man defined, Religion is a manifestation of the flesh. But Spirituality, as defined by God, is a manifestation of His nature. Religion bears ill fruit. Spirituality bears the fruit of eternal life. Or, more accurately, a religious heart is a creation of man, and a Spiritual heart is a creation of God. Each of us sows seed into our hearts daily. What we focus on, love, choose, and give ourselves to is planted into our hearts, and eventually, if nothing uproots it, produces the fruit that it is destined to. If we sow Spiritual seed, we will reap the fruit of the Spirit, or put another way, Spirituality.

How do you feel about this

I feel that spirituality is more important than being religious. Religion can divide people and sometimes religion is used in cult-like or alienating ways.

 

[pletho]

of course one can be spiritual and not please God, you are either a natural man or a spiritual man, one who has spirit or one who does not, and having spirit does not gaurantee that your walk will please God, you the real you, the spirit in you, poured out into your heart, the Christ in You, is what God looks at, it's your new nature, but you still have what is called biblically an old man which is the fleshly body which is to be directed by the written word of God by your freedom of will and when its not then that the walk is unpleasing at that point, but you cannot be seperated from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, because it's Christ in you, you are a new creation. That's maybe to much at once I hope not

 

[seekthetruth909]

Ok, if religion is only man-made and bad, how do you explain the use of the term here?

(BTW, this has been brought up before, but it seems the "spiritual" people never seem to answer it. They just ignore it and move on. I'm not being argumentative. I'm really curious as to how folks would view this in light of their belief.)

James 1:26-27
26 If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man's religion is vain.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.


What is this "pure and undefiled" religion? It seems to imply there is "good" and "bad" religion. How does this reconcile with the view that religion is man-made?

Can one be "spiritual" and yet not pleasing unto God?

It all depends on your definition of religious. Some people consider religion to be man made traditions, others think of religious in the regards to their relationship to God’s Word. In relation to the James 1:21, if we take it literally, true religion is about charity. This would make most of our concepts of the meaning of the word “religious” wrong. Religion = Charity Religious = Giving.

I think we are just dealing with semantics. As Christian mom of 3 mentioned, everyone probably has their own concept of what “religious” and “spiritual” means. To some it is one and the same; to others it is something completely different.

What does the dictionary say?

re·li·gious
1. of, pertaining to, or concerned with religion: a religious holiday.
2. imbued with or exhibiting religion; pious; devout; godly: a religious man.
3. scrupulously faithful; conscientious: religious care.
4. pertaining to or connected with a monastic or religious order.
5. appropriate to religion or to sacred rites or observances.
–noun 6. a member of a religious order, congregation, etc.; a monk, friar, or nun.
7. the religious, devout or religious persons: Each year, thousands of the religious make pilgrimages to the shrine.

spir·it·u·al
1. of, pertaining to, or consisting of spirit; incorporeal.
2. of or pertaining to the spirit or soul, as distinguished from the physical nature: a spiritual approach to life.
3. closely akin in interests, attitude, outlook, etc.: the professor's spiritual heir in linguistics.
4. of or pertaining to spirits or to spiritualists; supernatural or spiritualistic.
5. characterized by or suggesting predominance of the spirit; ethereal or delicately refined: She is more of a spiritual type than her rowdy brother.
6. of or pertaining to the spirit as the seat of the moral or religious nature.
7. of or pertaining to sacred things or matters; religious; devotional; sacred.
8. of or belonging to the church; ecclesiastical: lords spiritual and temporal.
9. of or relating to the mind or intellect.
–noun 10. a spiritual or religious song: authentic folk spirituals.
11. spirituals, affairs of the church.
12. a spiritual thing or matter.

 

[JDIBe]

[F New Roman] [/FONT]
[F New Roman]It all depends on your definition of religious. Some people consider religion to be man made traditions, others think of religious in the regards to their relationship to God’s Word. In relation to the James 1:21, if we take it literally, true religion is about charity. This would make most of our concepts of the meaning of the word “religious” wrong. Religion = Charity Religious = Giving.[/FONT]

I understand your point, but look at the verses again...

James 1:27
27 Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.


This verse implies "action" not just "feeling". Yes, it is important to feel concern for the widows and orphans and it is important to want to be unspotted, but you must physically DO SOMETHING about it as well. The action is just as important as the feeling and I think that is lost sometimes in these discussions.

I agree with you that it is mostly semantics. However, it is unwise to use Biblical terms when discussing Biblical things and define them in unbiblical ways. It only leads to confusion and discord.
Perhaps a better way to phrase it would be "worthless or bad religion" vs. "pure religion". I would guess there are some who would deny the existence of "pure religion" at all.

Sadly, there are a lot of "spiritual" people out there that are neither "religious" or "spiritual". When one's heart is right, it inspires one to do good deeds for others. When one does good deeds for others, it inspires one to love them even more, helping one grow spiritually. Each feeds the other. If you concentrate on study and prayer and trying to conjure up love for your fellow man, you will only be half a Christian. Likewise, if you set about to do good deeds and "make the world a better place" without love, prayer and study, you will only be half a Christian as well.

A good Spiritual (and Religious) Christian needs both. It's like a balanced diet. They strengthen each other. Only with both, can you become the man or woman God truly wants you to be.

 

[Psalms34]

Seems like any place in the bible where it mentions “religion” it is in negative terms. The only instance I can think of where it is not presented in a negative is when it's used in the context as being “pure religion” which obviously is love and not related to “religion” as it is presented in other passages.


No “religion” here.
Spirituality is interesting... but escapes context.
I'll stick with “relationship” with God.

 

[pletho]

Seems like any place in the bible where it mentions “religion” it is in negative terms. The only instance I can think of where it is not presented in a negative is when it's used in the context as being “pure religion” which obviously is love and not related to “religion” as it is presented in other passages.


No “religion” here.
Spirituality is interesting... but escapes context.
I'll stick with “relationship” with God.

Hello, God bless, you are right Religion is used negatively in the bible because it's man's ways of getting to God, it represents the outward ordinances, rules, regs and so on, man made stuff, the word i believe is 'threskeia' in greek which is the exactly opposite of the word used for Godliness, 'eusebia' which is a true and vital spiritual relationship with God based on the truth. Man can never get to got by his works, that's why Jesus Christ said I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.. it's by accepting and believing the completed works of Jesus Christ, confessing him as Lord, believing in your heart that God raised him from the dead, that's what brings a man from darkness unto light, from being dead in sins and trespasses, from being children of wrath by nature, without hope and without God, into the Father God's loving Family, his son forever.... no man is capable of doing that on his own it took a perfect man to make this available, and then all we do is believe on Him, accept what he made available, it's really so simple, how easy and loving God made it to be His children. Bless, steve

person

 

[tturt]

"Doing" versus "being."

 

[JDIBe]

Seems like any place in the bible where it mentions “religion” it is in negative terms. The only instance I can think of where it is not presented in a negative is when it's used in the context as being “pure religion” which obviously is love and not related to “religion” as it is presented in other passages.


No “religion” here.
Spirituality is interesting... but escapes context.
I'll stick with “relationship” with God.

Again, look at the James scripture. Are we to simply "love" the widows and orphans or is that love supposed to manifest itself in a certain way?

BTW, a word search of the ASV (OT & NT) shows the word "religion" appears only 6 times in the Bible, all in the NT. (In the KJV there are only 5...)

Act 25:19 but had certain questions against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
Act 26:5 having knowledge of me from the first, if they be willing to testify, that after the straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
Gal 1:13 For ye have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of it:
Gal 1:14 and I advanced in the Jews' religion beyond many of mine own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Jam 1:26 If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man's religion is vain.
Jam 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Four of these verses refer to the Jewish religion (which, yes, bad for us, but not necessarily bad if you were an OT Jew...) and two of them explain the difference between "vain" religion and "pure" religion. Now how can one make the statement that religion is always used in the negative sense in the Bible using these 6 passages?

Where the idea comes from apparently, is from preachers and teachers and commentaries, not from the Bible.

 

[pletho]

Again, look at the James scripture. Are we to simply "love" the widows and orphans or is that love supposed to manifest itself in a certain way?

BTW, a word search of the ASV (OT & NT) shows the word "religion" appears only 6 times in the Bible, all in the NT. (In the KJV there are only 5...)

Act 25:19 but had certain questions against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
Act 26:5 having knowledge of me from the first, if they be willing to testify, that after the straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
Gal 1:13 For ye have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of it:
Gal 1:14 and I advanced in the Jews' religion beyond many of mine own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
Jam 1:26 If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man's religion is vain.
Jam 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Four of these verses refer to the Jewish religion (which, yes, bad for us, but not necessarily bad if you were an OT Jew...) and two of them explain the difference between "vain" religion and "pure" religion. Now how can one make the statement that religion is always used in the negative sense in the Bible using these 6 passages?

Where the idea comes from apparently, is from preachers and teachers and commentaries, not from the Bible.

The negative sense is that religion (old test law) and (mans traditions taught as doctrine) are an direct affront against CHRISTIANITY, religion and religous people are always saying you have to do something to please or get to God, TRUE Christianity does not ask you to do something to get get to God to be saved have eternal life, other than believe AND LITTERALLY DO Romans 10:9,10, because no man is perfect other than Jesus Christ was, therefefore no man could have perfectly carried out the jews religion, the law except Jesus Christ, that's why it says he fullfilled the law, he made available something much greater than outward ordinances. In the Old testament under the law they had to do the law to be righteous before God, NOW in our time in order to be righteous in God's sight we believe upon Jesus Christ, and receive the gift of righteousness, it's free it's an inside job, we have it because we have a new nature, we are a new creation, we have holy spirit, Romans 5:17 bless, steve

 

[tonysma]

Did you know that atheist, santaism, and various other religions believe they are spiritual...It is my opinion that you have to be created by God to have a spirit...