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Are we Facing A Big Spirituality Problem?
Have ever used or heard the phrase, I am spiritual, not religious? This is a statement you may hear often in our world today especially in the Metaphysical arena. So what does it mean and what relevance does it have for you?
Spirituality Vs Religion
Some people find this confusing. Let me clarify something right off the bat. Religious, is not a spirituality synonym. Some people do confuse the two. Others seem to be very certain of difference no matter how subtle they can be. There is yet another group of people that use this as an excuse to be neither religious nor spiritual. What is the difference between a spiritual person and a religious person anyway?
How Many Religions Are There?
If you look it up you will find that there are some 4200 religions in the world and ranking number one is Christianity and in second place in Islam. Regardless of the number of religions in the world and how they started or how many followers each has there are definitely similarities between them. Upon examination, you will most probably find that most are considered to be spiritual religions. The foremost similarity is that most have their doctrines based on love. Love is the root and the center of all spirituality.
Spirituality and god, or at least most religions’ concept of god, seem to go hand in hand. There are so many similarities between religion and spirituality that makes it hard to define in one way. A person who is religious but not spiritual can still have a belief in a higher power but not religion necessarily. Is there only one right spiritual path? I think the main question is what is spirituality to you?
Differences And Similarities Between Religion And Spirituality
Lots of people feel that a spiritual awakening is the beginning of enlightenment whereas religion is in the opposite direction. The incongruity, between the different spiritual paths and religion and having to make a choice, can give you a sense of feeling spiritually alone. I feel that once you begin the process of discovering your spirituality it can eventually lead to true spiritual wisdom. I also believe that for some it does not matter if it is done through in a church of some sort or your home. It is what is within you that counts.
Spirituality Quotes
Here are some lovely spirituality quotes I would like to share with you:
“This moment is all there is.” Rumi
“He who is filled with love is filled with God himself.” Saint Augustine
“At any moment, you have a choice, that either leads you closer to your spirit or further away from it.” Thich Nhat Hanh
“The spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear and the acceptance of love.” Marianne Williamson
“You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual.” There is no other teacher but your own soul.” Swami Vivekananda
“The soul is placed in the body like a rough diamond and must be polished, or the luster of it will never appear.” Daniel Defoe
“The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.” Henry Miller
“Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences. All events are blessings given to us to learn from.” Elizabeth Kübler-Ross
“The spiritual life does not remove us from the world but leads us deeper into it.” Henri J.M. Nouwen
“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make “the now” the primary focus of your life.” Eckhart Tolle
“Being at ease with not knowing is crucial for answers to come to you.” Eckhart Tolle
“Who looks outside dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.” Carl Jung
“The Way is not in the sky; the Way is in the heart.” Buddha
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” Dalai Lama
“It isn’t until you come to a spiritual understanding of who you are – not necessarily a religious feeling, but deep down, the spirit within – that you can begin to take control.” Oprah Winfrey
“I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man in the sky. I believe that what people call God is something in all of us.” John Lennon
“My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we can perceive with our frail and feeble mind.” Albert Einstein
“The greater the doubt, the greater the awakening.” Albert Einstein
Please note that these inspirational quotes come from more than gurus or religious leaders. They come from poets, politicians, television celebrities, and scientists.
I Am Spiritual Not Religious – Is Non-Religious Spirituality Dangerous?
There are other opinions in regards to finding spirituality without religion and using the difference between religion and spiritual belief systems to not make any choice. This is becoming problematic states David Webster, author of Dispirited: How Contemporary Spirituality Makes Us Stupid, Selfish and Unhappy.
His main claim is that “the non-religious spirituality has three main negative features (religious spirituality sometimes shares them, but far from always).”
To Paraphrase the central thesis of Dispirited:
- The inclusivist, pluralist approach to truth widely taken in mysticism, and new-age thought, curtails thought.
- Mind, Body & Spirit thought Mysticism and much else under the banner of Contemporary Spirituality represents an ill-considered ‘inward turn’ that drives us away from concerns such as social justice, politics, and practical ethics.
- The claims of Contemporary Spirituality ring hollow concerning human fulfillment: in that they all too often either deny or somehow seek to dilute the one central issue that humans must address and find a reckoning with for a contented or happy(ish) life to be possible: Mortality.
In this podcast, I Am Spiritual Not Religious, you will learn:
- Which you are religious or spiritual.
- Why this has become problematic.
- Whether the search for truth moved towards self-obsession?
Join us on this episode of Unlocking Your Truth, I Am Spiritual Not Religious, why spirituality is different than religion, and how it affects you. We caught David on a broadcast on Tapestry and we thought it would be an interesting subject to discuss on today’s episode of Unlocking Your Truth.
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Other Podcasts On This Interesting Subject:
Is There Proof Of Life After Death, The Ultimate Question – UYT124
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Unlocking Your Truth is my weekly radio show. During the one-hour show, we discuss all things metaphysical such as I Am Spiritual, Not Religious! And much more! The show airs on CIVL 101.7 FM at 7-8 PM (Pacific Time) every Tuesday evening or live-stream the show at CIVL.ca.
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