Religion and Ethics Forum

Religion and Ethics Discussion => Theism and Atheism => Topic started by: Sriram on April 27, 2019, 11:10:12 AM

Title: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Sriram on April 27, 2019, 11:10:12 AM
Hi everyone,

What is the difference between religion and spirituality?  Many people don't seem to know. In Hinduism the distinction is very clear but other religions teach spirituality more as a 'secret teaching' than as a part of normal religious tradition.

Religions are cultural and traditional beliefs and practices that any community adopts.  However, most major religions have spirituality as a basic part of their teachings in addition to cultural and social issues.     

Spirituality is basically about self development and secular aspects of human spirituality.

https://tsriramrao.wordpress.com/2016/06/06/spirituality-and-religion/

Cheers.

Sriram
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Roses on April 27, 2019, 11:26:52 AM
I thought religion and spirituality went hand in hand.
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: BeRational on April 27, 2019, 11:30:54 AM
I thought religion and spirituality went hand in hand.

I think you can be spiritual without being religious.

Spiritual is not well defined.
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Roses on April 27, 2019, 11:38:12 AM
I think you can be spiritual without being religious.

Spiritual is not well defined.


However you define it, I don't think I have ever felt spiritual, even when I had a faith.
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: SusanDoris on April 27, 2019, 11:58:08 AM
I think you can be spiritual without being religious.
I'm absolutely  positive about that! Nobody is going to tell me I am not a spiritual person, and if they try to do so, then they are going to have to come up with some very clear and objective evidence as to why, how etc!!  :)

Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: bluehillside Retd. on April 27, 2019, 12:19:55 PM
Sriram,

Quote
What is the difference between religion and spirituality?

"Spirituality" is unspecified woo; religion is codified woo.

Anything else I can help you with?
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Stranger on April 27, 2019, 12:25:24 PM
Spirituality is basically about self development and secular aspects of human spirituality.

https://tsriramrao.wordpress.com/2016/06/06/spirituality-and-religion/

Spirituality can be interpreted in several ways but the substance-free fantasy in your blog was particularly unedifying, complete, as it was, with an anti-science, anti-rationality rant. The idea that a question could be called an 'argument from incredulity' was particularly daft and serves only to underline the depth of your misunderstanding.
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Walter on April 27, 2019, 01:19:04 PM
Hi everyone,

What is the difference between religion and spirituality?  Many people don't seem to know. In Hinduism the distinction is very clear but other religions teach spirituality more as a 'secret teaching' than as a part of normal religious tradition.

Religions are cultural and traditional beliefs and practices that any community adopts.  However, most major religions have spirituality as a basic part of their teachings in addition to cultural and social issues.     

Spirituality is basically about self development and secular aspects of human spirituality.

https://tsriramrao.wordpress.com/2016/06/06/spirituality-and-religion/

Cheers.

Sriram

You've got more
woo woo woo
there than THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Enki on April 27, 2019, 02:03:51 PM
Hi everyone,

What is the difference between religion and spirituality?  Many people don't seem to know. In Hinduism the distinction is very clear but other religions teach spirituality more as a 'secret teaching' than as a part of normal religious tradition.

Religions are cultural and traditional beliefs and practices that any community adopts.  However, most major religions have spirituality as a basic part of their teachings in addition to cultural and social issues.     

Spirituality is basically about self development and secular aspects of human spirituality.

https://tsriramrao.wordpress.com/2016/06/06/spirituality-and-religion/

Cheers.

Sriram

I consider myself a spiritual person but not in the way you mean it. For some reason you do like to keep publicizing your blogs.  I suppose you're completely obsessed with your own ideas. Perhaps you need to take a more objective, more encompassing, less 'microscopic' view. You just might learn something of value. This latest blog I find particularly unedifying, full of bias, totally unfounded assertions and unwarranted conclusions. You could at least start by opening your mind to other ideas, being willing to take advice rather than being focused constantly on giving it, and at least attempt to understand some very basic and general scientific principles.

Just some thoughts which no doubt you will reject with your usual dismissive attitude. :)
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Bramble on April 27, 2019, 02:16:31 PM
This has been well covered before, such as here http://www.religionethics.co.uk/index.php?topic=13736.0

Your claim that spirituality is 'basically about self development' is not my take on the matter. Perhaps this is a case where we might well heed Wittgenstein's advice: 'Don't look for the meaning; look for the use.'
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Sriram on April 28, 2019, 04:57:13 PM



Spirituality is essentially about finding oneself.  As our animal nature reduces, our  higher nature increases and we realize  our true nature.  That is what evolution and development is all about.

OK...ok...I know the refrain! We ARE animals! 

No, we are not!
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Maeght on April 28, 2019, 05:20:23 PM


Spirituality is essentially about finding oneself.  As our animal nature reduces, our  higher nature increases and we realize  our true nature.  That is what evolution and development is all about.

OK...ok...I know the refrain! We ARE animals! 

No, we are not!

Yes we are.
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: BeRational on April 28, 2019, 05:31:15 PM
Yes we are.

Of course we are.

Anyone that denies it is very silly
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Stranger on April 28, 2019, 05:31:48 PM
Spirituality is essentially about finding oneself.  As our animal nature reduces, our  higher nature increases and we realize  our true nature.  That is what evolution and development is all about.

OK...ok...I know the refrain! We ARE animals! 

No, we are not!

You are, as so often before, simply wrong. You seem to inhabit a fantasy world all of your own...
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Roses on April 29, 2019, 10:36:24 AM


Spirituality is essentially about finding oneself.  As our animal nature reduces, our  higher nature increases and we realize  our true nature.  That is what evolution and development is all about.

OK...ok...I know the refrain! We ARE animals! 

No, we are not!


Of course we are animals.
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Walter on April 29, 2019, 02:46:38 PM

Of course we are animals.

but Sriram is very special you know !
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Steve H on May 22, 2019, 05:01:22 PM

However you define it, I don't think I have ever felt spiritual, even when I had a faith.
"Spiritual" and "spirituality" mean anything and nothing. I avoid the words.
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Steve H on May 22, 2019, 05:08:54 PM


Spirituality is essentially about finding oneself.  As our animal nature reduces, our  higher nature increases and we realize  our true nature.  That is what evolution and development is all about.

OK...ok...I know the refrain! We ARE animals! 

No, we are not!
We are not merely animals,and to assume otherwise is ontological reductionism.
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Roses on May 23, 2019, 09:26:00 AM
Humans are animals but rather further up the food chain than other species.
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Steve H on May 23, 2019, 11:24:39 AM
Humans are animals but rather further up the food chain than other species.
The food chain has nothing to do with it. What sets us apart are language, abstract reasoning, and self-awareness.
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Roses on May 23, 2019, 12:07:56 PM
The food chain has nothing to do with it. What sets us apart are language, abstract reasoning, and self-awareness.


I could comment but I will refrain! ::)
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Steve H on May 23, 2019, 12:13:03 PM

I could comment but I will refrain! ::)
Not helpful. You appear to disagree with me, so it'd be interesting to know why (preferably with logical arguments, evidence, or both).
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Walter on May 23, 2019, 12:40:16 PM

I could comment but I will refrain! ::)
Steve H makes a good point
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: jeremyp on May 23, 2019, 07:34:23 PM
The food chain has nothing to do with it. What sets us apart are language, abstract reasoning, and self-awareness.
No, what sets us apart is the extent to which we can do those things. Other animals have demonstrated a capacity for all of those, albeit to a limited extent.
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Sriram on May 24, 2019, 06:14:21 AM
We are not merely animals,and to assume otherwise is ontological reductionism.



It is a continuity. We cannot suddenly stop being animals and become something else. There are no discrete stages.

But the developmental process that slowly but surely reduces certain traits and increases certain other traits is obvious. It has been going on for thousands of years.

Religions, spiritual theories, philosophies etc. have all been trying to understand and aid this process in various ways.

Whether we call it a spiritual process or a religious objective or simply being more civilized....doesn't matter at all.  It is happening and will continue. 
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Steve H on May 24, 2019, 08:13:07 AM
No, what sets us apart is the extent to which we can do those things. Other animals have demonstrated a capacity for all of those, albeit to a limited extent.
A very limited extent indeed. Whatever you think of religion, it is symptomatic of all those, and, of animals extant today, only humans have any capacity for religion. (Some of our hominid ancestors, especially Neanderthals, probably had religion as well.)
As for the food chain, humans are not at the top of it. There are animals which kill and eat humans if they get the chance, which are therefore above us. I can't see why anyone would think the food chain relevant, anyway.
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Roses on May 24, 2019, 08:31:05 AM
When the term 'top of the food chain' is used it isn't always related to food, as it my case, I just meant humans were more advanced than other animal species.
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Nearly Sane on May 24, 2019, 08:34:54 AM
When the term 'top of the food chain' is used it isn't always related to food, as it my case, I just meant humans were more advanced than other animal species.
More advanced is a meaningless term in evolution.
Title: Re: Religion & Spirituality
Post by: Walter on May 24, 2019, 11:30:14 AM
When the term 'top of the food chain' is used it isn't always related to food, as it my case, I just meant humans were more advanced than other animal species.
and the 'food chain' is a poor description anyway . It's more of an integrated web rather than a linear pathway with a starting and end point

Spend some time in the Australian outback on your own and then tell me humans are at the top of it .