THE SPIRITUAL SELF

SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION

SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION
 People often use "spirituality" and "religion"
interchangeably, thinking they mean the same
thing.

 In reality, spirituality and religion are

fundamentally different concepts.

 Both spirituality and religion play significant

roles in our lives.
 SPIRITUALITY
 Latin word "spiritus," meaning breath of life.

 According to Jafari, Loghmani, and Puchalski (2014),

it involves seeking and communicating the meaning
of one's experiences in relation to self, nature, and
the present moment
 RELIGION
 Religion originates from the Latin word "religio,"
signifying an obligation, bond, reverence, and
binding.
 Scholars typically define it as the relationship
between an individual and God, incorporating
doctrines, beliefs, and rituals within a community
sharing the same faith.
Objective vs. Subjective Experience
RELIGION
 Object referral
 Focuses on the external
(houses of worship, books
of scripture, eternal rituals)
SPIRITUALITY
 Self-referral
 Focuses on the inward
journey (internalization and
awareness of one’s soul)
 Organized vs. Formless
RELIGION SPIRITUALITY
Structures and rule based No set of external rules,
construct (moral rules, laws restrictions and rigid structure
and doctrines) (pathless path of self-
discovery)
 Traditional vs. Evolutionary Approach
RELIGION SPIRITUALITY
Deeply rooted in tradition, more flexible and adaptive
ritual, creed, and doctrine (embraces change and the
(transmitted through history) evolution of consciousness)
 Belief vs. Spiritual Experience
RELIGION SPIRITUALITY
About faith direct experience of the
(Unconditional soul or divinity
acceptance and
surrender to the divine)
 Fear vs. Love
RELIGION SPIRITUALITY
Concepts of original sin, divine Discards the remains of fear and
judgment, God’s wrath, or worry in favor of a more loving,
eternal punishment can compassionate approach to life
and death
 The differences between spirituality and
religion are not the outright judgment of which is
better than the other. One’s spiritual and religious
beliefs and practices may still vary from one person
to another.