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What Is Spirituality?: What's The Difference Between Religion and Spirituality?

The document discusses spirituality and differentiates it from religion. It states that spirituality is a more individual practice focused on finding meaning and purpose in life, while religion involves a shared set of beliefs and practices within a community. The document also outlines different types of spirituality like mystical, authoritarian, intellectual, and social spirituality. Finally, it mentions that people practice spirituality as a way to seek peace, gain perspective, and cope with change.

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Myla Ahmad
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306 views2 pages

What Is Spirituality?: What's The Difference Between Religion and Spirituality?

The document discusses spirituality and differentiates it from religion. It states that spirituality is a more individual practice focused on finding meaning and purpose in life, while religion involves a shared set of beliefs and practices within a community. The document also outlines different types of spirituality like mystical, authoritarian, intellectual, and social spirituality. Finally, it mentions that people practice spirituality as a way to seek peace, gain perspective, and cope with change.

Uploaded by

Myla Ahmad
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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fact

sheets

What is spirituality?
Recognising the difference between spirituality and religion can be
a great way to begin to understand what spirituality means to different
people. There are many types of spirituality that people sometimes
base their beliefs around and also many different reasons people
practice spirituality.

Spirituality is something that’s often debated and commonly


misunderstood. Many people confuse spirituality with religion and
so bring pre–existing beliefs about the impact of religion to discussions
about spirituality. Though all religions emphasise spirituality as being
an important part of faith, it’s possible to be ‘spiritual’ without
This might help if...
necessarily being a part of an organised religious community.
› You’re looking for
What’s the difference between religion and
information on
spirituality? 
spirituality
Spirituality and religion can be hard to tell apart but there are some pretty
defined differences between the two. › You want to know
Religion is a specific set of organised beliefs and practices, usually shared
the difference between
by a community or group. spirituality and religion

Spirituality is more of an individual practice and has to do with having a › You’d like to become a
sense of peace and purpose. It also relates to the process of developing more spiritual person
beliefs around the meaning of life and connection with others.

One way that might help you to understand the relationship between
Take action...
spirituality and religion is imagine a game of football. The rules, referees,
› Learn more about
other players, and field markings help guide you as you play the game in
a similar way that religion might guide you to find your spirituality. different ways to express
spirituality
Kicking the ball around a park, without having to play on the field or with
all the rules and regulations, can also give you fulfilment and fun and still › Try going to a meditation
expresses the essence of the game, similar to spirituality in life.
class to gain some
People may identify as being any combination of religious and spiritual, perspective
but to be religious does not automatically make you spiritual or vice–versa.
› Look into the history
Different types of spirituality? and practice of different
Mystical spirituality is based around a desire to move beyond types of spirituality
the material world, beyond the senses, ego and even beyond time.
This approach centres on personal relationships and a sense of unity
with all things.
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Authoritarian spirituality is a particularly strong form of spirituality what is
spirituality?
based around a need for definition and rules. This type of spirituality
is particularly common in specific religious practices.

Intellectual spirituality focuses on building knowledge and


understanding of spirituality through analysing history and spiritual
theories. This approach can be found in the study of religion, also
known as theology.

Service spirituality is a common form of spirituality in many religious


faiths. This is predominantly built around serving others as a form
of spiritual expression.

Social spirituality is often practiced by people who experience a


spiritual feeling in the company of others. Social support is often seen
as one of the important aspects of spirituality in general.

Why do people practice spirituality?


Many people see spirituality as a great way of seeking solace and peace
in their life. It can often be practiced alongside things like yoga, which
ultimately focus on stress relief and release of emotion.

Spirituality is also used as a way of gaining perspective, recognising that


our role in life has a greater value than just what we do every day. It can
separate a person from dependence on material things and establish
a greater purpose. Some people also see spirituality as a way of coping
with change or uncertainty.

From everyday troubles through to really tough times, take the first step
www.reachout.com
with ReachOut.com, Australia’s leading online youth mental health service.

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