There is a vast difference between Religious beliefs and Spiritual reality. The Greeks and Romans had many Gods. They erected statues and places of worship. Gave sacrifices, wealth and great devotion to their Gods. Now, the religions of this ancient time have faded into history. The religions of today will also eventually fade out of favor and into history.
Religion is an institution for expressing belief in a divine power. A set of rites, rituals, practices, and protocol written and followed by mankind. It is because religion is physical expression, it is doomed to the fate of all physical constructs. They have a beginning, grow into maturity, get older, out of date, and finally come to an end. We read about them in history class.
Spirit, on the other hand, remains unchanged. Spirit exists above and beyond the discernment of mankind. Spirit created the physical world and all things within. You are spiritual. You were created by Spirit and are occupying a physical body in order to live, learn, and grow spiritually within the physical world. When your body becomes unsuitable for physical life you will return to the spirit world. Like spirit, you are eternal.
As humans we can not fully understand the nature of spirit, nor do we know how spirit came into being. Some humans have experienced a short glimpse of the spiritual world through a phenomenon called the Near Death Experience. It is through these experiences that we are able to understand some realities of the spirit world.
Spirit is light, and the light is pure energy. All things have their beginning in the light. You were created as a being of light, self-aware, and with the characteristics of unconditional love, unflagging curiosity, and eternal life.
You grow spiritually by expanding your awareness. The physical world allows you to make choices, then live through the consequences of those choices. The rule of spirit is “like attracts like.” How you treat others determines how you are treated.
Eventually you will learn to be nonjudgmental, kind and loving. Your job is learn to understand yourself and others. Accept others and yourself for what you are and expand your love. The more you learn the more you will understand. You honor yourself by honoring others.
Never forget you are the light of the Creator surrounded by unconditional love. When life gets difficult seek the light within. It is your birthright. Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you.
© 2018, Lekatt. All rights reserved.
Not sure if I interpreted the posted correctly.
The way I understood it is that spirituality is about understanding that you have a soul, and spending this life to practicing acceptance, and being kind to everyone (including oneself) in all circumstances.
And religion is about the traditions/ritual behaviors to express spirituality. But sometimes these rituals can be practiced without understanding spirituality.
If I interpreted the differences correctly, then I think it is possible to be both religious and spiritual at the same time.
You are correct, it is possible to be religious and spiritual at the same time. You are created spiritual, that can’t be changed. But you can change your religion. The idea is to make sure your religion follows the teachings of spirit.