For me, religion is about following a script. it is ego food, but usually lacks substance.
Spirituality is about taking it upon yourself to discover the reality of this world.
Religion tells you what is truth. Spirituality is about learning what is truth for you.
First hand knowledge will change you to your core. That is what spirituality will do, when you take it upon yourself to ask questions and decide for yourself.
Second hand knowledge will salve your ego, forever hiding the deeper meaning behind it. unless you go deeper, you will forever simply believe, but never really know.
Some religions teach you to learn the truth for yourself, but even within religions such as Buddhism, there are those that simply stay on the surface.
But Buddha taught to not take anything he said as truth, unless you can prove it to yourself.
Christianity/Islam/Judaism all teach that their way is the only way, that it was handed down from God.. Therefor it is literally a blasphemy to disagree.
I do believe they all contain a kernel of truth, but it must be extracted. It is because they contain the kernel of truth they continue to be, but I feel unless we make it a point to cultivate our own personal religion, religion will not help you reach a deeper understanding of the truth.
In general, spirituality is about creating your own personal religion, it is filled with people that have forgone religion in favor of their own truth.
Does this resonate with you? What do you feel are the differences? Am I too hard on religion? What is your view?
(all photos are originals, taken by me)
I feel much the same way. For years I took the religious journey. I studied ancient texts for years seeking truth, trying to make sense of them. In the process I found so many contradictions and discrepancies. I am glad I took the journey. It lead me to so much self-discovery and liberation.
We don't have to try to be spiritual, we are spiritual at our core.
Great post. Thanks
Religion means 'to bind' or 'to be bound' - it is essentially enslavement in a thought prison for the purpose of control, dressed up as 'salvation'.
Buddha, indeed, was not Buddhist and Jesus was not Christian!
Your correct jesus was a Pharisee
You might enjoy this article etymology is never quite straight that straight forward.
https://forward.com/articles/10776/roots-of-religion/
word meanings are ultimately subjective, yes - however, there are certain very ancient tones which are largely not understood which do hold meaning over very long periods.
in modern Italian, I am told, religare means to 'set aside' or 'set in the corner'. i think this relates to 'religate' in english - i.e. 'put down'.
regardless of the disputed etymology, we can look to the actual reality of what is being described and in that case I stand by what I am saying regarding thought prisons.
There are no thought prisoners at least none that have been jailed without their own consent.
If you don't already follow @wwf you should consider doing so would be good to get you in on his debates.
the emotional reality tells a different story. when children are conditioned from an early age to expect pain and suffering for deviating from a control regime, their 'consent' is invalid and is actually forced and born of spiritual injury.
We accept children as not mentally capable of responsibility the whole parent child relationship is built on authority and obedience because if we left children to their own will a whole lot less of them would make it to adulthood.
As to conditioning or indoctrination of children in to a faith it is a parents duty to attempt to instill in their child the world view they believe most beneficial to survival and success.
Remaining indoctrinated becomes a choice as an adult any one of us is free to reasses and reject previous teachings or not to even question them.
Coercion doesn't dissolve will
you use the word 'we' incorrectly here - you do not speak for 8 billion humans. many humans understand that willed children are responsible for their actions. the parent/child relationship in a dysfunctional scenario may be based on authority and obedience, however, a more balanced relationship based on love, respect and trust is not only beneficial but is necessary for survival now.
It is not a parent's duty to instill anything - and especially not based on beliefs. Beliefs are, by definition, thoughts which say that other thoughts are correct - while NOT knowing. This therefore makes beliefs inherently also errors. Instilling children with errors is not a way for them to survive and be the most successful version of themselves that they can be. An empowered will, balanced by spirit in the heart is the way to truth and success. This is not a belief, rather it is a repeatably provable reality that is deeply understood by some but not many humans at this time.
The nature of the unloving programming of many children means that it is not a simple matter of deciding to no longer participate in religious dogma when the children learn that they need to be free. In many cases, the emotional injuries involved mean that they never truly feel free of their early experiences and their thoughts continue to be effected throughout their entire life. Emotional processing is necessary to be truly free and our sociteies typically have judged such processing to be 'insane'. The spiritual state of humanity is a travesty of the divinity that is our birth right and religious indoctrination is pretty much at the top of the list of problems God is solving now.
Unloving light is that which causes the thoughts that lead to coercion and will-less-ness that lead to coercion and it is the same unloving thinking that always seeks to disolve will in others - while claiming to be doing it 'for the best' or 'in god's name'.
so a personal religion would be to be bound by my own understandings. in the end, we are bound by those no matter what we call it ; ) I totally agree that to be outside bound is a bad thing, it is a thought prison, and you can see the bars when you debate anyone inside it. they have no authority to change their mind.
I still think Buddhism, while having many different sects, has a few that teach religious freedom as we are discussing. I mean, his teaching clearly say do not take my word for it. Buddha actually tries to get people to think for themselves. I don't know of any other religion that does that. Well the Zen tradition seems to have elements of that as well. Neither of them teach morality or attempt to have such authority over your reactions in life. So I still see them as having a better form, not that all adhere to it in the true form that I would call correct.
It's the old
"If you see the Buddha on the road kill him!"
Meaning the idea that the buddha is external to yourself you cannot be the buddha.
Openness is required for balance and openness allows for the needed agility in an ever changing creation/universe. Openness allows for principles of balance to be found and used without needing to maintain patterns that feel controlling, denying or arbitrary.
The essence of what Buddha points to is often valuable and if I was somehow forced into a major religion I would probably pick Zen Buddhism - however, the value of zen buddhism to me is partially in the absence of interference from hierarchy and generally speaking it is such hierarchy that is a hallmark of religion as opposed to spirituality.
When we know that we ourselves ARE spirit - then spirituality is simply 'being who you are'!
indeed, and I am not advocating any religion. Just pondering it. Thanks for the comment.
I would say that is definitely true.
At the same time I feel it’s good to respect everyone’s path, and the developmental phase they are going through.
I hear you, but suppose I find myself disagreeing because if you see someone being bound in thought, is it not right to help them see that they are in fact being controlled by an outside party?
Hi Klevn, I would say that it’s good to help someone if they are controlled against their will. For religious people it’s a bit different because they willingly engage in an illusion of control.
At the same time a do respect religion. Religious people are often good people. Religion can keep someone from becoming a bad person, and it often does. It’s good to look at the overall positive effect that religion has on society.
I would say we all, before we wake up, are engage in willingly being controlled. What I do find offensive is how religions work so hard to get you while you are young, to scare you into believing if you go against it you will go to hell. I'd say many religious types are in that group, they where brainwashed at a very early age, before the age of reason. And many religions (Catholics for sure) are told to never read anything outside the approved material. (not that they listen, but that is what is taught)
While they are well-meaning (think they are saving your soul...), I don't know that I feel the respect you have for religion.
Long response incoming.
For me Spirituality holds two meanings the first fits in the scales of belief.
Most "spiritual" people I know fall into that agnostic theist although some run with a +1 to theism while others appear to be half assing it and lacking the dedication to comit to a faith.
The second meaning relates to a true internalizing and connectedness to a belief or deity when that idea truly sits at the core of your identity and is the principle by which you set all your actions.
I have meet many religions that lack a spiritual faith yet still live their lives moraly guided by their tenants and those that serve as pilars of hypocrisy however I have also had the amazing privileged of knowing some religious that have a spiritual faith.
At the same time I have meet "spiritual" people that appear to lack that real internal connection to their beliefs and others that are truly grounded in them.
Religion has a lot to answer for and spirituality is becoming a buzz word for those people that are disenfranchised by it and want to distance themselves from it.
Response by an atheist
I totally agree with you. There are all types that define themselves and are at all different levels. There are many fakes. I think we can see those at a level below us and a few above. but those above us it is hard to tell all the time.
as a former atheist, I would say you probably are one because you've never thought there would be any reason to not be. that is why I was an atheist, I could so no reason in it, why worship something that patently tells you it isn't going to listen to you, can see no results.
All that changed for me when I hit the rock bottom, contemplated suicide, and in desperation searched for ways out. then I had a hint, a glimmer that another possibility existed. that all hope was not lost, that the world, while being a crazy, insane place, with crazy, insane rulers... I was not subject to them if I were to learn power within, the power that was given to me, and learn to use it.
in short, I discovered that there are no accidents, that regardless of whether you believe it or not, that is how your life is being shaped. I saw it without a doubt, that I was on a path of sorts, a soul path. I tried, successfully, to see that every incident had a purpose, a reason, and it was at the soul level that I could understand it.
With that I gave it more of my attention, put more effort into learning how to manage it. It was the law of attraction that I now give the most weight to. not because I simply believe it, but because I now know it to be the case. that I have seen the results. the craziest secret is that in wanting you create the reality of you wanting. so to want doesn't work, you must get into the feeling place of having it.
Once you do that your whole world starts to change. I started to ask questions, I saw things like 'knock and the door is opened' and found they in fact where. that every question I could ask was answered if I would keep my eyes open. I started to find myself learning all sorts of esoteric and crazy secrets of the world. It was a journey of disillusionment and enlightenment. can't say the journey is done yet, probably never will, but it has changed my world experience to a more pleasant one. I can now see people as they really are, I am no longer surprised by their actions. I have become aware thru meditation. there is more to silence, the 'vocal mind' may talk a lot, but knowing is far more powerful.
you have all the answers, but if you are asking outside yourself, you'll never find them like you will when you start to ask yourself and expect the answers to come to you. (but by come to you, that also means following your inspiration, your attention)
Sounds like you have a spiritual faith that thing at at the core.
I don't think your view and mine are to far removed from each other I place faith in my will free of interference and you have faith your will with the power of guidance
From what you shared you maybe interested in biofeedback and alpha thinking created in the 1970s.
Also check out the small book as a man thinketh
yes, I agree you seem to be rather close in view. I recognize another free mind when I see it! : ) I thought I'd share how/why I came to believe in a power connecting all things.
I am interested in biofeedback, but do believe you can do it without machinery, by being quiet in mind you can sense when you have been 'taken by thought'.
Pretty sure I've read it, but I found an audiobook of it and will give it another listen. thanks for the recommendation.
Good pot friend
Sneaky Ninja Attack! You have been defended with a 1.72% vote... I was summoned by @klevn! I have done their bidding and now I will vanish...Whoosh