| What is the difference between religion and | | | | the present. We attain peace of mind when we |
| spirituality--religion is a pathway towards God and | | | | focus on obtaining and doing the right thing here |
| Spirituality is also a pathway towards Him. | | | | and right now. |
| However, their distinctions lie in their approach. | | | | 4.) Inner Worship vs. Outer Worship. Religion |
| The central idea of religion: Obey God and fear | | | | places concern and great emphasis on outer |
| Him. The essence of Spirituality: Love God and | | | | rituals and other forms. These are helpful for |
| also become another God. | | | | providing a sense of formality in the way to |
| 1.) Love vs. Fear. Oftentimes, the fear of God is | | | | worship God. Yet, spirituality is never really |
| the approach of religion. It reminds us in doing the | | | | concerned with outer rituals. Through the practice |
| right and proper thing to prevent suffering in what | | | | of spirituality, we seek and find to create and build |
| the future may bring. On the other hand, through | | | | an inner shrine within our hearts. Through |
| the journey of love-that is the spiritual approach | | | | spirituality, it says that what is essential is a |
| to God. The spiritual approach teaches us to | | | | seeker's inner attitude. |
| honor Him through the path of love and not to | | | | 5.) Universal Logic. Most followers of religion feel |
| fear him. | | | | that only their way could lead to eternal salvation. |
| 2.) Where is God-Religion often talks of God as | | | | They have such great faith and belief in their own |
| being high above the heavens. Sometimes, He | | | | religion, yet at the same time, they feel that |
| could be seen far away from the humanity's | | | | other religions are wrong and therefore can't lead |
| aspiring reach. However, the spiritual approach is | | | | and direct a seeker to The Supreme Being. On |
| showing us that God is omnipresent and | | | | the other hand, spirituality knows that there are |
| all-knowing and could be felt as a living presence | | | | many paths that could lead to the same goal. |
| within our own hearts. In addition, He is not only | | | | Spirituality accepts and welcomes all religions from |
| reachable and accessible, but we could achieve | | | | around the world, but at the same time, is never |
| the inner actualization of The Supreme Being. | | | | constricted by any religious forms or doctrines. |
| 3.) The Present vs The Past-The religious | | | | Religion and Spirituality have their own unique and |
| approach tends to acquire great inspiration from | | | | various distinctions yet at the same time, religion |
| the past. It regards with great respect and | | | | could embrace and welcome spirituality. Through |
| devotion-those ancient religious texts as the path | | | | following their faith, great saints have achieved |
| to attain eternal salvation. Spirituality on the | | | | and reaped the fruits and actualizations of a |
| contrary, is not very concerned regarding about | | | | spiritually symbolic approach to God. And this |
| the past. It believes in the timeless now. It is | | | | includes Christian mystics such as Teresa of Avila |
| neither the future nor the past that brings us to | | | | and St. Francis of Assisi. |
| liberation. To achieve liberation we have to live in | | | | |