Throughout history, man has searched for a higher being through religion and spirituality.
Religion and spirituality have differences and similarities, as each has its method of identifying the divine. Man’s search for a Higher being has been ongoing since the dawn of civilization. Different cultures from different nations have created religions to practice their doctrine and belief. Each culture has a different view of the afterlife and what happens when people leave their mortal bodies. Each religion appointed leaders, which they believed to be the medium between god and man. Priests, shamans, and seers are believed to be enlightened beings guiding the people to have a spiritual experience.
“Commentaries on the Book of Wisdom” by Russell Marlett
Russell Marlett, an author, teacher, and lay speaker, has written a spiritual self-help book, “Commentaries on the Book of Wisdom.” Russell Marlett grew up in a family of Methodists where his early religious training was more opinionated than enlightening. Russel continues his studies on religion and spirituality, exploring religious contexts and doctrines beyond Christianity. In his years of studying different spiritual and religious disciplines, Russell discovered a universal truth expressed differently by other religions throughout history.
“Commentaries on the Book of Wisdom” by Russell Marlett is about a sailor who was given thirty-two life-altering verses by a mysterious presence in a Guatemalan jungle hut. The verses presented in the book explain the universal truth for all types of readers regardless of religious background, belief, or life experience. Russell Marlett shares a discovery that includes almost every religious and spiritual discipline.
Religion
Religion, by definition, is an organized system of beliefs and practices administered to the worship of a deity or a god. Religious practices involve baptism, communion, or singing in worship. Religion is a belief system passed from one older generation to another through established cultural practices and written scriptures. People following a particular religion have obligations to follow the guidelines and even have a dress code set by their religion.
Spirituality
Spirituality is an individual’s pursuit of communicating to the divine and enlightenment of a person’s place in the world and beyond. Spirituality does not necessarily require having a set of beliefs; each individual’s meaning and practices differ. Some people derive spiritual philosophy from religions or by gaining wisdom over the years through personal experiences. Spiritual growth is developing self-identity, searching and believing in the higher power, developing a connection with nature, and acknowledging transcendence and unity. Spiritual growth results from putting a conscious effort into discovering oneself and faith in the unknown divine power.
The Difference Between Religion and Spirituality
While spirituality is a personal experience of the divine, religion is a practice that involves groups of people who share the same belief about the higher being. Religion aims to shape a person’s thoughts, actions, and attitudes by presenting rules to follow. Religious doctrine unites the members of a religion, while spirituality is an individual searching for the meaning and existence of their soul. One thing religions have in common is how they insist on and preach about the supernatural story of their belief, and some argue with other religions about their truths. However, someone who aims to be spiritual can choose certain beliefs and religions they agree to and build their own opinions.
The Similarities Between Religion and Spirituality
Both religion and spirituality believe in a higher power, and both practices seek the religious experience. Religion specifies the being they are worshipping, while spirituality is belief in any form, being of a higher power, or even the unknown universal energy that governs the cosmos. Not all religious people are spiritual, and not all spiritual people are religious. Some religious people are not practicing a moral life, and some spiritual people may lead a righteous life but do not consider the divine a being. For example, Buddhism has not considered a religion but a spiritual practice or a “way of life.” Buddhism is not about worshipping Buddha as a god but as a mentor that teaches his followers to follow the noble path. Unlike other religions, Buddhism is believed to be a non-theistic religion; Buddhists do not believe in god, the creator. The similarity of Buddhism to other religions is the practice of living a moral life and the salvation of humanity from suffering.
