Many people, when asked to define the difference between religion and spirituality, usually cannot do so. Too many of us imagine they are interchangable and essentially expressions of the same thing (as I assumed myself for many years) yet such is not the case. Religion is the man-made efforts of man to define God by putting him (or her) into some understandable context, which we do through observing various rituals and doctrines and embracing certain holy texts. Spirituality, however, is the voluntary effort by God to shape us into his/her image so we might evolve and develop our divine nature, which we realize through learning the lessons taught us by experiencing multiple lifetimes here on Earth. In essence, religion teaches us God is something external and usually apart from ourselves, while spirituality teaches that God is internal and an integral part of ourselves. As such, while religious people can sometimes be very spiritual on an individual basis, usually most are not, while truly spiritual people are often not particularly religious at all (though they often find value in many religious traditions and teachings). In fact, it has been my discovery that it is the very dogmas and doctrines of religion that often serves as an impediment to spiritual growth (though, in fairness, they can also be useful in realizing a sense of the divine in some people's lives and, as such, can be used as an element of spiritual growth).

To better understand and illustrate the difference, I thought it might be helpful to examine some issues about faith, life, and God from a non-traditional or spiritual standpoint. These articles are merely my opinions on how this process of realizing our own spiritual nature works and should be taken as such, and recognize that some will find them controversial, heretical, and even a few of them utter nonsense, which is fine; I only offer them only as one opinion among many in the hope that in them the reader may find something that speaks to their own attempt to understand God, which is all anyone can hope to achieve. As always, I'd enjoy corresponding with anyone who would like to open a dialogue on these issues, but please don't try to 'convert' me or tell me I'm going to hell if I don't change my nefarious ways. Rational queries and comments only please.

FEATURED ARTICLES (All articles are copyrighted and the sole property of the author)

TRUSTING YOUR INNER WISDOM
DEFINING LOVE
DEFINING EVIL
FAITH VERSUS REASON
LEAVING THE ANGRY GOD
THE PARABLE of the CATERPILLAR
THE ILLUSION OF MATTER
THE PARABLE of the OAK TREE
A METAPHYSICAL TAKE on the PRODIGAL SON
THE INNER WAR
A COMPARISON of CHRISTIANITY and HINDUISM (Guest Commentary)