Religiosity vs Spirituality

There are many in today's society who use the words religious and spiritual interchangeably.  The idea behind doing so is that these are two descriptive words to be applied to the same concept or imagery. The words are descriptive but they do not describe the same thought.

The religious individual is one who follows - forms, rituals, dos and don'ts. He or she is dependent on a 'school master' (most times referred to as a god), for guidance. The person is kept-in-line or is motivated by promises of rewards (heaven for example) or the fear of punishment (hell for another example). An active thought of an offended religious individual is "if it wasn't for the grace of God in me I would return a-tooth-for-a-tooth, or an-eye-for-an-eye'. In fact, many religious individuals actually return the 'tooth for a tooth' and the 'eye for an eye' with no remorse because they feel justified in carrying out what they refer to as the 'Law of Balance'.  Those who do not actively participate in this act feels imprisoned by the 'school master' because they feel forced to go against who they really are.

The spiritual individual is one who has become. The individual is not guided by any external laws, neither is dependent on a 'school master' for guidance.  He or she is not motivated by praise or reward neither by the fear of punishment. Actions are in accordance with the individual's identity. To act otherwise is going against who the person really is but who the individual has become is the Higher Law. The person is therefore non conflicting and is always 'giving-way'.








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