Spiritual
- Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of their being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.”
- Whilst the terms spirituality and religion can both refer to the search for the Absolute or God, an increasing number of people have come to see the two as separate entities, religion being just one way in which humans can experience spirituality. Cultural historian and yogi William Irwin Thompson states, "Religion is not identical with spirituality; rather religion is the form spirituality takes in civilization." ~ Wikipedia
Personal Experiences
I
learned at a very young age that 'religion' and 'spirituality' can be in
opposition to one another. My testimony at the age of six went against
some family members religious beliefs. I learned that 'religion' could be
misinterpreted and a truth turned inside out into a 'mis-truth.'
After my 1978 afterlife experience, my 'soul connection' to my 'spiritual twin' was a concept foreign to the minds of many of my friends and family. I had a profound belief and faith in a 'Creator Spirit' responsible for the creation of my soul and my life, yet when I heard the ramblings of religious minds, I felt alienated from a Creator rather than feeling a connection and bond to a "Spirit" I had a profound encounter with in my 'near death experiences.'
I grew into the habit of telling people that I wasn't religious, but - I was very spiritual.
I feel our spiritual path to the truth of heart and soul is a personal one - and not all people are going to be at a level that is matched to others. I feel religion is like a double edge sword that can cut both ways - for good and for bad.