Snap Sunday Sermon - Spirituality vs. Religion
These excerpts on “Spirituality vs Religion” are taken from an article written by Robert W. Chell in the June, 2008 issue of The Lutheran.
Chell , the campus pastor at South Dakota State University, teaches a class there called Wellness 100. He wrote this article in response to those who asked that he not teach “spirituality” as part of his curriculum.
Do you think there’s a difference between spirituality and religion?
He writes:
Spirituality vs Religion
There is a Difference
“…Spirituality is private. Religion is public. Spirituality focuses on feelings. Religious faith demands action. The largest difference: We define our own spirituality; religion defines us. Both words come from Latin roots. Spirituality comes from a root word meaning to breathe, a subjective sense defining what empowers oneself. Religion derives from the root word meaning to bind, carrying the clear meaning of obligation to something beyond oneself.…..
…Spirituality is warm and welcoming—an undemanding word—while religion brings images of demand and obligation…
Some say one’s choice of faith matters little. They’re wrong. The faith one embraces shapes and changes our lives. ……There are those professing faith in no religion who stand as strong advocates for justice and peace. And there are those professing faith who trample on others’ rights.
Those who fear spirituality can be comforted in that it presents little danger. Those who promote faith might do well to adopt the fear of those who stand in opposition. For religion’s greatest threat is to its practitioners.”
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Comment by The Almost Millionaire on 18 July 2008:
I’m glad I found your blog, very enjoyable.
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Comment by Barbara on 18 July 2008:
Wow! This is a great article and a very true analogy.
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Comment by Luke Zet on 20 July 2008:
Well I think there is a difference in the sense of the words, in the meaning. Very interesting Post, But the way most spiritual or even saint people come is usually by the use of religion. Somehow obligations and restrictions appear everywhere in this world, all the way from your birth- every child has heard: You should do this or you shouldn’t do that! Any way may-be I’ll start a blog about spirituality, this comment can continue forever so lets leave some space for people to think.
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