1. Religion and Spirituality
Consider:
If religion is “a system of beliefs and practices that are relative to a superhuman being or a
divine being,” then what is spirituality and how can spirituality be part of, yet also distinct
from religion?
The Dalai Lama believes that there is a distinction between religion and spirituality. For him,
spirituality is concerned with:
“those qualities of the human spirit- such as love and compassion, tolerance, forgiveness,
contentment, a sense of responsibility, a sense of harmony which bring happiness to both self
and others.”
These qualities are directly connected to the beliefs and practices of the major religious
traditions, yet the Dalai Lama argues that the individual can develop these without a religious
belief system.
Members of an organized religion may not see any significant difference between religion and
spirituality. However, some individuals draw a strong distinction between religion and
spirituality. They may see spirituality as:
“a belief in ideas of religious significance (such as God, the Soul, or Heaven), that is not
bound to the bureaucratic structure and creed of a particular organized religion.”
They may choose the term spirituality rather than religion to describe their form of belief,
perhaps reflecting a disillusionment with organized religion or a search for another way to
bring meaning to their lives.
Do you know someone you would describe as spiritual who may not necessarily be
religious or see themselves as adhering to a religious tradition? What qualities do they
possess? What are some of the spiritual activities or practices that they have explored?
How do you understand the difference between spirituality and religion? Try to summarise
in your own words.