What is the difference between a Spiritual & Religious
Path?
By Sharmai Amber©
What's the difference between a spiritual path and a religious path? I have been on both sides at different times in my life. I experience the difference between them deep underneath in the belief systems. It is in a place that defines how we approach our lives or the lenses that we see life through. It is the place inside ourselves where we act and react to life.
Those on a western religious path follow the doctrines (rules and teachings) set up by the religious authorities. This usually includes coming from a place of forgiveness, non-judgment, and love. There is a dedication to follow the Bible, as defined by each sect. Followers usually surrender to the leaders, those believed to be wiser than they, and claim to have a direct link with God. A link the congregation believes to be above that which they are worthy to have themselves.
Religious folks have one day a week devoted to God. The other days there is an effort to live the good life, but the belief is that it is inevitable that they will slip up from time to time. It's a process of trying and failing with the eternal question always looming, "will I make it to heaven?" Only for a few is there a real personal sense of connecting with God.
Folks on a spiritual path see life as a daily chance for growth, change and transformation. It's about levels of perfection. "In the eyes of God I am perfect as I am, AND I have areas in need of transformation." There is an understanding that they come to earth on behalf of their Higher Self or Soul for the purpose of growth and transformation. It's an evolutionary process.
It is also more than just finding forgiveness and love. It's about understanding why events in need of forgiveness happened in the first place, leaning the embedded lesson(s), and transforming the internal pattern that drew in the experience. This is to prevent another similar event from occurring in the future. Personal responsibility for all events in their life is paramount. Each experience is seen as a prime opportunity for self-inspection with the ultimate end result being forgiveness, love and personal refinement. It is a daily practice. It is a lifestyle.
As issues and the self are transformed, inner truth's that live in each person's heart, evolve. The spiritual student continually reexamines belief systems, ingrained rules and limits ever seeking purer expressions of the self. They also understand that in following their truths, when that means hurting another, that there are consequences to such acts for which they will eventually pay.
They believe in a direct and continual connection with God and that God is in everyone and everything in the universe.
They are independent thinkers interested in the good of the whole. They examine ALL religious doctrines together, never collapsing into any one. They find that the combination of all religions provides glimmers into the truth.