Spirituality Transcends Religion

In my opinion the decision about whether or not spirituality and religion can exist without the other depends on how a person defines religion as well as spirituality.  

Religion is usually framed within the boundaries of a particular system of faith or worship. Spirituality is a broad concept that can result from many different perspectives.  In general, spirituality in most definitions seems to refer to certain kinds of activity wherein a person seeks meaning, personal growth, blissful experience, or an encounter with one's own inner dimension.  

I define spirituality as actively embracing and participating in a dynamic God-conscious life in which I have a reverence for God, respect for character, and a yearning for wisdom that anchors and guides me to work, struggle, and strive for a clean and unblemished life of doing God's truth, of love, joy, peace, charity, gentleness, goodness, as well as of trust and faith in God.  Weaving the fabric of spirituality assigns to me the responsibility of attaining human betterment, actualizing true fellowship, and enthusiastically performing deeds of kindness, all of which together produce the blessed mantle of spirituality that wraps and compasses me about in God’s absolute truth. 

By carrying out sincere acts of fellowship, love, caring, and sharing, I will come to truly feel the presence of the Spirit of God and achieve a 1-on-1 love relationship with Him in which I love Him and everyone.  My spirituality drives my realization that if I do not love God I cannot love anyone including myself.  Therefore, spirituality is undergirded by understanding and knowing God and is not the province of any one particular system of faith or worship.  To me, spirituality transcends religion.

Written by Carolyn Person, Loving Familial Sibling of the Brotherhood and Sisterhood of God's Spiritual Family, "A Good Willing Walker on Life's Glorious Pathway and Journey"

We will be discussing this topic live on August 1st with Dr. April Manalang, Sister Elder Denyse Bailey, Thomas Baker, M.Div., LCSW, and Elder William Scott.  Click here for more details and to register!