Religion Spirituality or Faith and my thoughts… | Filed under Thursday’s Thoughts
Something I don’t often talk about here is religion and politics but I thought today I would just share my thoughts on religion. I doubt you will find them very different from what many of you have. I do believe religion is very important and should play a part in our life but I do not go to church as one should nor do I hold one belief over another. I am spiritual and spend more time in taking care of myself and what is around me.
A person can be religious yet not spiritual I know some very spiritual people who do not practice a particular religion. The way I have come to understand it, religion is much like a framework for spirituality. Religion is a set of beliefs and practices common to a group of people. Religion is filled with rituals that can make the joyful times even more celebrated, and that can help us get through the most difficult and painful things that happen in life. Spirituality is more personal. Spirituality is not defined by traditions and customs, but by a sense of purpose and being that somehow transcends our mortal understanding of time and space. Both religion and spirituality can help us make sense of things that are beyond our understanding. And, both religion and spirituality rely on faith.
Faith is acceptance, faith is a gift. Faith believes in something even if we cannot fully understand it, or prove it. As humans, we want proof of things. We want scientific knowledge and research and evidence. But there are some things that cannot be fully understood or proven. I believe that there are many ways to make sense of this reality, through various religions and through spirituality. I have chosen a religion that helps me to make sense of things, and that inspires me to find ways to cope with things that seem too hard to accept. I have faith in my religion and in my spirituality. I also accept and respect that others have faith in other beliefs and rituals that give strength to their spirits. I also believe that that our spirituality should unite us for future, even though our religious beliefs and traditions may be different. Sadly, this is not the reality and religion becomes the root of conflict, rather than coping, all too often today.
Here are a few quotes
Quotes on Religion :
This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.
Dalai Lama
I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
Mohandas Gandhi
Quotes on Faith:
Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Faith is a passionate intuition.
William Wordsworth
I’m curious as to what your thoughts and feelings are, share them with me please.
May 18th, 2006 at 2:44 pm
good post! hope you are having a good day and looking forward to your weekend
May 18th, 2006 at 2:57 pm
Talking about politics or religion can cause friction between a website owner and the readers, I can tell you from experience. But fear not because it’s YOUR website. I think the Gandhi person thinks Christians are weird perhaps because he lacks understanding as to just where Christians are coming from spiritually speaking… MLK jr said it well.
May 18th, 2006 at 2:58 pm
Thank you for that, I am a very spiritual person but because I don’t attend church services, many look down on me and claim I’m a bad person. I know it’s their problem because I know what is in my heart and so does He.
You are one of the most spiritual people I know too and I’m thankful for the day He led me to you. :smile::heart:
May 18th, 2006 at 9:32 pm
You were correct in stating the difference between religion and spirituality. In a perfect world, they should go together, but many times they do not. I know many “religious” people that are so obsessed with rules and laws, that they simply cannot feel the “spirit”. And I know many “spiritual” people that don’t follow a religion.
I think everyone has faith in something. Even the atheist has faith in what he sees and that the unexplainable must somehow be explainable. The thing that you implied by much of what you said is probably the most important thing of all, tolerence. So many “religious” people are so intolerant of those with different views, or who do not subscribe to their “specific” beliefs. Which is so sad.
I can only speak as a Catholic, but so many have corrupted religion into Religion. Christians argue about their few differences and don’t realize we all believe the same thing. One man’s Pope is another man’s Reverend Minister. So much heartache and strife over rules and regulations. Such a sad thing, really.
May 19th, 2006 at 4:05 am
I see and understand religion and what it stands for and why it was created.
I believe it was a set of rules and guidelines to bring chaos to an end.
Laws set forth by the elders to keep everyone in order.
I was born Orthodox but I carry little faith for a system that condones much of what it has done in the past.
I look at the Vatican with all its riches while its worshipers starve in third world counties and wonder why.
Most of its customs are archaic and don’t conform with the times as they are today and cause more confusion than good.
I could go on and on about all the bad things I hate about religion but I would be lying if I believed there was no good to it either.
It offers hope too many people where there was none before, and give many a reason to live.
If that’s what people need to keep them going then its good, but never wade into a river without both eyes wide open and understanding what you are getting into.
Don’t let me start on televangelists.
Spiritually, is inside where only you know how to unlock it and enter.
If you feel good inside then what you are doing is right for you.
Keep it up.
Faith is your perception of your spirituality combined with your religion or your fellow man.
There are so many religions, so many faiths but the only with understanding is yourself and only you could find your spirituality.
Great post
4 am gezzzzzz
May 19th, 2006 at 6:16 am
Hello my sweet friend.
I am so glad you popped by and left me your link.
I lost track of your website!
Big hello’s and good wishes to you!
Love and hugs and prayers~
Jeanne
X0X0
May 19th, 2006 at 6:20 am
Hi Vickie ~~ I do not attend church services, but I have a very strong faith. I prefer to have faith, rather than religion.
Glad yu liked the poem and jokes.
Take care, Merle.
May 19th, 2006 at 7:17 am
Hi Vickie,
I’ve updated your link- thanks for letting me know
What a pretty new blog!!
May 19th, 2006 at 11:25 am
I feel that the world’s religions that believe in one God are basically refering to the same God. At the time these religions were beginning we didn’t have the world wide communication & travel that exists today. It is perfectly understandable that God would send His prophets to these places individually & when He felt the people there were ready. That also explains much of the differences between these religions as the societies were (are) different so naturally they would “look” different.
I know many bad things have been done over the years in the name of religion but these are examples not of God at work but instead of the men who “lead” these religions. I feel mostly comfortable in my church and think the majority of people there are honestly trying to do good.
May 19th, 2006 at 12:12 pm
Not to be judgemental or anything, but I’m curious so I will ask:
I’ve seen many people say they have faith yet don’t attend services/Mass/church/whatever. Why not?
As a Catholic, part of having faith is worshipping. And worshipping as a community is different than worshipping alone. One of the many reasons I attend Mass every week is the sense of community and belonging I get there, whether it is the congregation in general or in the music groups to which I belong. These are people that will go out of their way for you for no other reason that you’re a fellow parishoner.
So what keeps someone of faith from worshipping as part of a community?
May 20th, 2006 at 8:29 am
My Dad once said: “If I want to be religious, I go to Church; If I want to be spiritual, I pray anywhere”. This resonates in your wonderfully-written post. I haven’t practiced my religion as I had 7 years ago, but I am more spiritual than ever before. Yet, I do feel that there’s still something that’s missing. I guess it’s being part of an “understanding community” which celebrates and shares your faith and beliefs…something that I haven’t yet found out here.
May 21st, 2006 at 4:09 pm
Thank you for this enlightening post. I liked especially your description of faith, and need to think about it some more to know whether it differs from my interpretation or not.
Am I mistaken or is this a blend of your two former websites?
June 16th, 2006 at 7:50 am
Going to church doesn’t make one a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes one a car…