A Probe about the Nuances between Spirituality and Religion
Subject Areas : Christianity
behzad
hamidieh
1
(faculty member)
Keywords: Spirituality, mysticism, apriori, apostriori, existential direction,
Abstract :
The subject of spirituality is now an important academic field. Certainly a growing interest in spirituality is one of the most striking aspects of contemporary culture. So, we have to provide a correct definition of it. According to several definitions and popular usage, spirituality differs from religion, mysticism and ethics. Spirituality, as an apriori concept, is not dependent to the concept of religion. There is now a prevalent idiom that says: “I am spiritual but not religious” (SBNR). Why so many people are SBNR? One reason is that religion is more dogmatic and stable than spirituality. Spirituality is interwoven with some kind of freedom, but religion impose and dictate complete obedience. The key features of spirituality consists of an existential return toward a transcendental and sacred entity. This return which manifests in many aspects such as pschico-somatic, cognitive, intuitive and behavioral aspects of men, is an essential factor in making life meaningful.
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