[QUOTE=alanna25;314969]I am having a discussion with a friend who believes by the definition of the word "religion" and "organized" that spirituality falls within the definitions, hence, spirituality is considered an organized religion.

A particular area of spirituality/spiritism, channeling, he also considers to be "organized religion".  I wanted to know, from people who practice spirituality, do you consider yourself part of an organized religion?

BTW, I think he is wrong, as spirituality doesn't have the same structure as organized religions have.

Thoughts?

Alanna[/QUOTE]



I see the two as alternative choices.   Organized religions generally spoon feed the sheep and tell them what to think and what to believe.

Spirituality for me is a personal path of research, study of many many esoteric and metaphysical texts, and finally a decision on my part as to what to believe.

Bob_Bennett wrote:

Spirituality for me is a personal path of research, study of many many esoteric and metaphysical texts, and finally a decision on my part as to what to believe.

Question for you: how many of those esoteric and metaphysical texts use as their framework and point of reference the tenets of an organized religion?


don't most of those esoteric ideas derive from a foundation of exoteric dogma and received knowledge?

And if they do, aren't you ultimately creating a patchwork religion of your own, but one comprised of parts that come from (sometimes) mutually exclusive ideologies?

My take is that spirituality is an important and vital part of being human, but it is not the same as being religious,  I am not religious - I don't believe in the mystical or the supernatural, yet I am spiritual. Like one other poster, I can get tremendous inspiration from the awesome sight of the Cosmos on a dark silent night, or the 'miracle' of a pristine natural setting.

I also think that Physical, Spiritual, and Mental Well-being  are important parts of Human health. Whether you externalize your spirituality or (like me) internalize it, it should be ignored at your peril.

I also have the greatest respect for the beliefs and world views of other people, and I recognize that what's right for me is not necessarily right for others.. My personal paradigm is that the views of other people are not to be dismissed lightly as "delusions".

However, religion is almost impossible to define. There are many definitions of it, but none of them work for every world religion.

Barnes & Noble (Cambridge) Encyclopedia (1990):

    "...no single definition will suffice to encompass the varied sets of traditions, practices, and ideas which constitute different religions."

The Concise Oxford Dictionary (1990):

    "Human recognition of superhuman controlling power and especially of a personal God entitled to obedience"

Buddhism would not be classified as a religion under this definition.

Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary:

"a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith."

There are many people around Horse Racing Tracks who would bet their money according to their system  of belief, but nobody in their right mind would suggest that they are following a religion.

- And then there is the definition of spiritual. The answer to the question depends on which definition you use ... for Religion and for Spirituality.

Actually ACIM is strongly based and formulated on Christianity.  The ideas and tenants are so strongly entrenched in Christianity that ACIM is barely a change.

Religion can often be a means to becoming spiritual.  When religion is frowned on it is often the result of someone practicing a practice without engaging the heart.