Religion & Spirituality are NOT the Same

Religion & Spirituality are NOT the SameGreetings TRUECHRISTIAN.Overview:A common mistake that many people make is in assuming that spirituality can only be achieved through a vehicle of religiosity. This is often accompanied by the assumption that one particular doctrinal religion is true and thus the only legitimate way to be truly spiritual.It is true that the words religion and spirituality are both very loaded words. But they are very different words. As we might see in this debate, the religious fundamentalist often cannot distinguish the two. But the great spiritual leaders and philosophers have managed to differentiate the two different categories - though some aspects of each may overlap - they are not one and the same [1]. In the Venn diagram of Religion and Spirituality we observe two primary and distinct sets. On the left-hand-side is the space of Religion, on the right, Spirituality. In the middle is the overlapping space which they may both share and occupy. For the sake of examination lets simplify the category of Religion to the variable R and Spirituality to the variable S and the overlapping shared space as either (R:S) or (S:R).Notice then:R is not always SS is not always RR can sometimes also share S (R:S)S can sometimes also share R (S:R)Spirituality and Religiosity:Spirituality, broadly understood, encompasses a wide range of Human experience(s) in which the term is still very much applicable (Poetry, Art, Music, Dreams, Emotions, etc.). There are spiritual aspects within religion(s) - but not all aspects of spirituality are only religious.Likewise, there are aspects of religion that have nothing to do with spirituality. For instance, a religiously motivated politics or even the act of attending church services would be considered ritual observance (religious) but doesn't automatically encompass and translate into what would be classified as spiritual experience - though someone's motivations for being religious might be to obtain spirituality.Examples & Analysis:The act of attending a routine scheduled church service(s) (going to church every Sunday) would absolutely be considered religious - but the act of attending a church service isn't automatically necessarily spiritual.Conversely, if I was moved to tears by the sermon at this church service and it became a life transforming experience, I would, therefore, consider my experience at this church service to also have been a spiritual one.However, if I am moved to tears by a similar experience (say my experience of a post-modern expressionist painting) and it becomes a life transforming experience, I could also conclude that this experience was a spiritual one - but would not be able to frame this in a traditional religious context.Conversely, one could look at the exact same painting and feel nothing or experience very little in the way of what would be described as a spiritual experience.Is it the religion that caused my spiritual experience in the first case? Was it the painting in the next?Cultural & Religious Diversity: The fact of religious diversity itself is suggestive as there is more than one religion in which authentic spiritualism is claimed. There are now over 2000 known and documented active religions worldwide. If the different sects of each mainstream religion are separated and accounted for because of incompatible doctrinal differences (an example would be Mormonism and Catholicism - both still classified as Christian - but most Catholics would argue that Mormons are not true Christians) the numbers quickly jump into the tens of thousands [2].The important thing to note is that though these various religions are very different, they can equally claim spirituality and many of the adherents will fully endorse one of particular the subjective spiritualism as a truth. The implications result in several conclusions, here are six:1) Religion(s) and its practice are indeed used (much as a tool is used) to induce spiritual states and to achieve enlightenment - but given the differences and the application of very specific practices and the doctrinal beliefs themselves - which often contradict adjacent religions - religion and spirituality are not one and the same.2) Religion is then not requisite to be spiritual or have spiritual experience.3) The fact spirituality is achievable apart from religiosity exposes religious fundamentalist who claim this isn't possible.4) The option of religion being useful (having utility) is still viable.5) Religion can have utility (be useful) but not necessarily be literally true or an accurate way to characterize and describe the world.6) If many adherents of different incompatible religions claim spiritual experience through their preferred religion, this would suggest something going on in the Human brain which allows humans to have these experiences - but would more than likely eliminate religious literalism. If there was only one true religion we would expect it to spread fairly equally.(Hopefully we will get back to some of these ideas later in the debate)Popular Culture:Its interesting to note that social media recognizes this diversity. Its a common option to be able to identify with a category describing oneself as being "spiritual but not religious." Society at large recognizes the same diversity and pluralism. Con's Acceptance - Round 1:Notice in Round 1, which was only to be used for acceptance, Con immediately attacks Pro with ad hominem claims of apparent ignorance and then uses the room in the Round for a religious "plug" ...? TRUECHRISTIAN, If you were truly concerned about someone's salvation - truly cared about saving them - you wouldn't start by attacking them - calling them ignorant and then expect them to actually listen to anything you have to say after (Just a word of advice). Cited Sources and References:[1] http://www.med.navy.mil... [2] http://www.religioustolerance.org...