What is the difference between Religion and Spirituality?

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What is the difference between Religion and
Spirituality?
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• As we find ourselves amongst uncertain times,
  many of us have begun asking ourselves the deeper
  soul questions of life Who am I? What do I want?
  What is my purpose? What is the meaning of life?
  Historically, people have turned to religion or
  spirituality to help address / find meaning to
  these difficult, yet prominent questions of life.

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• For many of us, the terms religion and
  spirituality have been used interchangeably in
  times past. However, there is a current trend
  among the younger generation to use the term,
  spiritual but not religious to describe personal
  faith practices.

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• This phrase insinuates that there must in fact be
  a difference between the two terms. With some
  help from the Chopra Center and my own
  experience as a Spiritual Director, lets take
  a look at what these differences might look like.

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• In my experience in the realm of spiritual
  formation, the easiest way for me to sum up the
  difference between religion and spirituality is
  by using terms coined by Franciscan Priest
  Richard Rohr transaction vs. transformation.

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• Religion falls into the transaction category as
  it often mirrors a well-run family business.
  Often institutionalized, religions are based on
  the life of a historical or archetypal figure who
  is the subject of worship, devotion, and practice
  of community.

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• Generally, a religious institution is run by some
  sort of governing board that holds its members to
  specific, moral rules, doctrines, laws, sacred
  scriptures, and practices thus being more
  external in nature. Much like the family business
  example, religion is deeply rooted in tradition.

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• As a means of accomplishing accurate transmission
  throughout history, the organization often
  requires an unconditional belief in the
  religions teachings. Due to the sometimes rigid
  rules for belonging, religions can often be seen
  as having an undercurrent of fear and exclusivity.

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• I want to point out that while to some of us the
  transactions of religion may seem pretty black
  and white, many individuals find the rigidity of
  religion to be a comfort in the midst of life
  chaos and crisis. For these individuals, the
  commonality of belief and community can create a
  solid grounding amidst the unpredictability of
  life.

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• While many remain in the religious pocket, it has
  been my experience that others may move from
  religion to spirituality, or jump straight into
  spirituality without a religious base.

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• For some who begin in a religious circle, the
  demands of religious practice and belief can
  weigh heavy and they may at some point look for
  an option that allows for a bit more diversity
  and freedom. Some may call this process faith
  deconstruction.

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• While religion may focus its worship on the
  historic or archetypal figure, Spirituality
  focuses on the practical application of the
  founders teachings and thus has a much more
  internal approach than religion. As the family
  business side of religion can be seen with the
  naked eye, spirituality is not often seen, but
  internally experienced by the individual.

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• Many who call themselves spiritual enjoy the
  less-formulaic aspects of faith and trust the
  pathless path of mystery and self-discovery.
  Instead of an unconditional belief in religious
  teachings, spirituality lends itself to truths
  that evolve and expand, which is a more direct
  experience of the soul.

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• While the members of religion enjoy a more
  exclusive, tight-knit family system, those
  engaged in spirituality see all beings as family
  and favor inclusivity of everyone being on a path
  to awakening and support these paths with
  unconditional love and kindness.

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• Depending on where you are on your journey toward
  inner awakening, either religion or spirituality
  could be a good fit. Even the path of agnosticism
  and atheism can be practices of awakening and are
  sources of push back which can actually push
  you forward.

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• Wherever you find yourself on the journey of
  awakening, I would find it a personal honor to
  sit with you as a travel companion of sorts
  pointing out the sights you may have overlooked,
  the bumps that have you stuck, and the road map
  your life is already laying out before you.