Spiritual Versus Religion

• Spiritual is define as " relating to or affecring the human spirit

or soul opposed to material or physical things.“
• Religion and spirituality are both paths to God; however, they
are different in their approach
• A Religious person is someone who belives in a God or group
of gods and consciously adheres to the beliefs of his/her
religion.
• A spiritual person, on the other hand placrs little importance
on beliefs and traditions and is more concerned with growing
and experiencing Divine.
Why is spirituality important?
• Being a meaningless and lack of purpose in life can be a
significant factorsin causing depression, anxiety, and phobias.
Spiritual fellowship ( attending church or meditation group)
can be a source of social support that may provide a sense of
belonging security and community.
• Completive practice can be broadly understood as a method
to develop concentration, deepen understanding and
insight,and cultivate awareness and compassion.
Example of contemplative
practive:
Meditation
• mental exercise
for the purpose
of reaching
heightened level
of spiritual
awareness.
PRAYER
• a spiritual communion
with God as an
supplication,
thanksgiving, adoration,
and confession. It may
elicit a relaxation
response along with
feelings of hope,
gratitife and compassion
which have a positive
effect on overall well-
being.
YOGA
• In hindu theistic
philosophy, it
teaches the
suppression of all
mind and body
activity so that the
self may realize its
distinction from the
material world and
attain liberation.
JOURNALING
• it can help you become
more aware of your
inner life and more
connected to your
experience and the
world around you.
Studies shows that
writing during difficult
time may help you find
meaning of life's
challenges and help you
become mo resilient in
the face of obstacle.
 The Practice of Religion: Belief in
Supernatural Being and Power
• The vast majority of the earth’s more than 7
billion people practice some form of religion.
• The number of religious and spiritual
traditions that the human population
practices is estimated at a little over 4,000.
 Religion
• Is defined as “The belief in the worship of a superhuman controlling
power, especially personal God or gods” (Oxford University Press,2017).
• It is also a “Particular system of faith and worship.”(University of
Minnesota Human Rights Center, 2003,2016).
• It is an experience.
• It may best be understood as a systematic “attribution of human
characteristics or behavior to a god, animal, or object”(read:
Anthropomorphism).
The psychology behind religious belief
• 1990 research conducted by Steven Reiss, professor emeritus of psychology at the Ohio State
University, posited a theory on why people are attracted to religion.

• According to Reiss, the 16 basic desires that human share

9. Physical are:
activity
1. Acceptance 10. Power
2. Curiosity 11. Romance
3. Eating 12. Saving
4. Family 13. Social contact
5. Honor 14. Status
6. Idealism 15. Tranquility
7. Independence 16. Vengeance
8. Order
Religion attracts both introvert and extrovert.
• For Extroverts, religion offers fellowship with others.
• For Introverts, religion encourages meditation, private retreats, and
solitude.
Four Dimensions of religion
1. Belief;
2. Ritual;
3. Spiritual experience; and
4. Unique social forms of community.
Religious beliefs
• Generalized system of ideas and
values that shape how members of a
religious group come to understand
the world around them.
• These beliefs are taught to followers
by religious authorities, such as
priests, imams, or shamen, through
formal creeds and doctrines, as well
as more informal lessons learned
through stories, songs, and myths.
Rituals
• Repeated physical gestures
or activities, such as prayers
and mantras, used to
reinforce religious
teachings, elicit spiritual
feelings, and connect
worshippers with a high
power(little, 2016)
Spiritual
Experience
• Third common dimension
of various religions is the
promise of access to some
form of unique spiritual
experience or feeling of
immediate connection with
a higher power.
• Saint Thomas Aquinas is
often quoted to have said,
“To one who has faith, no
explanation is necessary.
To one without faith, no
explanation is possible”
Unique social forms
of community
• Emil Durkheim (1915-
1964) emphasized
that religious beliefs
and practices “Unite
in one single
community called a
Church, all those who
adhere to them”
 Social dimension that religious share
according to Dawson and Thiessen(2014)
• Religion gains credibility when agreed and shared by a group. It is
easier to believe in something if others around you (whom you
respect) believe it as well.
• Religion provides an authority that deals specifically with social or
moral issues, such as determining the best way to live life. It provides
as a basis for ethics and proper behaviors, which established the
normative basis of the community.
• Religion acts as a form of social control, and it supports the
development of self-control, which are vital elements of a functional
society.
• Places of religious worship function as social hubs within communities,
providing a source of entertainment, socialization, and support.
One way scholars have categorized religions is by
classifying what or who they hold to be divine.
RELIGIOUS WHAT/WHO IS EXAMPLE
CLASSIFICATION DIVINE
Polytheism Multiple gods Hinduism, Ancient Greeks
and Romans
Monotheism Single god Judaism, Islam, Christianity
Antheism No dieties Atheism, Buddhism, Taoism
Animism Nonhuman Indigenous nature worship,
beings(animals, plants, Shinto
natural world)
The Major Religions
1. Judaism
2. Christianity
3. Islam
4. Hinduism
5. Buddhism