Custom Search

Religion and Spirituality

by Meera Datta
(Bangalore, India)

A definition of Religion and Spirituality is difficult, a little vague and often ambiguous.

By being extremely religious, namely observing all the prescribed rituals in the texts and holding up traditional customs and habits and of course visiting temples and undertaking pilgrimages: is this spirituality or just religiosity.

Spirituality is often deemed as ‘of the spirit’. Which spirit, the human spirit or the silent spirit surrounding us which no one has seen but many have felt? Or is the collective human spirit that propels us into a spiritual atmosphere of seeking and finding peace from the outside?

Definitions have often been the mainstay to explain the meaning of anything. But philosophy and its many values based on various religions, various races and tribes, different cultures, defy universal definition. Over the centuries it has been tried, and an entire body of works are produced. Yet, why is it when it comes to personal peace or even that of a society a city or a country, it is lacking. History is replete with stories of wars for power. Today power is economy. In this milieu where do we all stand with reference to God? Churches and temples and mosques are desecrated not in the name of power of the economy but very much in the name of religion are they connected. In fact, it is religious bigots who are doing this and causing mayhem though rituals and texts prescribe none of this.

In everyday life, we see that Religion and God perhaps are the only two stable factors that make masses survive all disasters. Have you seen the earnest way in which the poorest of the poor spend on gods and rituals? My domestic help scrimps and saves only to have a pooja performed in her husband's name to cure his alcoholism. With the same faith, the moneyed perform expensive pujas for their well-being. Atheists and agnostics, of course, pooh pooh these practices as useless and irrational. Some claim to be spiritualists. To my mind, the religious practises are a step to discipline the human spirit toward the spirit of the Universe that protects man. Is that really invisible? Don’t we learn the best of lessons from it and ‘find tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything.’

I have always wondered. Are they the same? Religion and spirituality. I would love to know what other’s perceptions are ……………….
***

Comments for Religion and Spirituality

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Jul 03, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		excellent
by: Your Name:Ramesh Kumble

An excellent article written very well.It is thought provoking.The views are very cogently presented by the author.A joy to read.Easy to read style and format as well.
Jul 04, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		My thoughts
by: Aruna

Thought provoking. It makes you think and ponder on spirituality. I realise that I quite confused but would like to understand better.
Jul 04, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Succint
by: Your Name:

You've stated the case very briefly and clearly Meera. It's a disturbing issue and one which keeps me thinking very often. Wish your article had been longer and more explorative. It's good and whets the appetite!
Jul 04, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstar 		A Fresh Perspective
by: Kalpana Udaykumar

A very well written article that questions the popularly accepted definitions of Spirituality and Religiosity. Meera's thought that religious practises are a step to discipline the human and therefore the universal spirit beautifully juxtaposes the two factors over riding the often expressed world view that one is superior/inferior to the other.
Here in do I see the fresh perspective that links the two in a deeply meaningful way.
Jul 04, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		a doubt?
by: shashikumble

a complex subject, difficult to understand but Ms Datta has made it easy to make some distinction, with her style, language and depth of knowledge it would be a pleasure if she could write some more on this subject. I would be anxious to read further. I am not religious, I would like to know from the author what really is spirituality. What we read is a hopefully only a preview of more things to come from the pen of Ms Datta. Great going, anxious to see the next article, please do write an in-depth analysis. All the best and way to go!!!!
Jul 04, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		More later
by: Meera Datta

Thanks Shashi Kumble. I wish I’d written more but could not only because I don’t know. I wrote this with the intention of eliciting views and perspectives on this subject. Thanx for your kind words.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Spiritual.