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Define religion
Essay on religious diversity
Religiosity and spirituality essay
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Can you define religion and spirituality? Not many people know what is religion and spirituality or are not able to define it. Whether we know it or not but, in some ways everyone performs or believes something that would put them in a category of being religious. So, let’s look at the second question. Where would you place yourself into these four categories: religious and spiritual, religious but not spiritual, not religious but spiritual, or neither religious nor spiritual? It is hard to decide where you would place yourself from these four choices. I am going to provide some basic information about religion and spirituality, which might help you to categorize yourself into one of these. However, in this paper, I am going to first explain …show more content…
Meaning of religion varies in different cultures and geographical location (Religion and Spirituality). In religion, most people believe in a god or gods. Also, most of them have set rules which must be followed to be religious. Religion is a category that is really wide-ranging and has many different parts to it. Such as rituals, beliefs, festivals, community, and many other things which are set by specific religion. Especially, when a group of people gets together based on their shared thoughts of their religion. Which shows their belonging into the groups, and they identify themselves as part of that group. Religion is really diverse, even in one religion, it would vary how the religion is understood and practiced by a person. For example, a person can “be a believer but not a religious practitioner” (Religion and Spirituality). Moreover, people differ in ways that they are …show more content…
Spirituality is like seeds in watermelon and rest of it is religion. Religion has been only changed bits and pieces to make a spiritual belief by modern era people. Their intention may be to make changes to live free from having set rules or follow what’s written in books. Thus, it has been given a new name of being spiritual. In religion, people differ in ways that they follow their own religion; likewise; spirituality varies based on person to person how they practice or believe in what they believe in. This shows how spirituality adopted from religion, where some people tend to do things differently even being religious or spiritual. In religion, most people believe in god or a higher authority person; likewise, in spirituality, some people also believe in god or looking for higher than god. This shows how spirituality is following the trend in believing in a higher figure than god or god similar to
There are many different types of spirituality such as believing in oneself, transcendent forces, or other people. Many authors define spirituality differently, according to Merriam-Webster Online dictionary(2013) spirituality is defined as the quality or state of being concerned with religion or the quality or state of being spiritual. As nurses, we know that spirituality and religion are not the same and one can be spiritual without being religious. When we encounter clients who have borderline personaliti...
Melhem et al (2016) define spirituality as an “abstract, subjective, and complex term, whose definition varies between individuals, philosophies, and cultures” and has “many subjective meanings” (p.43). I have learned from many friends who view themselves as spiritual, but don’t follow any particular religion, that spiritualty has allowed them to find meaning and balance in their life. Many feel that all individuals have the capacity to be spiritual, but I haven’t felt the need to tune into this concept thus far in my life. I would tell you where I find meaning and balance in my life, but I don’t even fully know that answer myself. Spirituality is such a new concept for me, and I find it hard to wrap my head around the ways in which I may be able to view or understand it. Therefore, it is something I hope to explore as I mature and continue to understand who I am as a person in this
Religion has 7 core attributes that allow someone to call it a religion, these include Narrative, Doctrine, Emotional, Material, Ethical, Ritual and Social. These seven attributes help individuals identify what can be classified as a “religion”, however spirituality has no “easy way” to identifying it. Spirituality can be found within the individual looking for their “meaning” but not physically expressed.
Worthington et. al. (2011) says historically, religiousness involved individual and institutional elements; however, now spirituality is thought of as an individual phenomenon and linked with meaningfulness, New Age beliefs, and personal transcendence. Additionally, spirituality is described in personal terms like one’s relationship with God, and as a result, spirituality is more highly regarded than religion. The authors define spirituality as a feeling of closeness and having a relationship or dedication to God or a higher power; this can be a religious experience or a nonreligious one. They state that what one considers sacred is usually related to the awareness of social influences. According to the authors, four types of spirituality have been identified based on closeness to God. First, is religious spirituality. Religious spirituality’s connectedness to God is based on one’s specific denomination and the closeness is specific to the deity identified. Second is humanistic spirituality. Humanistic spirituality involves closeness to humans. This type of spirituality fosters a loving connection with a specific group of people and a sense of selflessness and concern
Spirituality is a broad concept, often met with skepticism, but for those who believe in spirituality, it is something real and can have positive effects. Spirituality is difficult to operationalize because it is defined and understood in multiple ways. Participants in studies have described spirituality from experiencing a connection with God or a higher power, to believing something exists that is beyond oneself, to being a search for inner peace and supporting core values to become an ideal human (Hodge & McGrew, 2006). For this paper, spirituality will be defined as an inclusive, multidimensional phenomenon (Starks, Vakalahi & McPhatter, 2014). As well, for this paper belief in spirituality, belief in something bigger than oneself, whether
In this paper two topic from the Psychology and Spirituality course will be discussed in regards to spirituality and their influence on my personal life. I will examine how I have grown and what I have learned from the week on Spring Lake ranch and how I wish to continue moving forward in my attempt to be spiritual and build a closer relationship to God.
The analytic definitions concentrates on the relationship between religion and the cultural context; while the essential definition of religion states that “ a religion is a system of beliefs and behaviors that deals with the relationship between humans and sacred supernatural ”; where the sacred is intended as something worthy of reverence and respect and where the supernatural is intended as something that goes above the natural human world.
Spirituality, is a concept that everyone in the world takes part in whether they are fully aware of it or not. Personally, I have always considered myself to be a spiritual person; however, I never realized that spirituality does not necessarily have to be part of a religion. I considered myself spiritual because I consistently attended church on Sunday mornings, bible study on Wednesday nights, and youth group activities throughout the weeks. My sense of spirituality has always involved religion of some sort until coming to college. While being in college, I have gained a new sense of spirituality specifically due to this class. Foundations of the Spiritual Life has so far taught me about various types of spiritual practices that I never
The religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are alike in many ways but they also share many differences. Judaism and Christianity use the bible in their holy scriptures, while Islam does not. Jesus Christ is a part of all three religions as Christianity and Islam developed from Judaism. Many believe that the three religions worship, pray to, and focus on the same god. They believe this as many of the prophets are they share much in common as they share many beliefs. However, the followers of the three religions pray differently and in different places. the religions believe that their god created the world and everything in the world. The three Abrahamic religions have different histories, yet they share many similarities and difference.
Religion is the one element of life that has connected the races and societies of the world for hundreds of years. It has given meaning to lives that may seem otherwise hopeless. Religion has provided for a universal language and culture among those who believe in a higher power. The spirit or being receiving the worship and praise may not be the same, but the practices are usually similar and serve the same purpose--to give direction, insight, courage, and a divine connection.
Each individual has their own unique perception of spirituality. Although we may all define the term differently, no definition is false. Oxford Dictionary defines it as, “The quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.” (n.d.) However, it can also be as uncomplicated as, looking for a higher meaning in life. In addition, it can also be more convoluted. For instance, where an entire person’s life is based on their spiritual beliefs, morals, and values. Simply assisted, there is no exact definition. In my eyes, spirituality is not related to religion, nor is it of any less validity then religion. It’s the way we connect with our surroundings, and it comes from deep within ourselves. STRIVE has urged me to discover my spirituality, and establish my true beliefs, through a series of thought-provoking activities.
My definition of religion has mostly stayed the same, but my perception of it has changed. At the beginning of the class, I assumed religion was something you believed based on your moral principles. I now believe that those moral principles are based on the religion that you believe in. Your religion changes your perception of the world and how to go about in it. Your religion tells you what is right and wrong in the world and answers all of the big questions one asks. Religion according to our book is, “A pattern of beliefs and practices that expresses and enacts what a community regards as sacred and/or ultimate about life” (Van Voorst 6). That definition was one thing that really got me thinking about my own personal idea of what religion
The definition of religion is the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods(Merriam-Webster). After this semester I have come to realize that religion is a much more advanced, complicated, and personal definition. Religion can’t be defined in one word or one term because there is a lot that religion entails. There really is no concrete answer of what religion is and the definition varies among different groups of people and individuals.
In order to develop my personal philosophy of the relationship between religion and spirituality I had to do some research. I found that there are many definitions, often in direct contradiction of each other. In studying concepts of spirituality, one observation that I found intriguing was offered by Rabbi Adat Shalom (2011) who states, “…spirituality, which takes it’s character from individuality.” In 1997, Dr. John K Testerman, an Associate Professor for the Department of Family Medicine at Loma Linda University School of Medicine presented his thoughts on the subject, stating:
The reason I relate spirituality to religion is because I was brought up to believe in God. I attended catholic school from the age of 5 until I was 14. Religion has always played a big role in my life and still to this day does. I believe that you must have a reason to wake up every day, something to look forward to after death. Your soul will live on and does not just die with your physical being. Spirituality means honing into your inner self and being truly happy. We all have the right to our own beliefs and defining things in the way we see fit to our