Introduction
Did you know that spirituality is God but religion is not? Religion is instilled in childhood; just the same way a child is forced to eat food that he/she does not want. On the other hand, spirituality is the food that one seeks. It satisfies someone and is pleasant to the senses. Religion is for the individuals who depend on guidance from other people (Shelley, 2008). However, spirituality is for the individuals who offer their ears to the inner voice. For this reason, there are many religions, but spirituality is just one. Many distinctions separate the two fields. Thus, this paper seeks to investigate the role of the two concepts in human experience.
Thankfulness refers to an underlying structure that helps and individual in making sense of oneself. Spiritual gratitude is a state of mind as well as a way of life. Gratitude tends to walk away from greed and jealousy. It brings satisfaction, acceptance, and appreciation. Ungratefulness can result from the feeling of dissatisfaction. Religion and spirituality help us in focusing on something better apart from our human greed. Therefore, it can help an individual in accepting oneself and being thankful (Schneiders, 2003). The concept of thankfulness exists in the modern world and is also found in history. In history, the concept of gratitude was used to describe a person who wants the good of the community and not own interests. In the modern world, been thankful is detaching oneself from greed and jealousy.
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Definition of the Two Concepts
Spirituality can be defined as the search for inspirational meaning. It is born in an individual and develops. Religion or a revelation can initiate it. Spirituality is chosen and one cannot force spirituality on a person. True spirituality is something that is found within an individual. It is a way of accepting and relating with one's world as well as the world around. Religion can be defined as a set of beliefs, language, and practices that characterize a particular community that is searching for transcendent meaning in a certain way (Shelley, 2008). Religion is an institution that is established by man for specific reasons. Such reasons include striking egos, instilling morality and exert control.
The Roles of The Two Concepts
Spirituality plays an important role in human experiences. Spiritual practices are associated with good health and the wellbeing of an individual. Spirituality involves contemplating practices that direct an individual to focus on a specific concept or sensation. For instance, spirituality involves meditation which can induce feelings of clear-headedness and calmness (Shelley, 2008). Religion is established by man, most of the childhood. Every person should be associated with a religion. Every developing child needs to be taught about religion. Religion is important as it strikes egos, instills morality and exerts control in a child (Shelley, 2008). A child should be taught about the beliefs that are associated with a particular community. It is hard to instill a religion in an adult. Therefore, it is important to introduce it at an early age. The concept of thankfulness applies both to religion and spirituality (Schneiders, 2003). Both concepts are involved ones believes and can help a person in being thankful.
Conclusion
Religion and spirituality can be used interchangeably depending on the interpretation. The reason for this is that the distinction between the two terms is often not clear. The reason for the confusion is because as people tend to be personal, they also incorporate public rituals and also organized doctrines. However, the two concepts are different, and it is important to note the difference between them. Only then that one can be able to differentiate between the two terms. The discussion above has defined to the concepts and outlined the difference between spirituality and religion. It has also covered the roles of the two concepts in human experiences.
References
Schneiders, S. (2003). Religion vs. Spirituality: A Contemporary Conundrum. Spiritus: A Journal Of Christian Spirituality , 3 (2), 163-185. http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/scs.2003.0040
Shelley, B. (2008). Church history in plain language . Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson.
