spirituality and religion

[PeachIcedTea]

I would like to know what people's opinions are of sprituality vs religion? Are they one and the same? Or do they connect with each other, but take on indiviual (yet significant) roles in peoples lives.

To me spirituality is an experiantial process and very unique and individual to each person. So if you like, tell me what "spirituality" means to you.

I personally donot link spirituality and religion to be one and the same. I think they share the same ambitions, but there is so much more freedom with spirituality, that you do not have to "belong" or even be participating in a group to have spiritual experiences. You can be spiritual without needing to be religious. I find spirituality in things such as water, laughter, sunshine, animals, and these are all very personal experiences for me that I take my own joys and meaning from.

However, I am still researching the definition of spirituality, as it is so broad and covers a diverse range of people and cultures and circumstance. So as far as I'm concerned it really depends on people and their own stories as to what we can define spirituality. So please share your stories with me, as well as your own meanings.

:D

[Joyous]

PeachIcedTea, I define myself as spiritual through my relationship with our creator, Almighty God. Religion is the expression of one's spirituality. I believe it is the way we define our beliefs.

There are many spirits-not all good. The Holy Spirit is the only spirit I wish to feel. The earth, wind, fire, sun, flowers, water, all of creation is our proof that there is a creator. They are to be enjoyed and they are awesome, but only the creator is to be worshipped. I marvel at HIS handiwork when I feel a breeze against my face, when I see the morning dew on a rosebud. when I pick a tomato that came from a seed I planted. All these things cannot be an accident. They are part of a plan, a mighty work.

When in trouble, I have felt the Holy Spirit flow over and through me, bringing an awesome peace that is beyond words.

I believe we do not have to join a church, but when one holds a certain belief, one usually has a desire to be with others who hold the same beliefs, to join them in the good deeds that are done for others

. I hope I have written with clarity.

[Christmas]

I just happened by this post. I post in other areas at times but today I was sorta surfing thru the site and saw you and Joyous.


I was reared going to church from cradle roll and never knew anything but God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Perhaps the reason I believed was because that was what I saw lived and was taught.

For years I WORKED at being what I thought God wanted me to be according to what I had learned. It all made as much sense or rather more sense to me than the other religions I was made aware of. However, all my work was just work and I found I couldn't measure up to the standards I believed in.

I met God on a person basis when I was 38 and that personal experience straightened out all the wonderings and questions.
It was an amazing experience. I am not afraid of death.

[Joyous]

Christmas, my growing up was much like your's. We went to a Baptist church, we had a bible in the home, but no regular reading and prayer time. Someone taught me to say my prayers as a child, but I cannot recall whom. We had revivals and I was baptized, but when I felt God call me to do His work, I refused because I wanted to have fun, excitement, all the worldly things. My life was never peaceful until I finally came back to Him and gave everything.

I would enjoy hearing your experience with meeting Jesus if you ever feel like telling .

[Lizard]

Pick me Joyous, pick me. I'll tell all
about MY religious experience.
Or have I regaled you with it before ?

Sent off to Sunday School each week from about the age of 5.
Didn't matter which church particularly.
Whichever was nearest.
I guess my parents thought it was the 'right' thing to do - and it got my brother and I out of their hair for a while on Sundays.

Mostly methodist or presbyterian churches which were relatively harmless.
Entertaining stories, pretty good music and the occasional freebies of lollies and such.
BUT THEN we moved close to a Baptist church and were suddenly exposed to the hot gospellers - fire and brimstone - hell and damnation - sin and guilt.
I was TERRIFIED.

Then my brother and I were packed off to week long camps where these genuinely evil evangelists brainwashed and terorised young children from 6am till 10 at night.

Naturally, I eventually succumbed and was "saved" at about 16yo.

Took me two or three years to realize it was all gumpff and I have been free ever since.

[Joyous]

Lizard, I too went the Baptist way and was terrified of awaking dead and in hellfire. I stayed away from any church for many years as an adult, but I wasn't happy nor peaceful. I finally decided that Jesus IS the answer and I have had peace in my heart since. His way makes sense to me. Everything He did was from love, compassion, understanding. I love Him and I am thankful that He loves me. I know it's wrong to frighten children and the church I attend does not use the hellfire and brimstone in teaching.

[Christmas]

LIZARD!!!!! YOU HAVE NOT DESERTED US.

I was reared going to church from cradle roll. My parents went as well and so did my brothers and sisters. I never knew anything else and my Father....worldly lived his faith as did my Mother.

The door swung, we were there. It was a part of my daily life.
At twelve, I accepted Jesus as my savior. I must admit that it could have been the fact that was the basic path taken by the children raised in church. During that particular era it seemed that church was part of the communities life.......my neighborhood were church goers although there were more than one church represented. There were some that were considered holy rollers and fire breathers and I supposed my particular church was in the middle.

Accepting Christ was the beginning of a journey......there was no instant mash potatoes to the journey. Troubles came and went and sometimes God was asked into the journey and at times I bumbled along. Quite often the things I had problems with were things I chose to do and when I talked to God I let him know they were wrong but I "just couldn't help it" I was so drawn to it.
That is when the 'world" had me by the tail. God just let me do my do until stuff came along I could no longer control and I was back calling him for help. (At this time while I knew there was God and I wanted to be his if I didn't have to work to hard....I did not have a "personal" relationship)

During the following years, I played see saw with God......but I did a lot of praying because inspite of the problems continuing hold there really was no place else to go. I was in a boat with no rudders. I had the boat which kept me from drowning but no rudders to direct me to the shore and firm land.

I kept afloat.....but the wind and rain were often fierce and I felt lost and sinking. Then one day when I just wanted to get out of the boat and on dry land or just go on and drown, I went out into the woods (we lived in the country) on the edge of a clearing.
There was a stump and I sat down on the stump and read my Bible. I read and I cried and I prayed. I read and I cried and I prayed.......it was if I were crying out to the wind and there was a force field in front of me and all was hitting it and bouncing back in my face.

In desperation, I cried out......"JESUS, YOUR FATHER IS NOT LISTENING TO A WORD I SAY. TELL HIM, IF HE WILL HAVE ME JUST AS I AM WITHOUT ONE PLEA OR PROMISE THAT I WON'T LET HIM DOWN HE CAN HAVE ME!" there was an ANSWER........"THAT IS ALL I EVER WANTED."

That answered pulled me up to heaven for just a momentary glance of who and what there is for me. I was in heaven emotionally, mentally and spiritually. That moment, that answer means more to me than ANY experience I have EVER had on this earth.......sex, birth, money, etc. I was LIFTED up out of that boat and my feet were planted on a rock.

God deals with each of us in our own world, our own moment, our own environment. I have no answers other than to say.....you have to want him and to ask him in and then BELIEVE HIM to be who he says he is. The rest is holding on and hanging in as he works in your life. He is the knot at the end of the rope and he is hope.

If I could have my druthers, I would exit stage left and go home to be with him. He keeps telling me......that is MY DECISION.....I will let you know when it is roll call. LIZARD.......I have my name in the book and all it took was giving my heart to him ........study his word.........you are saved as his GIFT....AGAPE.....not earned but the gift has to be accepted, not left laying on the table.

[Christmas]

When you asked me to share my experience I thought about it and wanted to answer but my heart was not in it at the moment.
I just didn't feel motivated to write so much and it was long.

But, today when I saw KEITH, the words flowed and my fingers bounced across the keyboard and I wrote what my heart said, not what my head said.

To me, that is the following of the Holy Spirit. When the time is right he gives you what you need. My dearest wish is he would just take over this mind and body completely and just use this old body to do his will on earth cause it takes plugging me in to get me moving. I am so slow and sometimes so caught up in this world that I feel like that stump I was sitting on.

45 days........Bobby put up a tree yesterday....you got that....Bobby. It looks okay, not like in the postcards and pictures and I am going to get the grands to help give it a lift. But he is so pleased and I am so pleased he wanted to participate that is is just BEAUTIFUL.

[Joyous]

Christmas, thank you for sharing your meeting with our Lord. I know exactly what you mean about wishing to go to Him forever. I have longed to be with Him so hard that my body actually felt lifted into space. Then I was back right here, waiting for Him to say, "It's your time now." Whenever I want so badly to be with Him, I realize there is something He needs me to do here. I really don't think I do much, but maybe He is giving me more time so I will do something for Him.

Once while troubled beyond a solution, I cried and begged, "God, I cannot handle this. Please handle it for me." At that instant, I felt a peace wash over me that surpasses all understanding. The problem simply went away within a day or two. We know who took care of it.

Once I felt His touch and felt His voice saying, "You're trying to fix it and not allowing me to do it." Once again, I let go and let God. I am a difficult case because I always wanted to fix things myself, but I learned to relinquish my ego and trust completely in His guidance.

[Shar]

I searched all the sites and found one I think is good for this post. PeachIcedTea seemed to have started it for anyone to make statements on their beliefs. I, personally, believe spirituality and religion are two different beliefs or concepts.

The word (title) religion is not always Christianity I guess it is being lumped under that word. A single religion, in order to be named has some commonalities, such as a common historical heritage and some shared doctrines or practices. I suppose that is the same for spirituality.
A friend that goes by the chat name JoyofLife sent me this and though it doesn't cover all, it does make some strong statements as to the way a Christian thinks and believes. IMO.





When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin'."
I'm whispering "I was lost,
Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.



When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
And need His strength to carry on.



When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not bragging of success
I'm admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.



When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it.


When I say... "I am a Christian"

I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.


When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not holier than thou,

I'm just a simple sinner

Who received God's good grace, somehow!



Share this with somebody who already has this understanding, as reinforcement.

But more importantly, share this with those who do
not have a clear understanding of what it means to be a Christian,

So that the myth that Christians think they are "perfect" or
"better than others" can be dispelled.

[Joyous]

Shar, that pretty much sums it up. Very well said.

[Christmas]

Peach, has it, like on the button.

Wish I could say I am perfect.
Can't.........I am a work in process.
Sometimes I feel quilty for my short comings and when I pray, I am often ashamed to call to my Father......I have hurt him with my behavior or failures and I want him to smile not cry.

I know what it feels like to have a loving patient human father and how I wanted to please him because of that love. I didn't want to disappoint or sadden him. ......... so much more, I want to please the God who made me and gives me the structure and love and guidelines needed to be of use to him and to my fellowman.

I thank my Father for his patience and his mercy in dealing with me and with this world.

[Joyous]

Christmas, you and me too!!!!!

[Aeroman]

This seemed like the most likely place to put this.

I found this quote from Einstein, he must have known something about Buddhism or he found this out on his own. But one of the things that I first learned about meditation was to think and visualize loving kindness to all living things, not just humans. But to everything.
We all are a part and the whole of the universe.


Albert Einstein:
"A human being is part of the whole called by us "universe" - a part limited in time and space. We experience ourselves, our thoughts and feelings as something separate from the rest. A kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from the prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty."