Religion vs Having a Spiritual Practice

Religion vs Having a Spiritual Practice

This is a much more complicated discussion, but few people these days are serious readers so short (and hopefully for the reader, entertaining) articles are the norm. If you are interested in this subject, google it, and try google scholar for deeper information.

What is religion? Many new age people, wiccans, pagans, etc. claim to be “spiritual” but not religious.  Religion is not only a codified system of beliefs it also includes rituals what some might label superstitions. The difference between belief and superstition is experience. If you experience something it is a reality, for you, and you will believe it. If you don't experience it, then it is only hearsay and without proof you don’t necessarily believe it however you might still engage in it because you were “told” it is true. The latter usually applies to religion.  Sound familiar?  Superstitions are, these days, the building blocks of present day religions. People tithe the church because they were told that is what God likes and you will be rewarded with prosperity. Because of course God has bills (not).  New age, pagan, wiccan, use “guided” (by humans) meditations or rituals and spells to get what they want (intending and manifesting) without having any experiences of feeling an energetic connection themselves. Religion and religion. And in all of these, the “beliefs” are surprisingly similar. Prosperity and getting what you want are seen as “signs” that you are on the right track and doing what either the gods/goddesses/Jesus etc. want you to do and you are getting proper rewards for being a “good” follower. Even better, if you can gather “followers” around you, be it the crystal cathedral or a new age circle of some kind, that is seen as even more proof that your beliefs are correct and that others should do what you do. That is superstition, to do what you are told to do, to get some result you either want or are told you should want, because someone else has had the experience you so fervently desire. These are actually the behaviors of the formation of cults. Religion has the potential to create the formation of small cults. All organized religions, new age, Judeo/Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, eventually codify their beliefs which runs the risk of turning them into superstitions and worship of the people or organization instead of homage and a relationship with Spirit. The new age has become a religion. The majority of “practitioners” I have met do NOT have any personal practice, they do preach the same beliefs as mainstream religions (intend and manifest), they self- proclaim themselves just as priests and pastors do (rather than being called into their practice by divine signatures), they measure their success via prosperity, and they do (try to) collect followers.  Organized religions, sigh. 

Having a Spiritual Practice has nothing to do with any religion or superstitious rituals. People who teach or offer a Practice typically have no “organization” and not much use for “prosperity” (in material measure). They don’t need or want it. Their Practice is their prosperity. These Teachers encourage people to discover their own experiences and offer situations (meetings, workshops, ceremonies or private sessions) where others can experience the Divine for themselves.  They offer Spiritual Practices for you to try and see what happens, for you, to you. And typically, the Practices produce results.  Like hiring a personal trainer, you either build muscle or you don’t.  The results of a Spiritual Practice will not always appear to be “positive” as both human growth and Spiritual Growth include periods of shadow work where one must encounter the darkness which usually includes what is first perceived as emotional upset. That is followed by a distinct change in attitude regarding your relationships with Self, others and Spirit. The quality of your everyday life changes, measurably.  Teachers offering a Practice rather than a religion often encourage you to work on your own and they typically ask or create questions for you rather than give answers in order to appear all wise or “gifted” and thereby encouraging your dependence on them, instead of relying on and trusting your own Practice. They encourage you (and sometimes it appears to be a “scolding”) to have and keep your own Practice and emphasize that as the most important ingredient in your Spiritual Evolution, rather than promoting their “teachings” as all important.

Religion strives to be consistent. That is the easiest way to create followers, or….sheep. It requires less thinking, and no Practice, just complying with empty rituals where the followers feel nothing, but have been told that if they comply they will get certain results. A true energy based Spiritual Practice is a bit like nature, always it is somehow nature, but it is constantly changing thereby always amazing, engaging, alive, and never to be taken for granted. Spirit IS energy, it is not your so-called guides chatting you up. Energy is felt and not always understood in the moment and understanding it, like understanding the why sunsets light up the sky, has little to do with enhancing the experience of the sunset.  

People are longing for the Divine and American cultural programming has given people the predisposition to believe that a Divine connection can be bestowed upon you by someone else, someone (usually self-proclaimed) magical or “gifted” especially if that person offers you codified practices that make claims for spectacular results (for example Scientology). We see the evidence of this in the prolific reports of cult activities once the leaders are arrested for economic and sexual maleficence.  It seems impossible that people would be seduced by the claims of these cult leaders (some of these cults are rather small but still worth millions) and yet they are. Smart, educated, often wealthy people are seduced, because the American culture reinforces the belief that someone other than your Self has the power to hook you up with the Divine and that if you are hooked up, you will prosper in the material world and hopefully feel better. 

There is nothing wrong with joining organized religion and you can certainly bring your Practice into any religion. Religion offers community, and often a physical place to meet and participate.  There is nothing wrong with rituals and spells etc. and they can be more fun than a movie or a family dinner. This is simply about making a distinction. Religion is not a Practice, and a Practice is not religion. If you want a connection with the Divine, it has to be yours, personal, practical, and ecstatic. If you are working with someone, make sure you are clear if they have their own Practice (often difficult to ascertain so ask lots of questions and make astute observations) and if s/he is offering you religion and superstitions or a Practice (or sometimes both) so you know what you are signing up for and can make a conscious, healthy, mature decisions.

Journey On