Razlika između religije i duhovnosti?/The Difference between Religion and Spirituality

Pre nego što ispitamo razlike između religije i duhovnosti, treba da definišemo ova dva termina. Religiju možemo definisati kao “veru u Boga ili bogove koji zahtevaju obožavanje, a to se obično izražava ponašanjem i ritualima” ili “određeni sistem verovanja, klanjanja itd. koji uglavnom uključuje etički kod”. Duhovnost možemo definisati kao “osobinu ili činjeničnu duhovnost, nefizičko stanje” ili “dominantan duhovni karakter koji se izražava načinom mišljenja, životnim stilom itd; duhovna sklonost ili nota”. Ukratko, religija je skup pravila i rituala koji približavaju osobu Bogu, a duhovnost je usredsređenost na duhovne stvari i duhovni svet umesto na fizičke tj. zemaljske stvari. Najuvreženija zabluda o religiji je da je hrišćanstvo samo još jedna u nizu religija poput islama, judaizma, hinduizma i sl. Nažalost, mnogi koji tvrde da su hrišćani praktikuju hrišćanstvo kao religiju. Za mnoge ono nije ništa više od skupa pravila i rituala koje čovek mora praktikovati da bi posle smrti otišao u nebo. To nije pravo hrišćanstvo. Pravo hrišćanstvo nije religija već dobar odnos sa Bogom koji je posledica vere i priznanja da je Isus Spasitelj i Mesija. Hrišćanstvo ima svoje rituale (krštenje, pričest) i ima svoja pravila (ne ubij, volite jedni druge i sl.). Međutim, ti rituali i pravila nisu srž hrišćanstva, već su ishod spasenja. Kada primimo spasenje u Isusu Hristu, treba da se krstimo i na taj način proklamujemo svoju veru. Uzimamo pričest u znak sećanja na Hristovu žrtvu. Sledimo pravila zbog ljubavi prema Bogu i zahvalnosti za ono što je učinio za nas. Najuvreženija zabluda o duhovnosti je da se ona javlja u mnogim oblicima i da su svi oni opravdani. Meditacija u neobičnim položajima tela, zajedništvo sa prirodom, komuniciranje sa duhovima i sl. možda deluje duhovno, ali takva duhovnost je lažna. Prava duhovnost je kada neka osoba ima u sebi Svetog Duha, što je posledica spasenja u Isusu Hristu. Prava duhovnost su plodovi koje Sveti Duh rađa u životu takve osobe, a to su ljubav, radost, mir, dugotrpljenje, čestitost, dobrota, vera, krotost i uzdržljivost (Galatima 5:22-23). Duhovnost je stremljenje ka tome da se bude što više nalik Bogu koji je duh (Jovan 4:24) i oblikovanje karaktera prema njegovom (Rimljanima 12:1-2). Ono što je zajedničko religiji i duhovnosti je to da obe mogu da postanu pogrešan metod za uspostavljanje odnosa sa Bogom. Religija lako može da zameni pravi odnos sa Bogom ritualima koji ne odražavaju stav srca. Duhovnost može da zameni odnos sa Bogom vezom sa svetom duhova. Obe mogu da budu lažni putevi ka Bogu, a često to i jesu. U isto vreme, religija može da bude korisna u smislu da ukazuje na činjenicu da Bog postoji i da imamo odgovornost prema njemu. Jedina vrednost religije je u tome što pokazuje da smo grešni i da nam je potreban Spasitelj. Vrednost duhovnosti je u tome što pokazuje da ne postoji samo fizički svet. Ljudi nisu samo materijalna bića, oni imaju i dušu i duh. Okruženi smo duhovnim svetom čijeg prisustva treba da budemo svesni. Prava vrednost duhovnosti je u tome što ukazuje na činjenicu da osim fizičkog sveta postoji nešto ili neko s kim treba da se povežemo. Isus Hristos je ispunjenje i religije i duhovnosti. On je taj prema kome imamo odgovornost i na koga ukazuje religija. S njim treba da se povežemo, što i jeste cilj prave duhovnosti.

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Before we explore the difference between religion and spirituality, we must first define the two terms. Religion can be defined as “belief in God or gods to be worshiped, usually expressed in conduct and ritual” or “any specific system of belief, worship, etc., often involving a code of ethics.” Spirituality can be defined as “the quality or fact of being spiritual, non-physical” or “predominantly spiritual character as shown in thought, life, etc.; spiritual tendency or tone.” To put it briefly, religion is a set of beliefs and rituals that claim to get a person in a right relationship with God, and spirituality is a focus on spiritual things and the spiritual world instead of physical/earthly things. The most common misconception about religion is that Christianity is just another religion like Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, etc. Sadly, many who claim to be adherents of Christianity do practice Christianity as if it were a religion. To many, Christianity is nothing more than a set of rules and rituals that a person has to observe in order to go to heaven after death. That is not true Christianity. True Christianity is not a religion; rather, it is having a right relationship with God by receiving Jesus Christ as the Savior-Messiah, by grace through faith. Yes, Christianity does have “rituals” to observe (e.g., baptism and communion). Yes, Christianity does have “rules” to follow (e.g., do not murder, love one another, etc.). However, these rituals and rules are not the essence of Christianity. The rituals and rules of Christianity are the result of salvation. When we receive salvation through Jesus Christ, we are baptized as a proclamation of that faith. We observe communion in remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice. We follow a list of do’s and don’ts out of love for God and gratitude for what He has done. The most common misconception about spirituality is that there are many forms of spirituality, and all are equally valid. Meditating in unusual physical positions, communing with nature, seeking conversation with the spirit world, etc., may seem to be “spiritual,” but they are in fact false spirituality. True spirituality is possessing the Holy Spirit of God as a result of receiving salvation through Jesus Christ. True spirituality is the fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in a person’s life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Spirituality is all about becoming more like God, who is spirit (John 4:24) and having our character conformed to His image (Romans 12:1-2). What religion and spirituality have in common is that they both can be false methods of having a relationship with God. Religion tends to substitute the heartless observance of rituals for a genuine relationship with God. Spirituality tends to substitute connection with the spirit world for a genuine relationship with God. Both can be, and often are, false paths to God. At the same time, religion can be valuable in the sense that it points to the fact that there is a God and that we are somehow accountable to Him. The only true value of religion is its ability to point out that we have fallen short and are in need of a Savior. Spirituality can be valuable in that it points out that the physical world is not all there is. Human beings are not only material, but also possess a soul-spirit. There is a spiritual world around us of which we should be aware. The true value of spirituality is that it points to the fact that there is something and someone beyond this physical world to which we need to connect. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of both religion and spirituality. Jesus is the One to whom we are accountable and to whom true religion points. Jesus is the One to whom we need to connect and the One to whom true spirituality points. Are you interested in discovering true religion and true spirituality? If the answer is yes, please begin your journey on our webpage that describes receiving Jesus Christ as your Personal Savior - https://www.gotquestions.org/personal-Savior.html.