Despite the best of intentions, religions can sometimes contain a subtle (or not so subtle) undercurrent of fear woven into their teachings. By contrast, spirituality typically discards the vestiges of fear and worry in favor of a more loving, compassionate approach to life—and death.

Fear vs. Love

Religion: Religions are most often based upon the lives, teachings, and beliefs of a historical or archetypal figure (e.g., Christ, Buddha, Moses, Krishna, Muhammad).Spirituality: By contrast, spirituality is more often based upon the practical application of the founder’s teachings.

Origins of Religions and Spirituality  

These comparisons aren’t meant to be absolutes or an attempt to polarize one against the other. Religious beliefs and spiritual beliefs differ in the ways in which they are practiced.Whichever path or combination of the two you follow is the personal and subjective expression of your journey of awakening.

All In All

Let’s try to clear things up by taking a closer look at the most defining differences between religious and spiritual paths. Religion: <ul><li>It is an objective experience, there is usually a greater focus on externals. </li><li>It is object referral, you're completely focused on objects like house of worship , books and observances etc. </li></ul>Spirituality:<ul><li>Self-referral, self awareness of your soul. </li><li>Inward journey</li></ul>

Objective vs. Subjective Experience

<ul><li>Moral rules, laws, and doctrines, as well as specific codes and criteria, create the organized structure that contains the religion’s specific belief system. </li><li>The spiritual aspirant recognizes that he or she is on a “pathless path” of self-discovery. They are following not a set of external rules, but their own inner call to spirit. </li></ul>

Organized vs Formless

Spiritual aspirants heed the advice of Japanese poet Matsuo Basho, “Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought.”

For thousands of years, humanity has passionately pursued the Truth with a capital T—the ultimate answers to life and the universe. This perennial knowledge constitutes the answers to what are often called the soul questions:<ul><li>Who am I?</li><li>What do I want?</li><li>What is my purpose?</li><li>What is the meaning of life?</li></ul>

The Soul Questions

<ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Religiousinstitutions conservatively guard their practices and values, holding rigidly to the past and the original interpretations of the founder’s teachings. </li><li class="ql-align-justify">Spirituality embraces change and the evolution of consciousness. With spiritual practice, ideas and interpretations change as individuals, societies, and the world move forward.</li></ul>

Traditional vs. Evolutionary Approach

Through religion, you are taught to have faith in God or the scriptures as being the infallible and ultimate truth of reality.Spirituality doesn’t dismiss faith; however, it often leans more heavily on direct experience of the soul or divinity.

Belief vs. Spiritual Experience

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson Said : 

Traditional religious beliefs, sometimes based upon rigid interpretations of key teachings, can create an exclusive worldview that isolates those who may not share their views or interpretations. Spirituality favors an inclusive approach. In the recognition that pure spirit is a unifying force, no one is left out. You are part of the universal hologram, all gods and goddesses in disguise.

Exclusive vs. Inclusive

I've always seen myself get trapped in the fine line that seperates religion from spirituality, the two seem to be interconnected however when you take a deeper dive u see how seperate they are.

The line between religion and spirituality can be very fine, and they are similar in many ways. How do we tell the difference between spirituality and religion?