Spirituality and Religion

Spirituality is a belief that individual’s soul can directly communicate, or even can unite with Divine soul. It is possible, as it is believed, only if individual’s soul is pure and strong. Purification and strenght of soul is sought through various spiritual exercises like Muraqbas, Riazats etc. In addition, material social life is also avoided. Its main difference with religion is that aim of religion is usually to bring and maintain harmony and uniformity of social system. Religion strongly dislikes deviance from social norms, religious traditions, Divine told beliefs and various religious customs and rituals. In this way, religion unites people into the shape of large societies whose members think and act in uniform styles. Religion prefers sustainability, continuity and perpetuality of such a uniform society to individual’s freedom and choice. Spirituality, on the other side, prefers individual to even an organized social system. Aim of spirituality is to give strength to individual’s soul. Spiritual people often use to live in jungles where they perform various spiritual exercises. It is however not complete anti-social. More precisely, spirituality recognizes that social system can function even in absence of external religious worships, customs and rituals; and that individuals can establish relationship with Divine without even following the external commands of religion, provided that individuals possess strong souls. Religion wants to establish a uniform pattern society which must be based on the teachings and directions of a central Divine told autority. Spirituality, on the other hand, wants to establish such a society where individuals may seek guidance from the voices of their own purified souls. Here, individuals may differ from other individuals in their thinking and actions because of the absence of any central authority. But a peaceful sociey is still possible because religion doesn’t tolerate diversity whereas spirituality can love diversity.

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