Religion vs Spirituality

Religion is a certain way of life arising out of a certain set of views about man and the universe. It is something following from conclusions reached in regard to the nature of life. Since it is secondary in this way, as such, religions will tend to be non-inclusive and rigid. A certain way of life when formulated, will contribute to an identity, in the face of contending ways and mores. Ofcourse depending upon the starting direction and evolution of such ideas and practices, religions tend to be more or less aggressive and missionary. So some religions will be overtly competitive, but most religions are competitive at some level, in that they appeal to men and draw them to their practice in some way or the other.

Now what is primary, is the actual process of reasoning and the methodology in reaching those conclusions regarding life. This is spirituality, the very basis of religions. But because methodologies can always be refined, based either on more persuasive reasoning or on definitive experience, spirituality cannot be rigid. Ultimately, if there is a fundamental Truth, then the different methods of reasoning must complement if not overlap each other or lead to one from another. With spirituality, there is thus always a promise of kinship, a hope for dialogue, and an oppotunity to expand. This has been the message of spiritual Hinduism for hundreds of years and more so in the last hundred years. Through a profound consideration of life, through an intense understanding of spirituality, religions can give up inhuman cut-throat competitiveness. This idea has percolated through to many Indic religions.

The essential problem of our times is the terrible way in which this understanding has been lost or undermined. Religion without spirituality or a way of life without insight into how it came about, is like going on a journey unaware of the goal. And spirituality without religion, might be useless, like being aware of the goal but roaming about aimlessly. The big tragedy of our world today is the way religious people have stopped enquiring into the spiritual values they seek to adhere to. In attending to the rigmarole of rigid do's and don'ts and defending these, they have forgotten to allot time to douse the fires of anger and other passions in their hearts for fellow life. So much blood is spilt today because religious people have forgotten the primary end, spirituality and confused the end with the means. People who merely claim spirituality dont help either, by mocking religions from the outside. It cannot be denied that religion, or life honed by spirituality remains an important impulse of humankind. Without active participation, nobody ever learns the pulse of any field, let alone solve the malaises afflciting it: religion is no different!

Recently the Pope has called for a dialogue of religions- specifically, Islam and Christianity. It is my considered view, tha there cannot be any dialogue among religions. But dialogue is possible among differerent streams of spirituality. Unfortunately, mainstream Christianity and Islam, by persecuting their mystics and alienating their spiritual side, probably do not have the capability of holding such a dialogue.