Welcome to Gaia! ::

I might get in trouble for this. But is paganism really religion or spirituality? Both? Are they the same? What do you define these two words as? One in the same, or different?

I've noticed while reading that people use religion a lot here. Personally paganism isn't religious for me. Its more spiritual and a lifestyle than religion. I try to stay away from that word as alot of bad and heated conversations come up when spoken in my area. Very catholic here. n n;; So religion only ever has to do with a church in my area than a pagan path. I don't mind it though. I have no intention of sharing my beliefs with people openly. I'm secretive and anti-social to boot, so I'll have a hard time anyway trying to start a convo about my choice with spirituality and lifestyle. I'm saying that separately as my lifestyle choice isn't the norm, and right now does not involve paganism on a large scale.

I'm still a novice and reading and learning all I can. ♥ Very patient and resilient so I can wait a long while before feeling a connection with any deity and etc etc. I don't want to change my initial subject too much.

Hmm. I was wondering that! Thanks this helped a little as I was confused about it talking with people I know and people online. Heh.

Also, I think another reason I was a little confused is that I am Native American, and so in my traditional experiences we refer to our way of worship as spiritual and not religious. Maybe a little difficult for me to explain. sweatdrop I'm not super knowledgeable in this area as it has been years since I've ever participated in such events.

Great question! I think in some cultures, the word "religion" is pretty strongly tied to Christianity, and with associated "thou shalts" and so on, so a lot of people reject it when they come to Paganism. I disagree, but I understand why people feel that way.

"Spirituality" doesn't really have a solid definition, I don't think. At least, not for me. I suppose it has to do with how you feel when you're doing things, of a sensation of searching for or being close to what is sacred. I guess to me, religion is the set of beliefs and practices, spirituality is what I get out of performing those actions. Maybe? I'm not sure.

If the word "religion" makes you uncomfortable, you can say "spirituality" and that's just fine; just recognise that others may consider your beliefs and practises to be "religious" and don't mean insult when they describe them that way 3nodding

I've always personally defined religion to be the structured based systems that involve rules and regulations on how you go about believing. To me, it is about meeting certain rituals and doing certain things that are defined in that religion's structure. To me, religion always felt like a tiny hall way where you go on your journey but when you join the group, no one makes any headway in their spirituality because everyone goes as a group and eventually clogs the hallway. It always felt to me that you had to meet certain steps set for you by someone else before you could progress further. Like everyone needs to get to the end but it all has to be the same path to the end.

Spirituality to me is a much more free "system" and is not bound by certain guidelines in how you reach the end. Being spiritual always appeared to me as you take your time down your path and make the steps when you are ready. Certain rituals and such can be preformed that you learn from others but end the end you make the rituals your own. When I get a meditation guide or a meditation read along or listen along, I try not to use that same one because to me, being spiritual is about realising eveyone is not the same so following the same guidelines to a T only hurts the progress. Like the hallway metaphor, I imagine spirituality being a long hallway with just you in it. Down the hallway are doors that you can open and close when you feel like it. Nothing is expected of you except what you expect of yourself.

I believe you can be spiritual without religion but I don't think to be religious that you can go without spirituality. I do believe you can be without both because some people just don't go into that.

I find paganism to be much more of a spiritual path. Organised covens or groups that require you to meet certain standards within a time or going ranks seems to me more of the religious side.