In day to day activities, we use countless terms intentionally or unintentionally. Most of the time, we face lot of confusion regarding such terms. In this blog, I’m going to explain confused words of spirituality and religion.
Though people use spirituality and religion interchangeably, but the difference between spirituality and religion is quite big. Religion is a system of norms and beliefs whereas, spirituality is about the knowledge of soul cycle or journey.
Human mind always speculate and eager to know the world he supposes to enter after death. We, usually, calls it as afterlife world. Ever since ancient times, human has been striving hard to get insight to relieve anxiety of mind.
Let’s begin to learn confused words of spirituality and religion.
1.Understanding confused words of spirituality and religion
First of all let’s start with religion and it’s related or similar words.
Religion — /n/ religious – /adj/ It is a system of set of beliefs and norms regarding a supernatural or transcendental entity which is holy, sacred, omnipotent and omniscient.
Religion and God relations
People do believe in such entity; they have faith; they worship and revere regularly. Simply, it is called God that takes centre stage of religion.
Besides, festivals are celebrated; rites and rituals are performed; and, daily worship is offered assuming God will bless in return.
Social perspective of Religion
In social perspective, “Religion” is a social institutions that ensures social coherence and solidarity.
But, some call it as a means to relieve anxiety of mind and nothing else. Nevertheless, it is a vital component of social system and effective means of socialization.
Spiritual perspective of Religion
Different religions have different beliefs regarding rebirths, afterlife, liberation, destiny, salvation etc. In other words, Religion prescribes means and ways to achieve ultimate goal in the form of salvation.
Nowadays, Christian, Islam, Hindu, Buddhism, Judaism, Sikhism, etc. are major religions in the world.
Keywords and terms regarding spiritualism and religion
- Transcendental
- Supernatural
- Rites and rituals
- Omnipotent and omniscient
- Social solidarity
- Salvation.
2.Sect and religion important religious and spiritual terms
Sect is an offshoot of a particular main religion due to certain differences in belief system and norms. Besides, it may be used for other purposes as well. Though both sect and religion are similar religious institutions, but have considerable differences.
Actually, no religion can resist potential changes to ensure pristine, orthodox nature unchanged. Changes happen with the expansion of its base. So, sect is an offshoot in the course of time.
Definition and examples of sects
In simple words, sect is a separate branch or offshoot of a main religion. Its ways of worship, beliefs, deities, norms, rites and rituals and majority of religious practices are similar but not exact the same.
Usually, in the course of time, certain group of people due to differences over certain beliefs or ways of worship dissociate themselves from the main religion to practice theirs own.
Examples of major sects
All major religions in the world has experienced such type of dissociation. Vaishnavism, Shaivism, bhagvatism are the important sects of Hindu religion.
Shia, Sunni, Sufism are the major sects of Islam. Likewise, all other religions too experienced the same brake away effect.
Differences between sect and religion
So far, I have explained the meaning of sect in detail. Religion is a well structured system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things as per the modern sociologist Emile Durkheim.
In the layman’s language, religion is a social institution with set of beliefs and practices in relation to supernatural power. They have theirs own ways of worship, deities, festivals and rites and rituals.
Simply, sect is a product of modern thinking, ideas and way of life which usually disagree with the original fundamental form of religion.
Important keywords related to Spiritualism and religion
- Orthodox
- Social institutions
- Beliefs and practices
- Sufism
- Vaishnavism
- Religion definition and meaning
- Salvation and liberation
- Rites and Ritual
3. Sect and Church difference
Sect and church are closely Interlinked religious and spiritual terms. Sect is an offshoot of church or main religion. Both look similar in nature but have different characteristics. Let’s know the key differences between sect vs church.
Major characteristics of sect, religious and spiritual terms
First of all, it is necessary to know that sect is break away part of main religion. Usually, a group of people dissociate theirs beliefs and practices from mainstream religion due to certain differences.
As per theologians perspective, sect is characterized by following points. conscious and voluntary membership but smaller in size compare to Church or mainstream religion.
Mostly, neglected strata of social hierarchy represents more in sect comparatively.
Sect shows greater solidarity and commitment to theirs ideals and beliefs.
Unlike mainstream religion where beliefs and practices are relative to sacred things, in sect charismatic person possesses greater respect.
It is observed that state hardly offers its patronage to sect opposing social consensus. So, no state patronage like church.
Lack of institutions and bureaucratic structure
Usually, members of sect oppose the beliefs and practices of church. They are deviants in the eyes of church.
These are general characteristics of religious sect compare to mainstream religion.
Impacts of religious sect
Once a group of people break away from mainstream religion, the highest religious authority always show some willingness to make certain changes to avoid further rifts or disintegration.
In the ancient as well as medieval period, due to over rigidity of religious practices, people time to time chose theirs different religious paths by opposing Church or main religion.
Consequently, down the line, we saw major changes in the beliefs and practices of mainstream religions of Christian, Hindu, and Buddhist.
So, sect is embodiment of religious freedom and new ideas everyone loves. Nowadays, there are numerous sects in the world with millions of dedicated members.
Examples of religious sects
- Vaishnavism — Hindu religion
- Shaivism — Hindu religion
- Mahanubhav — Hindu religion
- Sunni — Islam
- Sufism — Islam
This is about sect and church differentiation that is widely accepted by most of the theologians across the world.
4. Belief vs faith key concepts of spiritualism and religion
Belief — /n/ It is what you believe in something as true or false on the basis of yours past experience and knowledge. But, faith is much more than mere beliefs. Let’s find out belief Vs faith.
Definition and meaning of belief and faith
Your belief depends on your prior knowledge and experience you gained through the course of time. Simply, what you believe and what convince you is belief. Here, past experience and knowledge are important.
On the other hand, “Faith” is what you believe with confidence and commitment. In case of “Faith” mere believing isn’t enough. You have faith in something means you believe in and ready to act for.
Difference between belief Vs faith
Precisely, “Faith” is much more than mere belief. It includes confidence, loyalty, and your believing. Here, loyalty means truthfulness. If something is true, you will be faithful of it. So, faith needs belief, loyalty, truth and confidence.
Belief is the necessary condition for faithfulness but not enough. We often say I believe in something. It means that we know something about it but not everything. Once you know all thing about thing in question, you will be faithful to the thing.
Important word links
Devotion, Affection, Sacrifice, Believe,Trus,Omnipotent, Omniscient,Loyalty
I believe you because you helped me many times. I have faith in God as it is almighty and will save us.
Last words on spiritualism and religion,
So far, we have learnt about the religion, god, sect, and church religious and spiritual terms in detail.
For common sense understanding, religion is a system or set of beliefs and norms regarding a supernatural or transcendental entity which is holy, sacred, omnipotent and omniscient.
Holy, sacred, omnipotent and omnipresent object is termed as God or almighty entity. People do believe in such entity; they have faith; they worship and revere regularly.
For sect, it is a separate branch or offshoot of a main religion. Its ways of worship, beliefs, deities, norms, rites and rituals and majority of religious practices are similar but not exact the same.
This is all about the religion, sect, god, church beliefs, faith etc. Confused words of spirituality and religion.
Meaning and examples of perspective
Beliefs opinion and thought process