RELIGION VS SPIRITUALITY

The Religious Person Vs The Spiritual PersonG*d hates "Religiousness", (and it gets on my nerves as well). But G*d loves the Spiritual. Spiritual people lead others to Truth, Religious people make them allergic to it. So I thought I should explain the difference between "Religiousness" and "Spirituality". I took these from the Parables of Jesus, the Proverbs of Solomon, Rabbi Sha'ul, and the Sayings of Confucius, Aristotle, and other people who had Insight (Gleaning the Wisdom, and Forgetting the Falsities)

The Religious Person Asks-"What is Allowable?" The Spiritual Person Asks-"What is Best?"Those who have been forgiven little become religious, because they love little.Those who have been forgiven much are spiritual, because they love much.

The Religious Person Asks G*d to Change OTHERS, and CONDEMNS other for NOT changing.The Spiritual Person Asks G*d to Change HIM FIRST, So He Can then HELP others to change.

The Religious person sees only stupidity and lies in the beliefs of others.The Spiritual person sees both the Truth and the Lies in everything, the Wisdom and the Folly in everything He adopts the Truths, and Leaves the Lies. Gains the Wisdoms and gets rid of the Follies.

The Religious Person Preaches with WORDS ALONE.The Spiritual Person Preaches with ACTIONS, and EXAMPLE, Using words only Occassionally.

The Religious Person Operates on Opinions (of the Church).The Spiritual Person Operates on Principals (of G*d)

The Religious person only talks about G*d, showing how little he knows of G*d (Christ).The Spiritual Person Imitates G*d, and in doing so shares what he knows about Him(Christ).

The Religious person's Actions are Based on FEAR.The Spiritual person's Actions are Based on LOVE.

The Religious person thanks G*d he is NOT LIKE OTHER PEOPLE.The Spiritual person thanks G*d he is NOT LIKE HE WAS BEFORE.

The Religious Person seeks Approval.The Spiritual Person seeks Righteousness, (not Self-Righteousness)

The Religious Person is proud.The Spiritual Person is Humble.

The Religious Person Views the Law as a Justification to Hate. (Those who violate a "thou shall not murder, lie, committ adultery", should be hated, but just for the things you haven't done yourself-because your own sins are always the ones that are "the little ones".)The Spiritual Person Views the Law as an Explanation of How to Love. (If you love, you will not murder, lie, committ adultery, etc. Because these things Hurt yourself and others, also realizing that put under the right circumstances, you would probably br capable of almost any evil yourself)

The Religious Person thinks he has committed few sins (they did not murder or committ adultery in person, so they are innocent).The Spiritual Person realizes he has committed several sins (everyone has committed murder and adultery in their heart, so none are innocent).

The Religious person seeks to be Admired.The Spiritual person appreciates it when he is Admonished.

The Religious person thinks G*d needs them.The Spiritual person realizes they need G*d.

The Religious person follows the Traditions (of Church).The Spiritual person follows the Commands (of G*d).

The Religious person knows the Law because it is in a Book, like a map to be pondered.The Spiritual person knows the Law because it is in his heart, like a compass guiding his path.

The Religious person wishes to throw stones.The Spiritual person remembers the stones thrown at them.

The Religious person hates those who are Lost on every level.The Spiritual person has compassion for those who are Lost on every level.

The Religous person forgets that he was once Lost Himself, and thinks he has found all Truth.The Spiritual person never forgets he was once Lost, and is always seeking more Truth.

When a religous man is in an arguement, he looks for the wrong done by others.When the Spiritual man is in an arguement, he looks for the wrong done by himself.

The Religious person hates those who actions hurt others, and yet no compassion for those that hurt, or the ones throwing at others the stones thrown at themselvers earlier.The Spiritual person hates actions that hurt others, but still has Love for those those doing the hurting.

The Religious person recognizes only his achievements ABOVE others.The Spiritual person recognizes His Own shortcomings IN others.

The Religous Person Prays to be Seen.The Spiritual Person Prays to be Heard.

The Religious person mocks those on the wrong path, even though they are BARELY on the right path themselves,and still wandering away from it..The Spiritual person beckons those on the wrong path onto the right one.

The Religious Person Controls with the Letter of the Law (such as not being "allowed" to buy a homeless man food on the Sabbath, since you are buying).The Spiritual Person Loves with the Spirit of the Law (being required to buy a homeless man food on the Sabbath, because the Sabbath is time set aside for doing G*d's Work, and not your own).

The Religious person is concerned about how OTHERS actions will affect Him.The Spiritual person is concerned about HIS actions with affect others.

The religious person thinks Salvation is a reward they earned.The Spiritual person realizes that Salvation is an undeserved gift.

The Religious Person will obsess over death.The Spiritual Person will accept it as a Transition that gives meaning to life.

The Religous person tries to teach though he knows little.The Spiritual person tries to learn, though he knows much already.

The Religous person thinks he owns everything in his posession for his own benefit.The Spiritual person realizes everything he has is on loan from G*d, and for a purpose greater than himself.

Religion is a Clenched Fist.Spirituality is a Helping Hand."Many will Say to Me "Lord, Lord, Did we not work miracles and drive out demons in your name??", and I will say to them, Away from me you Evildoers, for I never Knew You". Jesus, on the "Religious""He who loves me will Abide in my Commandment, and my Commandment is this, that you LOVE one another, as I have Loved you" Jesus on the "Spiritual""Preach Always, Use Words Only If You Must" Francis Xavier.