Conversation with my Grandson - Religion and Spirituality!
My 14-year old grandson, Tanay, lives in Dubai. During his last visit he accompanied me on my morning walks when I conversed with him on a variety of topics such as religion, spirituality, science, philosophy, etc.
These conversations were not just meant for introducing him to ideas and concepts that are not covered in the school but were also moments for bonding. I took them also as opportunities to clarify to myself those belief systems that have shaped me… my thinking, my words, my actions, my character, my very existence, matured over a lifetime! So here it goes...
On the subject of religion, Tanay, I need to first explain why our family is not religious per se unlike that of our relatives and friends! That is, I should clarify why we don’t have a pooja (worship) room, why we don’t display pictures of Gods, why we don’t light lamps in front of deities, why we don’t visit temples, why we don’t pray to God, why we don’t celebrate religious festivals, etc., etc.?
To do this I need to first introduce you to another concept, namely 'spirituality'. And let me inform you that though we are not necessarily religious, we are undoubtedly spiritual. So what exactly are the differences between religion and spirituality?
To start with, let us try to briefly define what is 'religion' and what is 'spirituality'. Religion is belief in, and worship of, a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. Spirituality is the quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things. What I am trying to explain to you is based on my personal experience.
Religion makes you believe in a faith, obey a priest or a guru, and perform certain rituals. Consequently, you often need to keep your curiosity and inquisitiveness under check as you are expected not to ask too many questions but just believe, obey, and do what elders tell you.
Spirituality, on the other hand, lets you have an open mind, allows you to question anything without fear, explore and analyze various alternatives, and lets you figure out for yourself what is truth and falsehood and what is right and wrong. It doesn’t force you to believe in a faith blindly or obey elders mindlessly.
A religious person is a believer and consequently he makes compromises. Instead of seeking the truth he is satisfied with an authority - a guru, a teacher. Belief and spiritual process do not go together. As a spiritual person you are free to act in a rational and natural manner always, by keeping your mind and intellect clear; you don't have to act in an illogical or unreasonable manner by bowing to a higher authority without reasoning or questioning.
Religion divides the society. These days, you are sermonized that your religion is superior to others and those who believe in other religions are your enemies. Such an attitude instills anger and frustration in you, the exact opposite of what religion is supposed to do. You are aware of the frequent violence, killings, and casualties of religious tyranny in different parts of the world. Spirituality, on the other hand, allows you to establish a unified world. It lets you learn all religious books and teachings with an open heart, without any bias, and gives you the freedom to absorb the good and reject the bad.
Religion forces you to have a ‘split personality’ - to have two separate personalities by making you behave differently in dual roles! That is, in your professional role, you approach things rationally, logically, and analytically but in your private life you act irrationally, illogically, blindly, just based on your religious beliefs, giving your intellect a temporary holiday!
Karl Marx said, "religion remains the opiate of the masses”. As you know, opiates are painkillers that spare people from incredible pain during times of their greatest need. Though they are life-saving drugs, opiate addiction is a major issue being one of the biggest drug problems today. Opiates can both help you heal, as well as destroy your life; it is finally your choice. In the same way, religion is not inherently good, nor bad. For many people, religion can be a source of identity, meaning, and belonging.
Spirituality is the realization that there is something beyond our physical existence. Spirituality is the wonder you sense when you look at the mysterious universe of planets, stars, galaxies, and black holes, situated millions of light years away; or the awe you feel when you look at the smallest pieces of matter - molecules, atoms, and other subatomic particles as well as the infinitesimal distances among them. And the realization that all these astronomical and infinitesimal objects are functioning in unison since time immemorial!
Tanay, I can go on and on about the finer nuances between these two concepts of religion and spirituality. But I guess, you now have a fairly good idea about the subtle differences between being religious and spiritual. I have tried to explain why I chose to be spiritual as against being religious. I did not want to limit my views and outlooks within the confines of a particular belief system. I believe that my stand, though quite different from the majority, has complemented my science education and given me the independence necessary to form my worldviews and fulfill my responsibilities.
Now it is your call to decide what path you want to follow!
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