I used to be a Pentecostal. Ya know, the place you go to check your brain at the door. 🙃 One day about 15 years ago nothing was working. I went out to my car at lunch break completely beside myself sad and stressed. I opened You Tube and there on top was a 10 minute meditation. (You know devil stuff 😉.) I said, "Maybe this will calm me down." It worked and I was hooked. The rest is history. During a meditation I heard this, "You won't find me in a book, or a church, or any building, I'm already with you, I always have been." That's when I met God. He's a delightful loving entity. I've taken that path and it's made me a better man. The journey continues. He's a great teacher. Blessings to all.
Very interesting. I was also raised Pentecostal. No dancing no makeup no pants no secular music, no kissing before marriage no race except white no no no no. At the age of 14 I begged to die because I felt I would ultimately sin and be separate from God forever. In early 2000s I discovered Wayne Dwyer, Tony Robbins, Joe Dispenza,and others Today I do not belong to any organized religion. I feel like religion is man made but the soul knows no such boundaries. My family prays for me as they think I am doomed for Hell.😅
The way I see religion “versus“ spirituality is that religion includes a lot of dogma and says I have to believe a certain way or I can’t be at the party. Where is my spirituality teaches me that we are all a spark of God and we have innate knowing. We separate from that knowing at our peril. Not that we are truly in danger, we live again and again, and we learned from each life. But the dogma slows down our progression. When I met my husband, he was minister at our church, and I was a deacon. We ended up leaving our church due to witnessing internal corruption. But the final straw was when we went to a conference on biblical inerrancy. Meaning, the belief that every word in the Bible is exactly true. Not a metaphor. We met some of the most twisted and confused, judgmental people that we had ever witnessed in our lives. We left mid conference because those people were actually scary to us. And this was a mainstream, Protestant denomination, at the time. Once I discovered Raymond Moody‘s book on life after life as a child, I really felt I always saw the bigger picture after that and it disintegrates fear.
I was raised in an evangelical church. I listened twice a week to the teachings of Jesus and watched the reality of how those teachings played out in today's times. I watched Bible messages warped and twisted, or not applied at all, especially forgiveness and brotherhood. I came to the realization at an early age that God and Religion were two different things. I don't go to church anymore, but I do believe in God. Religion is conforming and confining. Spirituality is limitless.
Religion is organized and has lead to more conflicts than we may realize. Often comes with rules and buildings, where fear is often used to control the population of the congregation. Spirituality is personal connection to that which we may not see, but know intrinsically is present. It’s everywhere we notice the interconnectedness of all energies, and realize there’s so much more in awe, not with fear, but with curiosity and wonder.
I grew up hard core Southern Baptist. We were there every time the doors were open. Around age 15 I found my own connection to God/Spirit that guided me (through a Bible verse "Be still and know that I am God.") Too long of a story to share here, but the rest of my life in the denomination was directed by that verse. It helps me to grow spiritually by following my inner guidance/Spirit team. I finally left the Southern Baptists when I realized as a missionary in another country, that I was still there because of fear. I resigned, dropped all the dogma and never looked back. We all have our own path. I have no regrets! It brought me to where I am--spiritual, not religious. Freedom!
Your take on the Bible has been my take when I learned many years ago in a college class that it had been edited multiple times by those in power. Once I knew that I lost trust and decided all anyone really needs to live by is the golden rule … treat others the way you want to be treated.
Yes!!! Ed Trevor is amazing. We hear how bad algorithms are and how it feeds us bad or disinformation and only what we want to hear. I will say I love the things my algorithm has brought to me. The Rev. as well as you, Karen .
I tried to be religious. I used to go to church and enjoyed the the sense if community. I have always believed in God and Jesus . I found that over the years I felt restricted . I would feel guilty if I laughed at a dirty joke 😬 I started to feel like a fake . I was going through an extremely hard time in my life and all I wanted to do was cry. I would try to smile and act like I had my sh*t together when my life was falling apart. I stopped going to church. I realized that the UNIVERSE offered so much more for my mind and soul. I lost my dad , he was 38 , mom was 65, brother a few years ago . I now experience seeing orbs and get so many signs from Heaven above. Its a whole new world for me and I am loving life so much more . I am so grateful to have found your channel .
Love you, I personally believe our Spirituality is like or finger prints no two are alike, we each have our own individual path to the Creator ♥️♥️♥️♥️🙏🏼
Just going to say this, my experience with Religion is a lot to unpack. Raised Catholic. Fell away from the church because of the rules, the scandals with the Priests etc. Tried different denominations but nothing stuck with me. Spirituality fits me better.
I'm spiritual but not religious. To me, Religion is what is handed down to a person vs spirituality is a persons own spiritual connection to the universe and everything around them.
I was born into catholicism however I have always seen things a bit different. I agree that there is a time and place for organized religion. In my opinion if you start questioning certain teachings it means it's time to explore other teachings like all things you outgrow religion and you are now being invited to dig deeper
I was born into a kneeling saying the rosary every night catholic family. From just before my teens I found myself pushing back on what I called " the hypocrisy"of organized religion. My siblings and I suffered and witnessed abuse within our family at the hands of my father. I watched my mother reach out for help to the religion she was so invested in to be turned away by them to continue living her and our nightmare. Other situations outside of our family arose within our country bringing to light sexual abuse by clergy and the abhorrant treatment of women who became pregnant outside of marriage. I always believed that there was a power much greater than myself and it was not " man" I made peace with my dad before he passed for how he was. I know that I have a huge heart and have the capacity to forgive. I don't mean to shock anyone on here nor I am not looking for pity.
Spirituality over religion. I grew up a JW. I was excommunicated when I was 20 years old. I threw out religion. However, I became a theology nerd. 12 years ago I diagnosed with a rare kidney disease. I was so sick I started to pray. I really l liked Jesus, but not his followers. 8 years ago, I started meditating. Now I'm doing a deep dive in Buddhism. Love Rev Ed. I could listen to him every day.
I grew up Catholic but got very clear at the age of 13 that there were too many distortions. Even then I could sense that it was about love, not about evil and hell, and there was no way the loving God I sensed would condemn anyone to an eternity of hell. My whole adult life has been about a spiritual path. I am now 71 and discovered yoga at the age of 17 (at the time I was the only one I knew who did yoga). I began meditation, read many spiritual books and came across channels who spoke my language. I have had many moments when things cleared and I could see the perfection shining through everything. (Even now in this time we're going through.) To me all religions begin with a seed of truth and then get distorted by the imperfect thinking of humans. And we're all on different stages of our journey and we have to allow those behind us to crawl before they can walk, and walk before they can run. (That is from a beautiful channeling of Jesus I heard many years ago.) I feel like I could go on and on about this but am trying to keep comments somewhat succinct. It's a great topic and a great question, Karen.
Communion then Confirmation. Our CCD experiences sound very similar. I just couldn't grasp it at that age. Now at 56 I do not subscribe to any organized religion, but I am very spiritual.
Your channel is so refreshing and real. Thank you for your transparency. I think we all have had to deconstruct where we are on our spiritual journey. I no longer consider myself religious but spiritual.❤
So this year Christmas will be different for me, did I decorate yes, I love the cosiness it brings to the early darkness, but honestly I decorated with a winter theme that will stay up thru February. I have a tree small just lights, partly because of my kitty & party because this year the holidays took on a new meaning with everything going on. An I still watching Christmas movies yes, but more because they are more spiritual than Christmas to me, I hope this makes sense.
Yes for me living differently now in my spirituality. I’m gratefully going forward with the gift of Jesus and full of excitement in learning, growing, and open to where it leads. It is very freeing to leave religion and judgment behind and look for affirmations in the world we have been given.❤❤❤
I was raised in a religious household too. But I noticed growing up, the most judgmental people would sit in the front row, did a lot unscrupulous actions whether it was personal like affairs or how they ran their business that unfairly affected others and took advantage of people less fortunate. Any faith I had in traditional religion went completely out the door when evangelicals came into power politically in the 1980’s. My desire to be a good person, honest, act in integrity, do good things has nothing to do with religion. It has to do with doing what is right, doing what’s in the best interest and benefits others as well as me. My graduate degree is in Philosophy and Religion. I am interested in studying world religions but I do not need it to make me a better person or to be saved. I have had too many paranormal experiences to not believe in something greater than myself. I am definitely at peace with who I am and my spiritual journey. ❤
Good morning! I think spirituality is how you feel and religion is something organized by man. I’ve always been spiritual but struggled with religion. I was struggling in my life and was not attending church as regularly as I had been. When one of the leaders told me I was harming my son by not bringing him to church so he could hear the word of Christ. I felt that was very judge and I realized that had been one of my issues with the many churches I had been to in my lifetime…the judgement.
For this one, I have to take us way back to when I was ten years old. I was in church school and an altar boy who rang the bell and snuffed the candles in a robe. My parents around that time had a LARGE argument, when my father found out exactly how much money my mother was donating in the little envelope to the passed plate. My pre-pubescent brain drank in the information that the church was grifting money from its flock. At that point I had achieved so much in Church school that I had won a Young Readers Bible that broke down the thee's and Thou's and said things in plain English. I read it and it reinforced the fact in my mind that the Bible was a Manners Manual for people of lower intelligence. That combined with the obvious racketeering made organized religion more like organized crime, by age thirteen I had walked away. Then I saw the Star Wars films and the way of the Jedi intrigued me. Not a commanding God that punished wrongs but a Force in the Universe that depended upon one's own viewpoints of light and dark. Here I am some forty years later, watching channelers on TH-cam and still espousing the Force. Must be something to it, don't you think?
I wasn't raised with religion (thank God, lol), but I had some religious friends who just kind of frightened me. I think it's just the way they were. I had a friend who was a Christian fanatic. She had to bring Jesus into every conversation. She wore colored beads on her shoelaces symbolizing how we were all born into sin. She insisted on only wearing white cotton underwear because of religion. I think it was the fanaticism that scared me. Now I realize that fanaticism has its own energy. It's like a zombie energy, LOL!
For someone steeped in religious tradition, this can be a loaded question. I was born and raised by Catholics. I attended Catholic school and church every Sunday, until I left home at the age of 21. For me, there is a BIG difference between Spirituality and Religion. Spirituality is believing and connecting directly with higher realms, whereas Religion has dogma which usually says you must go through a priest or minister, that somehow you are too sinful or unworthy of direct connection, and controls through rules and shame. When I left home, I cut out the middle man as I found it too patriarchal, and I was a feminist (I'm 71 now).
I no longer go to a building to worship. It started when my special needs kids made it difficult. I was raised with my Grandma's religion. I loved worship and learning my Bible. I didn't like rules that the church had that countered what the Bible says. I have always had a close connection to God, nature and immediate family. God was there for me when my parents weren't! Jesus is in almost every room in my house. I focus on the pictures and speak out loud to Jesus and God. I'm not crazy, just close to my higher power and not afraid to show it. Spiritual Awakening has taken my God-given gifts (intuition, psychic connections, etc...) and expanded them greatly. Now, I can communicate in a more extended way! I love it! 💕😁💕
I believe spirituality is the personal internalized feelings we experience from our own beliefs. But religiosity is external doctrine frequently interpreted and dictated by others to their followers. My frustration is that all religions create a justification for their existence by fear mongering with rules and consequences instead of internalization of the experience. If people figured out that they could emotionally touch the source and feel that joy without religion then churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples would have no financial gain being "in the business"
I'm a recovering catholic. I now believe that I am a soul on a human journey. The....male hierarchical (priests/biblical scholars etc...), lack of believe in reincarnation, a woman's right to choose....all that stuff. There is so much "control of the masses" in religions....telling people how to behave and what to believe. I just couldn't go there anymore. And the really interesting part is that I have an older brother who is a retired catholic priest, and a sister who was a nun for many years until she made her escape....lol. Anyway, thanks for the coffee talk!!
Click. Good morning. Yeah I believe religion is institutionalized vs spirituality is the personal relationship with God and my angels. It is sad so many religions leave out or put certain things in their services to suit their message. Nope, you have to teach the whole thing. My husband and I are trying to find a church that fits us. Until that happens we really enjoy listening to Dr Charles Stanley on Sundays. I sure do miss him. I have to hold true to my faith that their is something better for us. We are going through a bumpy ride right now. I pray everyday for unity. ❤❤❤
Even as a young child attending church every week, sometimes several times a week, it never made sense to me that a loving & just "g0d" would force half of his creations to live subservient to the other half. Nor could I believe such a loving being would be jealous, vengeful or hateful. I never believed any one group could be called the "chosen" or held in esteem over any other, simply due to genetics. Especially now that we're seemingly & helplessly watching "g0d's chosen people" arrogantly & absolutely destroying those they believe to be "less than" or "evil". No one, regardless of genealogy, demographics or genetalia, is above any other.
Spirituality allows you to design your own relationship with God / the Divine / Source, and a way of connecting that resonates with you personally. A specific "organized" religion is almost always fear-based, designed and foisted by others, and doesn't allow as much room for creativity, flexibility, or individuality. My "fellowship" occurs whenever I encounter another being or creature throughout my day. My "church" is being out in nature. And the "word of God" is in my heart.
I include angel figurines in my collection of knick knacks. I look for above average detail and those that are more expressive, and if they are a little bit risqué so much the better. I like perusing the local St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores and others for "finds" which feel more special in that way. btw, my casual observation is that many spiritual new age channelers and teachers were raised as catholic. That is just my anecdotal observation listening to many online.
I was baptized as a baby with my twin cousin Presbyterian he is 15 hour's older then me same day. We told my Aunt and Mom at 2 year's old that God's wife Rosa helped us prepare to go to earth and we met each other in heaven, and wanted to be friends on earth. We also told my Aunt at 2 that Grandma said bye bye when she was in the hospital passing away then her Mom called to tell her well I think the kid's just told me before you called lol. Mom just said that they adjusted it to control the masses because people didn't know how to read Latin. A friend told me that Wiccan or witches wasn't the original term that was written in the original Bible the Hebrew Bible. I say the Bible was written basically with the game of telephone like with everything you take the good and leave the bad. I watched the movie where Jesus died on the cross when I was 4 or 5 and didn't forget it, and cried. So I didn't go see the new movie Passion of the Christ when invited with the Church we attended. I would say I came to be spiritual not a specific religion, because all religions have good and bad.
I think there can be a lot of overlap with religion and spirituality, and it's also important to remember that not all religion is "organized". I see religion as being dogmatic, requiring followers to believe in its teachings and also to take actions (or not) based on its teachings. There is usually a leader who is believed to be not only an expert in the subject matter but also having authority and an insider relationship with the divine. I think one can have spiritual experiences in a religious context-- something that feels especially significant, note-worthy, out of the ordinary, seeming to have guidance for the individual that doesn't have to be filtered down through structures of authority. And, of course, spirituality can and does exist very nicely without any of the constructs of religion. I see it as being experiential and often part of a search for meaning and a brush with the divine. The individual is the one who determines whether something has spiritual meaning for themselves, rather than a religion labeling and defining thoughts and experiences.
I grew up Lutheran, I've had a very difficult time finding a church since I am not conventional. Religion seems very structured and I think spiritual things are the actual relationship to God or whomever you worship.
Good afternoon Miss Karen, I'm new to your channel. Over the past few weeks I'm just now learning about you. I've seen others who have done reading based on religion and I can say that I'm really interested the difference between spirituality vs. religion. I have not subscribed to you yet because I at least want to look at a few more videos and then I will make that decision to subscribe to you. But I want to say just like you and the others who does this profession, thank you so much for keeping us at Bay while we're in tried times. Blessings to you in advance. Amen.
So for me I was never really taught organized religion, my parents had 2 very different religions & they both wanted to be learn each & it was a bit of a struggle there….so I went with neither & was always drawn to things like astrology, angels..stories of angels & unusual positive stories, I used to have the chicken soup for the soul book, loved the ideas of angels on earth helping us wanted so much to believe….& life went on & I forgot about it, then this past year now that both my parents are gone & I felt so alone, I went looking for answers about what was going on in our country & I know believe my guides brought me to all of the readers & spiritual people on TH-cam, funny the way the guides work, personality the one force/ one source resonates with me the most, the one sterling talks about. I love angel stories want to look with that book you showed.
I was raised Lutheran which is very similar to Catholicism. It was all about fearing God and being good or you won’t make it to heaven. We were made to go to church every Sunday and Sunday School. I did the whole confirmation and communion thing. But after I got out on my own I never continued going to church because I felt it was forced on me. I never learned about Spirituality or having a relationship with God until my early 50’s. So everything you talked about in this video is pretty much I feel as well.
I heard something once (can’t remember when or who said it) that goes: Man says, “I have an idea about God.” The Devil says, “ Let me organize that for you.” Even though I don’t believe in the devil, this pretty much sums up how I feel about organized religion. It’s fine for some people, but not for me.
We sent our boys to the little nursery school at the church down the street twice a week when they were 2-5 years old. That is all the church they have been exposed to. I read them Aesop’s fables at night-those life lessons really stuck with them. Now that they are adults, I had them listen to the podcast ‘Where is my mind’. That short podcast was life changing. Check it out. I think you’d enjoy it. Keep up the chats! xo
Religion is a connection to the Source, let's say, mediated by humans, with rules and dogmas. Spirituality is a direct connection between us and Source. This is the way I see it.
I was raised as a Protestant in New England.Though I loved singing in the choir and the sense of community there, I never took the dogma seriously. Many years later I became interested in exploring spirituality first by sessions with a medium, then attending conferences, exploring the angelic world. I began to feel energy in my body in listening to meditations. I liked the idea of feeling a connection with the Universe/Source/the Divine without need for an intermediary. I think that’s the distinguishing factor between spirituality and religion.And it can be accessed from anywhere! The idea that the Universe has a plan for all and that we are a tiny speck in this multi-verse is so humbling. I’m hoping to be here still (almost 80) when extra-terrestrial Beings interact openly with us! But next on my list is connecting with my own Spirit Guides!
Hello everyone to me people who are spiritual are unhappy with organized religion. I REMEMBER when I was 5 I ask3d the priest about souls when people are reincarnated and being told that was wrong thinking I remember being told in my head that souls come back that's my story karen peace love and joy to all❤ F
I believe the difference, at least for me, is that the different Religions were created by man and include dogmas; which are rules that must be followed to be a good Catholic, Lutheran, etc. There were consequences to not following those rules. The religions I was part of were (for me) very judgemental. I remember going to Lutheran Catechism. The preacher claimed everyone but Lutherans were going to Hell. I remember thinking: that can't be right. My girlfriend, Sandy was Methodist and she wasn't going to Hell. Long story short: I tried many different religions but they all left me knowing they weren't for me. Although, I do love the ceremony in the Catholic Church and, the Saints. Spirituality is not judgemental. It is focused on growth, acceptance and oneness. That's what it is about. Being One with Spirit.
I saw a picture when I was a very young girl at a museum. It was a painting of people in a circle with spoons coming out of their chest. The spoons were full of food but the people could not reach it. The first picture was a bunch of people turned slightly to the right and they were eating off of their neighbor's spoons. The second picture was the same the only difference was the people were starving and we're trying to get at the food on their own spoons. The only difference between heaven and hell is sharing. I think that is my religion. PS it is not the story of the long spoons which was a bastardization of the older story.
To me religion follows rituals and formality and usually includes a guidebook of laws, whereas spirituality connects us directly to the spirit world without needing any of that.
My mother grew up catholic, married very young (under 18), stopped going to church except for Christmas and Easter until I was pre-teen/early teen. She shared/taught me some of the religion, but allowed me and my sibling to basically choose our own faith. I’m her first born and I remember from a very early age asking her a ton of questions to understand religion and having a sense that there was much that was man-made bs. So much just did not resonate. I’m certain this had an impact on my mother and allowed her to separate from the toxic messaging she received growing up. Talk to me all day long about spirituality (angels, masters, spirit guides, etc) and that makes all the sense in the world to me. I’m grateful I was not raised on a specific religion, but it was a challenge for me at times in a country that is predominantly catholic/christian because I felt a little lost or an outsider and often questioned myself and my beliefs. It wasn’t until a few years after I had a family that I began to really feel confident about my choices/feelings about God/religion/spirituality. Over the years I have learned about all sorts of religions and it’s always been such a fascinating topic. I think I’m really drawn to the psychology aspect of it. It’s like a good old fashioned soap opera / telenovela! 😂
Goodness! I started reading the recommended book on Spirit Guides, but the author (whose name I've forgotten) repeatedly referenced her other book, The Only Prayer You Need. Suddenly puzzle pieces started falling into places! As I mentioned before, I'm a retired clergy person from a mainline Christian denomination indoctrinated by Christian Evangelical ideas and thoughts. But there has always been a dissonance within my mind. I have always been attracted to the mystics and contemplative writers whose understanding of God went beyond the elderly, white-robed, Caucasian image so well-loved by Evangelical Christianity. What if ...?Long story shortened, I have always been a contemplative and a mystic. I'm claiming that identity now. (Is it a coincidence that two of my Spirit Guides' names mean "God" or "Holy Spirit in other languages? I think not!) As retired clergy, I promoted religion. As a soul in human form, what I was hungering for was spirituality. Wow. My mind has exploded! Sorry this is so long and rambling, but you all are my tribe/people now. Blessings ❤
The Bible can be comfort yes but I think primarily it is to keep us “on track” if that makes sense. Our earthly bodies are sinful so if we have something that “ helps us be more accountable “ I think that’s the idea. I was brought up catholic cause my father’s family is catholic but my mother’s family is Jehovahs Witness. Early on she dropped us off at the Baptist church ( me and my brother) and told us we could choose our faith. I was baptized in the Baptist church at age 12 and was there every time the doors opened. I raised my girls there.
Organized religion was needed when we humans had no control or vision of a future. The majority of the Bibles we see today have writings from Paul. Paul was persecuting christians when he met Jesus in Damascus. However, Paul was never an apostle. Paul did not like women or children and believed that men were born to rule, as long as the man had money, he had power. Religion comes from a book. My grandmother told me once, "I believe in God" not this book. Spirituality is what we are born with, this is our guide from our first breath to our last. Spirituality is knowing that there is more to this life and to each individual's life. We are like notes on a piano, each with our own sound. When we are awakened, collectively humans will create the greatest song the universe will ever hear. Much Love.
I was raised a Protestant Christian. I wrote a letter to my kids apologizing for not giving them a basic understanding that Jesus Christ died for us and we must follow the teachings that God is our Lord and I believe in the Source, creator, God . When. Channel. Say I am an instrument of God serving him/ her. I am disappointed that more channelers do not give God credit for being their teacher. Angels and guides and nuns initially channeled. Great spirit is present for all of us. It is complicated. But all of the spiritual teachings and guides are from the God Source.
@lindamutch I don't think God minds who gets the credit. Everything and everyone is a cell of God so it doesn't matter anyway. The only "Thing" that matters is God and Love.
Oh my, I didn't know it , the Bible, was changed to manipulate people! I intuitively knew it's content was inspired, but also written by man! So, for me, I believe my higher self a whole lot more these days!
Oh my that’s what I always think & say the Bible was written by man, so who knows what was embellished & what wasn’t, a lot of the things I heard just seemed to me like fables/stories…honestly I think we are ahead of our time in thinking the way we do, the rest have to catch up…some never will until they pass & see otherwise. That’s my take on things
Indeed. Translated and re-translated, heavily edited, and entire books omitted (e.g., anything about the Goddess / divine feminine, astrology). I remember reading a couple of books back in the 1990s - the Unauthorized Version of the Bible by Robin Fox, and Don't Know Much About the Bible by Kenneth Davis. They really helped to confirm what I'd already suspected. There was one ah-ha moment I recall in particular: The mistranslation of "young" to "virgin..."
Catholic…. I always slept through mass. I’m spiritual not religious. Too rigid and Judgmental. I had no idea what the priest was talking about. I’m happier now😊
@janeebarrett2463 I had someone correct me on a missed apostrophe in comments in another post. I'm sure they do not realize I have arthritis n my eyesight not the best n on a cell phone. ..but they had to comment with a correction. I know proper grammar . I sometimes type in Pennsyltucky slang too. I call it ..poetic justice. Like ...she really needs a new hobby . Ok. Rant over ! 😆 🙄
I was raised Catholic. I felt disappointed and lost faith in organized religion with all the negative things happening as an adult. I never lost my beliefs in God and prayer. I have evolved into being Spiritual and just knowing that God is there for us and that I don’t have to be in a rigid format such as the Catholic Church.
I grew up American Baptist and drank the kool aid. I attended several denominations as an adult and left Christianity about 2018. I can’t, in all good conscience, identify as such, since 2016 with Yrump welcomed as almost the second coming.
Very "Religious" people are Right-wing. Very "Spiritual" people are Left-wing. In my own opinion. So, my experience: My Mother's family were Quaker and Spiritualist, my Father's family were Presbyterian, so my sister and I were raised Wonder Bread bland Methodist. My Mother and Aunties always said: "God is like ice cream, you decide the flavour." So we were exposed to Jehovah's Witnesses, LDS, Agape in the Park (early 60s) and Holy Roller church in Alabama. I converted to Catholicism when I was 20 but kinda float between Church of England and Wicca. I've had a great relationship with my own SGs since I was a baby, I used to chat to them constantly as a child, and they'd tell me things I could not have known otherwise. I chose a hard path for my development, but this Earthly realm is transitory so I keep that in mind when the road is tough and rough. I send out light and healing to anyone who chooses to accept it, as we all have Free Will. Oh Happy Day!! 💜
Hi Karen, once again, I was just thinking of something like this today! I was noticing how my perception of the strong polarities at the moment has evolved over the last few weeks from dark vs light to love vs hate and now to distorted or toxic masculinity vs divine feminine. This has been at play for at least the last 2000 years, with Christianity's tight control and suppression of women. There's been a fear of feminine power which runs deep and goes back far and has been needing to be healed for a very long time... for greater harmony and healing overall. As I write this, I feel the resistance or defences that can be triggered by saying such things, but I truly feel like this is where we are right now, especially with the ugliness that is rearing its head with far right Christian views attempting to take over the U.S. through brainwashing education plans and controlling women's bodies. This is all so appalling, the spotlight being shone on it will hopefully bring change to reject for once and for all 🤞I know your topic was more religion vs spirituality, but I guess it kind of feels the same- religion often has some form of power-over, deferring to an 'in between' /someone other than oneself telling us what Spirit has to say, the message can get lost, distorted, and used for control. Another reason women and their intuition have historically been demonized- because you can't control or have power over such autonomy. And your channel is all about encouraging to trust ourselves, intuition and guides! Big Stuff!! Amazing times we are in!! ✨
I was born Catholic. Until my mother divorced my father, who was a wife and child beating alcoholic. Then we were asked to leave the church, but my father stayed So my mother started sending us to church with the Baptist preachernext-door who got so frustrated at my questions. He finally told me that God didn’t listen to me anyway because I was a Catholic. Organized religion isn’t Christ like.
People who have Near Death Experience and they say they follow the Bible to God’s Angels are shown the Bible and so many pages are blank! Only God’s Words are seen! Not men’s!
I will be 55 in January. My husband thinks Im an athiest because I believe in things he doesn't. If I told him about spirit guides he would say that is voodoo devil stuff. I believe in a higher being,but Im not religious. Religion in America is awful. Religion is blaspemy now. Religion has become politicized. Religion is about fault finding and ostracizing others. I will never step foot in a church again. I'm more of a humanist. I treat people with dignity and respect. I believe in the ten commandments, but I also believe in people being intuitive and believing in psychics would be frowned upon. I follow my gut instinct. I believe in reincarnation. I believe in spirits and ghost.
Spiritual. I find religions are far from the teachings of Christ and honestly can judge others and teach hate. I was raised in a religion that claims to be the true church. And that you need to marry in the temple and strive for the celestial kingdom. The highest heaven. I’m still learning and growing. I was so grateful when I found the writings of Neville Goddard and watching THE SECRET.
Religion to me is organized, but the most popular ones & corrupted. I don't know about Buddhism or Sikh. I am a lapsed Catholic. I have prayed, believe in Guardian Angels & God.
Isn't it interesting that all of us in this community, probably mostly women, all have pretty much the same thoughts/ feelings/ attitude about religion!? I have said my whole life that religion is man-made and therefore has flaws. Once again Karen, you're saying out loud the words I've been saying my whole life! Is it because we're both Sconnies?! 🤭
➡ JOIN THE SPIRIT CIRCLE. We'd loved to have you! 😇
th-cam.com/channels/hZQ-fUtSBM2KRDJvANfKUQ.htmljoin
@@askthespiritguides I joined over the weekend and am excited to see what unfolds for all of us! ❤️
I used to be a Pentecostal. Ya know, the place you go to check your brain at the door. 🙃 One day about 15 years ago nothing was working. I went out to my car at lunch break completely beside myself sad and stressed. I opened You Tube and there on top was a 10 minute meditation. (You know devil stuff 😉.) I said, "Maybe this will calm me down." It worked and I was hooked. The rest is history. During a meditation I heard this, "You won't find me in a book, or a church, or any building, I'm already with you, I always have been." That's when I met God. He's a delightful loving entity. I've taken that path and it's made me a better man. The journey continues. He's a great teacher. Blessings to all.
Very interesting. I was also raised Pentecostal. No dancing no makeup no pants no secular music, no kissing before marriage no race except white no no no no. At the age of 14 I begged to die because I felt I would ultimately sin and be separate from God forever. In early 2000s I discovered Wayne Dwyer, Tony Robbins, Joe Dispenza,and others Today I do not belong to any organized religion. I feel like religion is man made but the soul knows no such boundaries. My family prays for me as they think I am doomed for Hell.😅
I was raised Pentecostal too and it was a weird trip
Beautiful, thank you!! 🙏🏻
The way I see religion “versus“ spirituality is that religion includes a lot of dogma and says I have to believe a certain way or I can’t be at the party. Where is my spirituality teaches me that we are all a spark of God and we have innate knowing. We separate from that knowing at our peril. Not that we are truly in danger, we live again and again, and we learned from each life. But the dogma slows down our progression.
When I met my husband, he was minister at our church, and I was a deacon. We ended up leaving our church due to witnessing internal corruption. But the final straw was when we went to a conference on biblical inerrancy. Meaning, the belief that every word in the Bible is exactly true. Not a metaphor. We met some of the most twisted and confused, judgmental people that we had ever witnessed in our lives. We left mid conference because those people were actually scary to us. And this was a mainstream, Protestant denomination, at the time. Once I discovered Raymond Moody‘s book on life after life as a child, I really felt I always saw the bigger picture after that and it disintegrates fear.
I was raised in an evangelical church. I listened twice a week to the teachings of Jesus and watched the reality of how those teachings played out in today's times. I watched Bible messages warped and twisted, or not applied at all, especially forgiveness and brotherhood. I came to the realization at an early age that God and Religion were two different things. I don't go to church anymore, but I do believe in God. Religion is conforming and confining. Spirituality is limitless.
Religion is organized and has lead to more conflicts than we may realize. Often comes with rules and buildings, where fear is often used to control the population of the congregation. Spirituality is personal connection to that which we may not see, but know intrinsically is present. It’s everywhere we notice the interconnectedness of all energies, and realize there’s so much more in awe, not with fear, but with curiosity and wonder.
Religion is about the messenger, while spirituality is about the message.❤🌟💗
Here you go again…spot on….hitting my feelings on organized religion vs. spirituality! Thanks for having coffee with us!
I listen to Rev Ed Trevors, as well. He's really down to earth.
I grew up hard core Southern Baptist. We were there every time the doors were open. Around age 15 I found my own connection to God/Spirit that guided me (through a Bible verse "Be still and know that I am God.") Too long of a story to share here, but the rest of my life in the denomination was directed by that verse. It helps me to grow spiritually by following my inner guidance/Spirit team. I finally left the Southern Baptists when I realized as a missionary in another country, that I was still there because of fear. I resigned, dropped all the dogma and never looked back. We all have our own path. I have no regrets! It brought me to where I am--spiritual, not religious. Freedom!
I've listened to Rev Ed Trevors a lot myself. He's great and so unlike most pastors I've ever known. He's a breath of fresh air.
Your take on the Bible has been my take when I learned many years ago in a college class that it had been edited multiple times by those in power. Once I knew that I lost trust and decided all anyone really needs to live by is the golden rule … treat others the way you want to be treated.
Yes!!! Ed Trevor is amazing. We hear how bad algorithms are and how it feeds us bad or disinformation and only what we want to hear. I will say I love the things my algorithm has brought to me. The Rev. as well as you, Karen .
I love him❤
Beau sent me to Rev Ed during the pandemic. He has been my favorite. Love him❤
Religion is taught. Spirituality is experienced.
Absolutely true 🙂
@@LouEllermore beautifully said. Thank you
I tried to be religious. I used to go to church and enjoyed the the sense if community. I have always believed in God and Jesus . I found that over the years I felt restricted . I would feel guilty if I laughed at a dirty joke 😬 I started to feel like a fake . I was going through an extremely hard time in my life and all I wanted to do was cry. I would try to smile and act like I had my sh*t together when my life was falling apart. I stopped going to church. I realized that the UNIVERSE offered so much more for my mind and soul. I lost my dad , he was 38 , mom was 65, brother a few years ago . I now experience seeing orbs and get so many signs from Heaven above. Its a whole new world for me and I am loving life so much more . I am so grateful to have found your channel .
Love you, I personally believe our Spirituality is like or finger prints no two are alike, we each have our own individual path to the Creator ♥️♥️♥️♥️🙏🏼
I show my kids what I believe, but I introduce them to all things! I teach them about other cultures and religions.
Just going to say this, my experience with Religion is a lot to unpack. Raised Catholic. Fell away from the church because of the rules, the scandals with the Priests etc. Tried different denominations but nothing stuck with me. Spirituality fits me better.
Spirituality goes beyond religion...for me anyway
I'm spiritual but not religious. To me, Religion is what is handed down to a person vs spirituality is a persons own spiritual connection to the universe and everything around them.
Religion is a history and a set of rules that groups follow. Spirituality is freedom for individual relationships with source.
I am spiritual, not religious! I have been living this way since 1996 or earlier! Before that, I spent a lot of time in religious groups or churches!
I was born into catholicism however I have always seen things a bit different. I agree that there is a time and place for organized religion. In my opinion if you start questioning certain teachings it means it's time to explore other teachings like all things you outgrow religion and you are now being invited to dig deeper
I was born into a kneeling saying the rosary every night catholic family. From just before my teens I found myself pushing back on what I called " the hypocrisy"of organized religion. My siblings and I suffered and witnessed abuse within our family at the hands of my father. I watched my mother reach out for help to the religion she was so invested in to be turned away by them to continue living her and our nightmare. Other situations outside of our family arose within our country bringing to light sexual abuse by clergy and the abhorrant treatment of women who became pregnant outside of marriage. I always believed that there was a power much greater than myself and it was not " man"
I made peace with my dad before he passed for how he was. I know that I have a huge heart and have the capacity to forgive. I don't mean to shock anyone on here nor I am not looking for pity.
Spirituality over religion. I grew up a JW. I was excommunicated when I was 20 years old. I threw out religion. However, I became a theology nerd. 12 years ago I diagnosed with a rare kidney disease. I was so sick I started to pray. I really l liked Jesus, but not his followers. 8 years ago, I started meditating. Now I'm doing a deep dive in Buddhism. Love Rev Ed. I could listen to him every day.
I grew up Catholic but got very clear at the age of 13 that there were too many distortions. Even then I could sense that it was about love, not about evil and hell, and there was no way the loving God I sensed would condemn anyone to an eternity of hell. My whole adult life has been about a spiritual path. I am now 71 and discovered yoga at the age of 17 (at the time I was the only one I knew who did yoga). I began meditation, read many spiritual books and came across channels who spoke my language. I have had many moments when things cleared and I could see the perfection shining through everything. (Even now in this time we're going through.)
To me all religions begin with a seed of truth and then get distorted by the imperfect thinking of humans. And we're all on different stages of our journey and we have to allow those behind us to crawl before they can walk, and walk before they can run. (That is from a beautiful channeling of Jesus I heard many years ago.)
I feel like I could go on and on about this but am trying to keep comments somewhat succinct. It's a great topic and a great question, Karen.
Spiritual journeys are within and each one's journey can only be undertaken by them. Organized religion is about money and control of the masses.
Communion then Confirmation. Our CCD experiences sound very similar. I just couldn't grasp it at that age. Now at 56 I do not subscribe to any organized religion, but I am very spiritual.
Your channel is so refreshing and real. Thank you for your transparency. I think we all have had to deconstruct where we are on our spiritual journey. I no longer consider myself religious but spiritual.❤
So this year Christmas will be different for me, did I decorate yes, I love the cosiness it brings to the early darkness, but honestly I decorated with a winter theme that will stay up thru February. I have a tree small just lights, partly because of my kitty & party because this year the holidays took on a new meaning with everything going on. An I still watching Christmas movies yes, but more because they are more spiritual than Christmas to me, I hope this makes sense.
I think that love is right.
Yes for me living differently now in my spirituality. I’m gratefully going forward with the gift of Jesus and full of excitement in learning, growing, and open to where it leads. It is very freeing to leave religion and judgment behind and look for affirmations in the world we have been given.❤❤❤
I was raised in a religious household too. But I noticed growing up, the most judgmental people would sit in the front row, did a lot unscrupulous actions whether it was personal like affairs or how they ran their business that unfairly affected others and took advantage of people less fortunate. Any faith I had in traditional religion went completely out the door when evangelicals came into power politically in the 1980’s. My desire to be a good person, honest, act in integrity, do good things has nothing to do with religion. It has to do with doing what is right, doing what’s in the best interest and benefits others as well as me. My graduate degree is in Philosophy and Religion. I am interested in studying world religions but I do not need it to make me a better person or to be saved. I have had too many paranormal experiences to not believe in something greater than myself. I am definitely at peace with who I am and my spiritual journey. ❤
Good morning! I think spirituality is how you feel and religion is something organized by man. I’ve always been spiritual but struggled with religion.
I was struggling in my life and was not attending church as regularly as I had been. When one of the leaders told me I was harming my son by not bringing him to church so he could hear the word of Christ. I felt that was very judge and I realized that had been one of my issues with the many churches I had been to in my lifetime…the judgement.
For this one, I have to take us way back to when I was ten years old. I was in church school and an altar boy who rang the bell and snuffed the candles in a robe. My parents around that time had a LARGE argument, when my father found out exactly how much money my mother was donating in the little envelope to the passed plate. My pre-pubescent brain drank in the information that the church was grifting money from its flock.
At that point I had achieved so much in Church school that I had won a Young Readers Bible that broke down the thee's and Thou's and said things in plain English. I read it and it reinforced the fact in my mind that the Bible was a Manners Manual for people of lower intelligence. That combined with the obvious racketeering made organized religion more like organized crime, by age thirteen I had walked away.
Then I saw the Star Wars films and the way of the Jedi intrigued me. Not a commanding God that punished wrongs but a Force in the Universe that depended upon one's own viewpoints of light and dark.
Here I am some forty years later, watching channelers on TH-cam and still espousing the Force. Must be something to it, don't you think?
I wasn't raised with religion (thank God, lol), but I had some religious friends who just kind of frightened me. I think it's just the way they were. I had a friend who was a Christian fanatic. She had to bring Jesus into every conversation. She wore colored beads on her shoelaces symbolizing how we were all born into sin. She insisted on only wearing white cotton underwear because of religion. I think it was the fanaticism that scared me. Now I realize that fanaticism has its own energy. It's like a zombie energy, LOL!
For someone steeped in religious tradition, this can be a loaded question. I was born and raised by Catholics. I attended Catholic school and church every Sunday, until I left home at the age of 21. For me, there is a BIG difference between Spirituality and Religion. Spirituality is believing and connecting directly with higher realms, whereas Religion has dogma which usually says you must go through a priest or minister, that somehow you are too sinful or unworthy of direct connection, and controls through rules and shame. When I left home, I cut out the middle man as I found it too patriarchal, and I was a feminist (I'm 71 now).
I no longer go to a building to worship. It started when my special needs kids made it difficult.
I was raised with my Grandma's religion. I loved worship and learning my Bible. I didn't like rules that the church had that countered what the Bible says.
I have always had a close connection to God, nature and immediate family.
God was there for me when my parents weren't!
Jesus is in almost every room in my house. I focus on the pictures and speak out loud to Jesus and God. I'm not crazy, just close to my higher power and not afraid to show it.
Spiritual Awakening has taken my God-given gifts (intuition, psychic connections, etc...) and expanded them greatly.
Now, I can communicate in a more extended way! I love it!
💕😁💕
I believe spirituality is the personal internalized feelings we experience from our own beliefs. But religiosity is external doctrine frequently interpreted and dictated by others to their followers. My frustration is that all religions create a justification for their existence by fear mongering with rules and consequences instead of internalization of the experience. If people figured out that they could emotionally touch the source and feel that joy without religion then churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples would have no financial gain being "in the business"
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
I'm a recovering catholic. I now believe that I am a soul on a human journey. The....male hierarchical (priests/biblical scholars etc...), lack of believe in reincarnation, a woman's right to choose....all that stuff. There is so much "control of the masses" in religions....telling people how to behave and what to believe. I just couldn't go there anymore. And the really interesting part is that I have an older brother who is a retired catholic priest, and a sister who was a nun for many years until she made her escape....lol. Anyway, thanks for the coffee talk!!
Click. Good morning. Yeah I believe religion is institutionalized vs spirituality is the personal relationship with God and my angels. It is sad so many religions leave out or put certain things in their services to suit their message. Nope, you have to teach the whole thing. My husband and I are trying to find a church that fits us. Until that happens we really enjoy listening to Dr Charles Stanley on Sundays. I sure do miss him. I have to hold true to my faith that their is something better for us. We are going through a bumpy ride right now. I pray everyday for unity. ❤❤❤
Even as a young child attending church every week, sometimes several times a week, it never made sense to me that a loving & just "g0d" would force half of his creations to live subservient to the other half. Nor could I believe such a loving being would be jealous, vengeful or hateful. I never believed any one group could be called the "chosen" or held in esteem over any other, simply due to genetics. Especially now that we're seemingly & helplessly watching "g0d's chosen people" arrogantly & absolutely destroying those they believe to be "less than" or "evil". No one, regardless of genealogy, demographics or genetalia, is above any other.
Spirituality allows you to design your own relationship with God / the Divine / Source, and a way of connecting that resonates with you personally. A specific "organized" religion is almost always fear-based, designed and foisted by others, and doesn't allow as much room for creativity, flexibility, or individuality.
My "fellowship" occurs whenever I encounter another being or creature throughout my day. My "church" is being out in nature. And the "word of God" is in my heart.
Where Angels Walk is 21.99 on Amazon today.
I believe its all the same, and the only difference is peoples perception and understanding of what they both mean.
I include angel figurines in my collection of knick knacks. I look for above average detail and those that are more expressive, and if they are a little bit risqué so much the better. I like perusing the local St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores and others for "finds" which feel more special in that way. btw, my casual observation is that many spiritual new age channelers and teachers were raised as catholic. That is just my anecdotal observation listening to many online.
@mykendom . . . Now that you mention it. . .alot are.
I was baptized as a baby with my twin cousin Presbyterian he is 15 hour's older then me same day. We told my Aunt and Mom at 2 year's old that God's wife Rosa helped us prepare to go to earth and we met each other in heaven, and wanted to be friends on earth. We also told my Aunt at 2 that Grandma said bye bye when she was in the hospital passing away then her Mom called to tell her well I think the kid's just told me before you called lol. Mom just said that they adjusted it to control the masses because people didn't know how to read Latin. A friend told me that Wiccan or witches wasn't the original term that was written in the original Bible the Hebrew Bible. I say the Bible was written basically with the game of telephone like with everything you take the good and leave the bad. I watched the movie where Jesus died on the cross when I was 4 or 5 and didn't forget it, and cried. So I didn't go see the new movie Passion of the Christ when invited with the Church we attended. I would say I came to be spiritual not a specific religion, because all religions have good and bad.
I think there can be a lot of overlap with religion and spirituality, and it's also important to remember that not all religion is "organized". I see religion as being dogmatic, requiring followers to believe in its teachings and also to take actions (or not) based on its teachings. There is usually a leader who is believed to be not only an expert in the subject matter but also having authority and an insider relationship with the divine. I think one can have spiritual experiences in a religious context-- something that feels especially significant, note-worthy, out of the ordinary, seeming to have guidance for the individual that doesn't have to be filtered down through structures of authority. And, of course, spirituality can and does exist very nicely without any of the constructs of religion. I see it as being experiential and often part of a search for meaning and a brush with the divine. The individual is the one who determines whether something has spiritual meaning for themselves, rather than a religion labeling and defining thoughts and experiences.
I believe that religion comes at you from outside of yourself, Spirituality comes from the inside out and is a person’s truth.
I grew up Lutheran, I've had a very difficult time finding a church since I am not conventional. Religion seems very structured and I think spiritual things are the actual relationship to God or whomever you worship.
Good afternoon Miss Karen, I'm new to your channel. Over the past few weeks I'm just now learning about you. I've seen others who have done reading based on religion and I can say that I'm really interested the difference between spirituality vs. religion. I have not subscribed to you yet because I at least want to look at a few more videos and then I will make that decision to subscribe to you. But I want to say just like you and the others who does this profession, thank you so much for keeping us at Bay while we're in tried times. Blessings to you in advance. Amen.
So for me I was never really taught organized religion, my parents had 2 very different religions & they both wanted to be learn each & it was a bit of a struggle there….so I went with neither & was always drawn to things like astrology, angels..stories of angels & unusual positive stories, I used to have the chicken soup for the soul book, loved the ideas of angels on earth helping us wanted so much to believe….& life went on & I forgot about it, then this past year now that both my parents are gone & I felt so alone, I went looking for answers about what was going on in our country & I know believe my guides brought me to all of the readers & spiritual people on TH-cam, funny the way the guides work, personality the one force/ one source resonates with me the most, the one sterling talks about. I love angel stories want to look with that book you showed.
I listen to Ed Trevors. He’s a pastor in Nova Scotia. Church without walls I think is the name of his channel.
I was raised Lutheran which is very similar to Catholicism. It was all about fearing God and being good or you won’t make it to heaven. We were made to go to church every Sunday and Sunday School. I did the whole confirmation and communion thing. But after I got out on my own I never continued going to church because I felt it was forced on me. I never learned about Spirituality or having a relationship with God until my early 50’s. So everything you talked about in this video is pretty much I feel as well.
I heard something once (can’t remember when or who said it) that goes: Man says, “I have an idea about God.” The Devil says, “ Let me organize that for you.” Even though I don’t believe in the devil, this pretty much sums up how I feel about organized religion. It’s fine for some people, but not for me.
Good morning Karen. Had a minor panic attack looking for your message today.
🎉🎉 found you!
I’m extremely spiritual.
Studied religion.
We sent our boys to the little nursery school at the church down the street twice a week when they were 2-5 years old. That is all the church they have been exposed to. I read them Aesop’s fables at night-those life lessons really stuck with them. Now that they are adults, I had them listen to the podcast ‘Where is my mind’. That short podcast was life changing. Check it out. I think you’d enjoy it. Keep up the chats! xo
Thanks for the recommendation!
Religion is a connection to the Source, let's say, mediated by humans, with rules and dogmas. Spirituality is a direct connection between us and Source. This is the way I see it.
Dogma is an excellent word to describe religion!
I was raised as a Protestant in New England.Though I loved singing in the choir and the sense of community there, I never took the dogma seriously. Many years later I became interested in exploring spirituality first by sessions with a medium, then attending conferences, exploring the angelic world. I began to feel energy in my body in listening to meditations. I liked the idea of feeling a connection with the Universe/Source/the Divine without need for an intermediary. I think that’s the distinguishing factor between spirituality and religion.And it can be accessed from anywhere! The idea that the Universe has a plan for all and that we are a tiny speck in this multi-verse is so humbling. I’m hoping to be here still (almost 80) when extra-terrestrial Beings interact openly with us!
But next on my list is connecting with my own Spirit Guides!
Perfect - spirituality cuts out the middle men...
Hello everyone to me people who are spiritual are unhappy with organized religion. I REMEMBER when I was 5 I ask3d the priest about souls when people are reincarnated and being told that was wrong thinking I remember being told in my head that souls come back that's my story karen peace love and joy to all❤ F
I believe the difference, at least for me, is that the different Religions were created by man and include dogmas; which are rules that must be followed to be a good Catholic, Lutheran, etc. There were consequences to not following those rules. The religions I was part of were (for me) very judgemental. I remember going to Lutheran Catechism. The preacher claimed everyone but Lutherans were going to Hell. I remember thinking: that can't be right. My girlfriend, Sandy was Methodist and she wasn't going to Hell. Long story short: I tried many different religions but they all left me knowing they weren't for me. Although, I do love the ceremony in the Catholic Church and, the Saints. Spirituality is not judgemental. It is focused on growth, acceptance and oneness. That's what it is about. Being One with Spirit.
I saw a picture when I was a very young girl at a museum. It was a painting of people in a circle with spoons coming out of their chest. The spoons were full of food but the people could not reach it. The first picture was a bunch of people turned slightly to the right and they were eating off of their neighbor's spoons. The second picture was the same the only difference was the people were starving and we're trying to get at the food on their own spoons. The only difference between heaven and hell is sharing. I think that is my religion. PS it is not the story of the long spoons which was a bastardization of the older story.
I also love Father David.
Karen , your mom was proven wrong the moment she crossed over . Hallelujah 😊
To me religion follows rituals and formality and usually includes a guidebook of laws, whereas spirituality connects us directly to the spirit world without needing any of that.
My mother grew up catholic, married very young (under 18), stopped going to church except for Christmas and Easter until I was pre-teen/early teen. She shared/taught me some of the religion, but allowed me and my sibling to basically choose our own faith. I’m her first born and I remember from a very early age asking her a ton of questions to understand religion and having a sense that there was much that was man-made bs. So much just did not resonate. I’m certain this had an impact on my mother and allowed her to separate from the toxic messaging she received growing up. Talk to me all day long about spirituality (angels, masters, spirit guides, etc) and that makes all the sense in the world to me. I’m grateful I was not raised on a specific religion, but it was a challenge for me at times in a country that is predominantly catholic/christian because I felt a little lost or an outsider and often questioned myself and my beliefs. It wasn’t until a few years after I had a family that I began to really feel confident about my choices/feelings about God/religion/spirituality. Over the years I have learned about all sorts of religions and it’s always been such a fascinating topic. I think I’m really drawn to the psychology aspect of it. It’s like a good old fashioned soap opera / telenovela! 😂
For sure .. love the thought of "Telenovela's"
Goodness! I started reading the recommended book on Spirit Guides, but the author (whose name I've forgotten) repeatedly referenced her other book, The Only Prayer You Need. Suddenly puzzle pieces started falling into places!
As I mentioned before, I'm a retired clergy person from a mainline Christian denomination indoctrinated by Christian Evangelical ideas and thoughts. But there has always been a dissonance within my mind. I have always been attracted to the mystics and contemplative writers whose understanding of God went beyond the elderly, white-robed, Caucasian image so well-loved by Evangelical Christianity. What if ...?Long story shortened, I have always been a contemplative and a mystic. I'm claiming that identity now. (Is it a coincidence that two of my Spirit Guides' names mean "God" or "Holy Spirit in other languages? I think not!)
As retired clergy, I promoted religion. As a soul in human form, what I was hungering for was spirituality. Wow. My mind has exploded!
Sorry this is so long and rambling, but you all are my tribe/people now.
Blessings ❤
I was raised Catholic by Dem. Parents. I'm spiritual, not religious.
The Bible can be comfort yes but I think primarily it is to keep us “on track” if that makes sense. Our earthly bodies are sinful so if we have something that “ helps us be more accountable “ I think that’s the idea. I was brought up catholic cause my father’s family is catholic but my mother’s family is Jehovahs Witness. Early on she dropped us off at the Baptist church ( me and my brother) and told us we could choose our faith. I was baptized in the Baptist church at age 12 and was there every time the doors opened. I raised my girls there.
Communion, little 1st graders wear little white dresses
Organized religion was needed when we humans had no control or vision of a future. The majority of the Bibles we see today have writings from Paul. Paul was persecuting christians when he met Jesus in Damascus. However, Paul was never an apostle. Paul did not like women or children and believed that men were born to rule, as long as the man had money, he had power. Religion comes from a book. My grandmother told me once, "I believe in God" not this book. Spirituality is what we are born with, this is our guide from our first breath to our last. Spirituality is knowing that there is more to this life and to each individual's life. We are like notes on a piano, each with our own sound. When we are awakened, collectively humans will create the greatest song the universe will ever hear. Much Love.
I was raised a Protestant Christian. I wrote a letter to my kids apologizing for not giving them a basic understanding that Jesus Christ died for us and we must follow the teachings that God is our Lord and I believe in the Source, creator, God . When. Channel. Say I am an instrument of God
serving him/ her.
I am disappointed that more channelers do not give God credit for being their teacher.
Angels and guides and nuns initially channeled.
Great spirit is present for all of us. It is complicated. But all of the spiritual teachings and guides are from the God Source.
@lindamutch I don't think God minds who gets the credit. Everything and everyone is a cell of God so it doesn't matter anyway. The only "Thing" that matters is God and Love.
Oh my, I didn't know it , the Bible, was changed to manipulate people! I intuitively knew it's content was inspired, but also written by man! So, for me, I believe my higher self a whole lot more these days!
Oh my that’s what I always think & say the Bible was written by man, so who knows what was embellished & what wasn’t, a lot of the things I heard just seemed to me like fables/stories…honestly I think we are ahead of our time in thinking the way we do, the rest have to catch up…some never will until they pass & see otherwise. That’s my take on things
Indeed. Translated and re-translated, heavily edited, and entire books omitted (e.g., anything about the Goddess / divine feminine, astrology). I remember reading a couple of books back in the 1990s - the Unauthorized Version of the Bible by Robin Fox, and Don't Know Much About the Bible by Kenneth Davis. They really helped to confirm what I'd already suspected. There was one ah-ha moment I recall in particular: The mistranslation of "young" to "virgin..."
@@pamelakurp thank you!
Catholic…. I always slept through mass. I’m spiritual not religious. Too rigid and Judgmental. I had no idea what the priest was talking about. I’m happier now😊
Spirituality all the way !
Now.. how does everyone feel about people correcting their grammar ? 😅
@deborahfleeson7952 I don't think the Universe worries abot poor grammer. It's about the Love you put out and live in.
@janeebarrett2463 I had someone correct me on a missed apostrophe in comments in another post. I'm sure they do not realize I have arthritis n my eyesight not the best n on a cell phone. ..but they had to comment with a correction. I know proper grammar . I sometimes type in Pennsyltucky slang too. I call it ..poetic justice. Like ...she really needs a new hobby . Ok. Rant over ! 😆 🙄
I was raised Catholic. I felt disappointed and lost faith in organized religion with all the negative things happening as an adult.
I never lost my beliefs in God and prayer. I have evolved into being Spiritual and just knowing that God is there for us and that I don’t have to be in a rigid format such as the Catholic Church.
I grew up American Baptist and drank the kool aid. I attended several denominations as an adult and left Christianity about 2018. I can’t, in all good conscience, identify as such, since 2016 with Yrump welcomed as almost the second coming.
I feel spiritual is more individual / yourself learning and religion feels more like going to church being in group setting ?
In my experience, religion is an attempt to codify and control the practice of spirituality.
Very "Religious" people are Right-wing. Very "Spiritual" people are Left-wing. In my own opinion.
So, my experience: My Mother's family were Quaker and Spiritualist, my Father's family were Presbyterian, so my sister and I were raised Wonder Bread bland Methodist. My Mother and Aunties always said: "God is like ice cream, you decide the flavour." So we were exposed to Jehovah's Witnesses, LDS, Agape in the Park (early 60s) and Holy Roller church in Alabama. I converted to Catholicism when I was 20 but kinda float between Church of England and Wicca. I've had a great relationship with my own SGs since I was a baby, I used to chat to them constantly as a child, and they'd tell me things I could not have known otherwise. I chose a hard path for my development, but this Earthly realm is transitory so I keep that in mind when the road is tough and rough. I send out light and healing to anyone who chooses to accept it, as we all have Free Will. Oh Happy Day!! 💜
Hi Karen, once again, I was just thinking of something like this today! I was noticing how my perception of the strong polarities at the moment has evolved over the last few weeks from dark vs light to love vs hate and now to distorted or toxic masculinity vs divine feminine. This has been at play for at least the last 2000 years, with Christianity's tight control and suppression of women. There's been a fear of feminine power which runs deep and goes back far and has been needing to be healed for a very long time... for greater harmony and healing overall. As I write this, I feel the resistance or defences that can be triggered by saying such things, but I truly feel like this is where we are right now, especially with the ugliness that is rearing its head with far right Christian views attempting to take over the U.S. through brainwashing education plans and controlling women's bodies. This is all so appalling, the spotlight being shone on it will hopefully bring change to reject for once and for all 🤞I know your topic was more religion vs spirituality, but I guess it kind of feels the same- religion often has some form of power-over, deferring to an 'in between' /someone other than oneself telling us what Spirit has to say, the message can get lost, distorted, and used for control. Another reason women and their intuition have historically been demonized- because you can't control or have power over such autonomy. And your channel is all about encouraging to trust ourselves, intuition and guides! Big Stuff!! Amazing times we are in!! ✨
Oh yes, he (pastorTreavors)is a thinking Christian not a bamboozeled automaton.
I was born Catholic. Until my mother divorced my father, who was a wife and child beating alcoholic. Then we were asked to leave the church, but my father stayed So my mother started sending us to church with the Baptist preachernext-door who got so frustrated at my questions. He finally told me that God didn’t listen to me anyway because I was a Catholic. Organized religion isn’t Christ like.
People who have Near Death Experience and they say they follow the Bible to God’s Angels are shown the Bible and so many pages are blank! Only God’s Words are seen! Not men’s!
Isn't it sad when you want to talk to someone but you only have 2-3 people or maybe one to call? Lol
Did you sleep better last night after the portal opening was closed?
I will be 55 in January. My husband thinks Im an athiest because I believe in things he doesn't. If I told him about spirit guides he would say that is voodoo devil stuff. I believe in a higher being,but Im not religious. Religion in America is awful. Religion is blaspemy now. Religion has become politicized. Religion is about fault finding and ostracizing others. I will never step foot in a church again. I'm more of a humanist. I treat people with dignity and respect. I believe in the ten commandments, but I also believe in people being intuitive and believing in psychics would be frowned upon. I follow my gut instinct. I believe in reincarnation. I believe in spirits and ghost.
Spiritual. I find religions are far from the teachings of Christ and honestly can judge others and teach hate. I was raised in a religion that claims to be the true church. And that you need to marry in the temple and strive for the celestial kingdom. The highest heaven.
I’m still learning and growing. I was so grateful when I found the writings of Neville Goddard and watching THE SECRET.
Religion to me is organized, but the most popular ones & corrupted. I don't know about Buddhism or Sikh. I am a lapsed Catholic. I have prayed, believe in Guardian Angels & God.
Isn't it interesting that all of us in this community, probably mostly women, all have pretty much the same thoughts/ feelings/ attitude about religion!? I have said my whole life that religion is man-made and therefore has flaws. Once again Karen, you're saying out loud the words I've been saying my whole life! Is it because we're both Sconnies?! 🤭
James Telarico?