What's the difference between a religious, a philosophical, and a spiritual thought?

[ZombieHorde]

A religious person may think, "Jesus Christ wants me to help others in need."

A philosophical person may think, "Helping others in need will make me a happier person."

Obviously, a person can be both religious and philosophical, and think both thoughts at once.

What is the spiritual equivalent? Is spiritual just another word for religion and philosophy? What do people mean when they describe themselves as spiritual?

[tama]

1. Many things I guess

One possible meaning is other "material"/physical/bodily levels besides the classical 3D objects. Fields, vibrations, sensual stuff that can be felt.

IMO it's rather silly and fluffy word in the current use, to distinguish from equally silly "matter" and to make unnecessary and misguiding distinctions. The origin is Latin for 'breath', so maybe people feel "spiritual" when we breath deeply and calmly, meditative breathing being literally "spiritual work".

[rug]

2. Here's my answer.

A religious thought references an organized religion of some sort, organized around a set of beliefs in a divinity or divinities.

A philosophical thought considers logical or natural implications that flow from other thoughts or observations without a necessary reference to a divinity.

A spiritual thought concerns nonmaterial existence which needn't require an organized set of religious beliefs or a supreme being(s).

[ZombieHorde]

5. So, spirituality, devoid of religion, is like having your own personal religion? nt

[rug]

12. No, the nature of religion is communal.

[ZombieHorde]

13. I am not sure I understand.

Couldn't a hermit belong to a religion? Or are you thinking the hermit would still be using the communally created trappings; e.g., the holy book(s), sacred songs, prayer methods, etc.?

[rug]

16. If he subscribed to those objective beliefs and practices held by others, he would.

Otherwise he would be pursuing his individual spiritual path, which may or may not have anything to do with a religion or even a deity.

IMHO.

On edit: An apt example would be to compare St. Anthony of the desert with Thoreau.

[Starboard Tack]

3. What if helping those in need just seems like the natural thing to do?

The first two have strings attached. Maybe true altruism emanates from one's spiritual self, with no brain function needed apart from determining someone's need for help.

[ZombieHorde]

6. I have witnessed my own children do both helpful and harmful acts that just seemed natural.

I consider it part of the learning process.

Maybe true altruism emanates from one's spiritual self, with no brain function needed apart from determining someone's need for help.

That is what Lao Tzu says in the Tao De Ching.

[Starboard Tack]

11. Really? I guess great minds think alike. LOL

I think children are just figuring out what helps and what harms. As you say it's part of the learning process. I think karma is part of that process.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

4. That's a really good question, and I think individual answers will depend on the person's views

For me, religious and spiritual are the same thing, but I don't consider myself either, so my POV isn't correct for someone with a different belief structure.

What about taking the question a step further and add "scientific thought" to the mix? For example, one may help others in need because of an evolutionary trait to do so rather than something that is religiously or philosophically motivated. The religious or philosophical reason is simply the justification used by a person (because who says "I'm going to be a nice person because I've been programmed by natural selection to be that way"?).

[ZombieHorde]

7. Scientifically speaking, we know those who are desperate are more likely so commit crimes,

so making people less desperate reduces crime.

Are we programmed by natural selection, or are we modeling the kindness shown to us by our mothers? I think those who have been abused are significantly more likely to be abusive.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

8. But, is the kindness shown to us by our mothers also a product of natural selection?

I really don't know, because there are so many abusive parents out there that continue to reproduce. Sometimes, it seems as if the least capable people are the ones that reproduce the most.

[ZombieHorde]

9. Education generally reduces both number of children, and likelyhood to commit

violent crimes. So that is probably a part of the equation.

[Thats my opinion]

10. They are all sister with the same parentage. nt

[GliderGuider]

14. My take on the differences

"Religion" is an organized social structure.
"Philosophy" is centered around logic.
"Spirituality" is a bit of grab-bag, but IME has to do with the personal experience of the self in a non-material context.

A person who does not belong to (or at least self-identify with) a religion by definition cannot have a "religious thought". They can think about religion, but that ain't the same thing. IMO only religious people can have religious thoughts - thoughts motivated by the precepts of their religion.

Anyone can have philosophical thoughts.

Most people may be able to have spiritual thoughts, but religious people usually find their thinking shaped by the teachings of their religion. Materialists find it very hard to have spiritual thoughts because of that "non-material context" business. Philosophers find it easier to have spiritual thoughts if they are so inclined. Not all philosophers are spiritual, but in my experience most spiritual people are philosophical to some degree.

Most religions have a spiritual division. It's called mysticsm. The difference between a mystic and an "ordinary" religious person is that mystics get their sense of the divine from direct personal experience rather than from scriptural teachings. Christianity has plenty of mystics - Meister Eckhart, Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross are examples. Islam's mystics are the Sufis. Hindu mystics tend to gravitate to teachings known as Advaita.

A spiritual person might be inclined to have a thought like, "Helping others will be good for my karma." Or they might not - there are no rules in this domain.

[Thats my opinion]

15. To limit religious thought to those part of an institution is far too narrow.

There are lots of people with religious sensitivities and profound religious concepts who are part of no religious institution. We all can think about lots of things without being part of their institutionalization.

[GliderGuider]

17. I'd usually categorize such thoughts as as spiritual rather than religious

As I said, for me "religious thoughts" are motivated by the precepts of a religion, which is highly unlikely unless one is a member of, or self-identifies as a member of that religion. For example, how many Christians normally have Jainist or Islamic religious thoughts?

[FarCenter]

18. Spritual -- the person is in need, but it is only an illusion

Theologian -- the person is in need, but it must be so to make it the best of all worlds.