Contrast
Does Not Necessarily Lead to Opposition
But
a saner evaluation of the topic under discussion may lead us to also
put forth the idea that there is really no conflict between
spirituality
and religion although
they are different. In fact we may even discover that they help each
other in furthering personal growth. In this post I would like to say
that genuine religion leads to spirituality.
Religion
Is Preparatory to Spirituality
Religion
is basically the attempt of human beings to reach God. To do this
they learn who God is and what he has done, they examine the proper
human conduct before this God, and they offer to God what they think
is due him. In this way they think that they please God and are able
to get his favor for their needs and requests.
When
religion is practiced faithfully there comes a time when a person
realizes that what he is doing does not add anything to the nature of
God, that he cannot really please God by his own effort, that no
matter how much he tries he falls short of rendering to God what is
his due. When this realization comes to a person's life it dawns on
him that life is meaningless if he continues to strive to please God
and to do God a favor. Life becomes meaningless because there is no
point in trying to please God who can not really be pleased by what
we do. He is far more worthy than whatever we can do for him.
This
is the time when such a person humbly tells God that whatever he may
do for him is useless because he is worth more than whatever can be
done for him either by learning more about him, following his laws,
and worshiping him. He knows now that religion is ultimately useless
in his attempt to reach God.
In
this sense religion is preparatory to spirituality. Genuine religion
leads a person to the realization that God cannot be pleased by what
we think, say or do. This is because God is more worthy than whatever
homage we may give him. And he demands more than what we can do for
him.
Genuine
Religion Leads to Spirituality
The task therefore of genuine religion is to lead us to
spirituality. It is like a servant who conducts the child to the
teachers in school. Once the child is in the presence of the teachers
the task of the servant is over. In the same way religion conducts us
to spirituality, a state of life wherein we realize our impotence
before God and therefore we communicate with him as with a friend.
Once we are in the realm of the spirit and are living in a truly
spiritual way the task of religion is over.
I like that first line in the last stanza of the hymn
“Lord Who at Your First Eucharist Did Pray”, written by William
H. Turton in 1881. It says “So, Lord, at length when
sacraments shall cease”. Turton obviously was referring to the life
in heaven when we shall see God face to face without the need of
symbols. Sacraments are part of religion. In heaven there will be no
sacraments. There will be no need for religion. Some on earth have
anticipated that state in heaven when we will have no need of
religion. They live out a spirituality without religion. But it was
religion which brought them to this state of spirituality. It was
religion who led them to spirituality. Hence it is not a case of
spirituality vs religion but religion leading to spirituality.
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