Final answer:
Spirituality involves personal beliefs and perceptions regarding a connection with the natural and supernatural, while religion is a structured system of beliefs, practices, and rituals related to sacred concepts, typically within an institutional framework.
Step-by-step explanation:
Difference Between Spirituality and Religion:
The terms spirituality and religion often get used interchangeably, but they encapsulate distinct concepts. Religion, as described by sociologist Émile Durkheim, is "a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things" which forms a moral community or a church. It is usually structured and encompasses beliefs, values, rituals like bar mitzvah or confession of sins, and often a connection to the supernatural or divine beings.
Spirituality, in contrast, is more about personal beliefs and experiences. It pertains to an individual’s perception of their relationship with the natural and supernatural worlds. Spirituality is adaptable, infusing one’s actions and thoughts with a sense of a deeper meaning or connection that isn’t confined to a specific set of beliefs or practices. A 2017 study by Pew Research Center found a rise in Americans identifying as 'spiritual but not religious,' highlighting the fluid nature of spirituality.
Religion tends to thrives within institutions and offers a collective experience of the divine and provides concrete answers to existential questions and emotional comfort through rituals. Spirituality, while it can also offer comfort and meaning, is typically a more individual and less formalized pursuit of understanding one’s place within the cosmos. Anthropological studies underscore the diversity in how both religion and spirituality are expressed across different cultures and societies.