Phillipe Copeland asks on his thoughtful blog Bahá'í Thought:
Are spirituality and religion different?
My comment:
True religion would, by definition, be created by God, established--as history has shown--by those unique Individuals, the Universal Educators, the likes of Moses, Buddha, Krishna, Christ, Muhammad, the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh. On the subject of religion, 'Abdu'l-Bahá says:
If religion, then, constitutes God's Teachings, what is "spirituality" but a human invention motivated by personal desire and interest? As to the Divine Teachers, He says,
The teachings of God are the source of illumination to the people of the world. Religion is ever constructive not destructive.
If religion, then, constitutes God's Teachings, what is "spirituality" but a human invention motivated by personal desire and interest? As to the Divine Teachers, He says,
All...have served the world of humanity. All have summoned souls to peace and accord. All have proclaimed the virtues of humanity. All have guided souls to the attainment of perfections.
What of spirituality? Does it necessarily call a person to serve humanity? Does it "summon" souls to peace and accord? "Proclaim" the virtues of humanity? "Guide" souls to perfection? Not as far as I know.
Religion is described as a "bond" whose purpose is to unify mankind and create love and agreement. This contrasts sharply with the characteristics given by Shoghi Effendi of what he describes as today's "decadent society", among whose traits are:
...the unquenchable thirst for, and the feverish pursuit, after earthly vanities, riches and pleasures;... the lapse into luxurious indulgence; the irresponsible attitude towards marriage and the consequent rising tide of divorce; the degeneracy of art and music, the infection of literature, and the corruption of the press...
Could "spirituality" function as an antidote to such (or similar) evils as these? Could religion?
The question will return us to 'Abdu'l-Bahá's words on the matter:
The real bond of integrity is religious in character, for religion indicates the oneness of the world of humanity. Religion serves the world of morality. Religion purifies the hearts. Religion impels men to achieve praiseworthy deeds. Religion becomes the cause of love in human hearts, for religion is a divine foundation, the foundation ever conducive to life... Religion is ever constructive not destructive.
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