Many people believe that there’s no difference between spiritual vs religious person. But that’s a wrong take because even though they revolve around “believing” something, their essence is pretty different.
So, let’s keep reading to know the differences between a spiritual and a religious person!
Spiritual vs Religious Person – 15 Major Differences
Some people use the terms “spiritual” and “religious” interchangeably. And then some cite themselves as “spiritual, but not religious.” That’s when most people feel curious about how the two are different.
Now, if you want to know the major differences in a quick glance, then simply refer to the chart below!
| POINT OF DIFFERENCE | SPIRITUAL PERSON | RELIGIOUS PERSON |
| 1. Beliefs of the person | They believe in compassion toward others | They believe in the judgment of themselves |
| 2. The focus point of the person | They focus more on the teachings | They focus more on the preacher |
| 3. Fear of judgment from others | They don’t care about judgment | They sometimes get affected by judgment |
| 4. Confidence in themself | They are confident in themself | They end up listening to books and external advice |
| 5. Set of beliefs | Their set of beliefs is not always well-defined | Their set of beliefs is almost always well-defined |
| 6. Viewpoints of looking at things | They have subjective views | They have objective views |
| 7. Praying habits | They don’t pray to a deity | They pray to one or more almighty |
| 8. Going against norms | They can go against religious norms | They never go against religious norms |
| 9. The approach taken | They take an evolutionary approach | They take a traditional approach |
| 10. Connection with the divine | They have an individualistic connection with the divine | They have a group-based connection with the divine |
| 11. Connection with others | They consider everyone as one | They consider boundaries among people |
| 12. Feelings toward the belief | They have feelings of love | They have feelings of fear |
| 13. Origin of faith | They know that it has originated naturally | They know it originated from a founder |
| 14. Openness toward others | They’re open-minded | They may be narrow-minded |
| 15. Willingness to progress | They are willing to progress | They might not always be willing to progress |
However, if you do have some time on your hands, then it’s best to dive deeper and fully grasp the differences between the two!
1. A spiritual person believes in compassion toward others. A religious person believes in the judgment of themself
One of the most significant differences between someone spiritual and someone religious is the kind of belief that each has.
When someone is deeply spiritual, they will always put others before themselves and practice compassion.
But if they are deeply religious, they will tend to judge themselves more.
2. A spiritual person focuses on the teachings. A religious person focuses on the preacher
Spirituality is often based on the practical applications of the person who founded the religion.
When someone is spiritual, they will focus less on the person who founded the religion and more on the teachings.
By contrast, a religious person also takes the teachings of the founder quite literally. But they’ll also focus on the preacher’s lifestyle and habits as the ultimate way to life.
3. A spiritual person doesn’t focus on others’ judgment. A religious person is scared of judgment
One of the biggest qualities of a spiritual person is that they will hardly pay any heed to what other people say. Even if they know that others have a different opinion, they will respect it and do things their way.
But a religious person can often be scared of what others might think of them.
4. A spiritual person listens to themself. A religious person will listen to books and others
A spiritual person knows the true meaning behind what preachers and religious founders have said for years. Therefore, they will always prioritize their inner voice and conscience.
But a religious person, scared of God, might blindly turn to books or go with external advice even when their gut tells them something else.
5. A spiritual person follows no well-defined rules. A religious person follows a well-defined set of beliefs
Since spirituality can’t be defined in simple terms, it doesn’t have any well-established set of rules. However, a spiritual person will still show kindness, compassion, and love toward others.
On the other hand, religious people always follow a particular routine with a definite set of beliefs.
6. A spiritual person experiences things subjectively. A religious person experiences things objectively
Here again, spirituality is defined by different people in different ways. So, there isn’t any one specific way in which a spiritual person will experience a certain event.
However, a religious person will look at things more objectively and come to a specific conclusion.
7. A spiritual person does not have a deity to pray to. A religious person prays to some Almighty
When it comes to spirituality, a spiritual person doesn’t need any specific religious place to collect their thoughts.
But almost all religions have their places of worship and specific deities to pray to. For example, Hinduism has temples, Christianity has churches, and Islam has mosques.
8. A spiritual person might go against religious norms. A religious person won’t go against those norms
A spiritual person is willing to go against the norms of religion or people when they think that is right. They run purely on their conscience and the principles of their faith.
But a religious person might be too afraid to go against the teachings of the founder.
9. A spiritual person takes an evolutionary approach. A religious person will take a traditional approach
Since spirituality is free-flowing, it does not have any fixed forms of approach. Different people can take different approaches to a single principle based on their perspectives.
But when it comes to religion, most people follow the same customs and traditions that have been going on for ages.
10. A spiritual person takes an individualistic viewpoint. A religious person takes a group-based viewpoint
Spirituality is essentially an experience of the divine, but it is done in an individual approach. A spiritual person will concentrate only on their soul and see how it merges with the divine.
On the other hand, a religious person will want to experience the presence of divine power with a group of similar people.
11. A spiritual person looks at others as one entity. A religious person looks at different people in different ways
No matter how spiritual someone is, they will always look at people, or even the world, in a shapeless and formless way. For them, everyone is a part of the same higher consciousness.
However, a religious person who is rigorous in their beliefs might not accept another religion’s views.
12. A spiritual person loves what they believe. A religious person is afraid of what they believe
At the core of it all, it all comes down to what each individual feels about their faith. In most cases, you will find that spiritual people love the faith that they believe in. They follow it by staying true to their heart.
However, many religious people often follow daily rituals and customs simply because they are too afraid of doing otherwise.
13. A spiritual person knows that spirituality is natural. A religious person knows that religion is man-made
Spirituality is more than just believing in the divine consciousness. A person who is truly spiritual understands that it hasn’t been made by any man. It is purely natural and formless.
Religion, on the other hand, is often founded by an inspirational leader or powerful figure or preacher, which evolved through the years.
14. A spiritual person is open-minded. A religious person might be narrow-minded at times
You might also see that a spiritual person is far more open-minded than a religious person. This is because someone who strongly believes in spirituality will understand the importance of loving people equally.
But someone who is religious can often look at only their viewpoints and not those of others.
15. A spiritual person is willing to change. A religious person might not wish to progress
As already mentioned, spirituality is not a faith set in stone. Therefore, spiritual people know that it is important to progress and evolve along with their faith. They are willing to accept change.
But when it comes to religious people, they would prefer to follow traditions and approaches that were relevant decades back.
A word from TheMindFool
Based on these major differences, you can easily spot between a spiritual and a religious person. Now, you can choose which path is for you based on these details.
Lastly, remember to respect both kinds of people equally, even if you believe in only one!
