What is the difference between Religion and Spiritualism ?

I am an agno-myast

and i believe,

both religion and spirituality deal with the exploration of the existential truth

and the only difference between them is that

the spirituality search for the truth by exploring the consciousness in an independent way,

whereas the religion give emphasis on a well defined way to do the same.

Spiritualism is a noun and means

1. the belief or doctrine that the spirits of the dead, surviving after the mortal life, can and do communicate with the living, especially through a person (a medium) particularly susceptible to their influence.

2. the practices or phenomena associated with this belief.

3. the belief that all reality is spiritual.

4. Metaphysics . any of various doctrines maintaining that the ultimate reality is spirit or mind.

5. spiritual quality or tendency.

Religion is also a noun but means

1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.

3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.

4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.

5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.

Religions adhere to a set of agreed upon precepts. You must agree to what has been laid out for you or find another religion.

Spirituality has no rules imposed upon it. YOu reason it out for yourself.

the difference between the two in application? Vast. Religious people are arrogant, mean, tyrannical, and dictatorial. They think that they are better than the other groups. Spiritual people say things like "Harm none, then do as you will"

Religion is an institution established by man for various reasons. Exert control, instill morality, stroke egos, or whatever it does. Organized, structured religions all but remove god from the equation. You confess your sins to a clergy member, go to elaborate churches to worship, told what to pray and when to pray it. All those factors remove you from god.

Spirituality is born in a person and develops in the person. It may be kick started by a religion, or it may be kick started by a revelation. Spirituality extends to all facets of a person’s life. Spirituality is chosen while religion is often times forced. Being spiritual to me is more important and better than being religious.

True spirituality is something that is found deep within oneself. It is your way of loving, accepting and relating to the world and people around you. It cannot be found in a church or by believing in a certain way.

Not at all. I don't know what 'spiritualism' means, but spirituality, which is experiential, is very different from religion, which is based of doctrine. If I taught you how to meditate and tell you, 'you will feell 'this' and 'that'', it is to be expected and experiential in the here and now; which is different than telling you to worship 'this' and do it like I tell you will experience 'this' after you die.

You can be spiritually orientated and follow multiple religious faiths and spiritual disciplines, without having a label attacted to it. This short video explains the difference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTpPDH93J3Q

Religion is about belief and worship, and spiritualism is about the experience that you get from religion. But yeah, pretty much the same thing. I don't have much of either.

Others are confusing Spiritualism with spirituality in this question.

Spiritualism is a religion, thus there is no difference: Spiritualism is a subset of religion.

Religion implies a dogma, tradition, and culture. Spiritualism is the sort of pseudophilosophy that makes up the rest of religion.

Religion is a group with specific beliefs however spiritualism is more about how you feel. Someone who is an athiest for exampl (no religion) cand still be spiritual in there emotions and feelings :)

Religion is when you have committed your life to your god. When someone says they are spiritual, it's because they are afraid of commitment and sacrifice.