What is the difference between Religion and Spirituality?

Spirituality is just a more general term that includes religion. There Are some people who belong to a religion but are not spiritual. Religion is just something they choose to do, a social activity. But a spiritual religious person would say they are not really part of that religion. They are just pretenders going through the motions. So apart from pretenders, religion is a subset of spiritual. Religion is structured spirituality, a structured spiritual belief system. Spirituality is just belief in an unseen world, a spirit world that has spirits in it. The belief of characteristics of that spirit world are part of religion. A spiritual person can have specific beliefs but no religion. But those specific beliefs, for example in reincarnation or Karma, are part of a religious system. The spiritual person, without a religion, borrows beliefs from different religions. This does not sound flattering, but it is an accurate description. Religion at its best is spirituality in community, as quoted. But spirituality at it's best is also in community. Human beings are social creatures. Religious beliefs are part of the human condition and therefore part of every culture and every society or civilization. Human beings develop language that includes religious/spiritual concepts. Language is a social device. Spirituality which includes religion is a social device. Even in solitude, spirituality is an "I and Thou" experience. What we consider to be spirituality without religion, is usually a more open, accepting, non-judgmental belief system, but this is likely because it is not structured. To be non structured is to be more inclusive. Spirituality is a general term, therefore, more inclusive, more encompassing.

The definition you give is the sort of definition used by people who recognize religions are generally bad, but still want to believe in something.

Spirituality is a belief that there is something beyond the physical world and that there is a greater purpose to the universe. Religion is just an organization and doctrine built around those spiritual beliefs.

Religion must be acquired, and is thereby culturally induced into the ideas of individuals

who would not otherwise, or innately, have been aware of it at all.

Spirituality is innate and inherent at the moment of ones' birth, and some would argue, within the womb as well.

Whereas ‘Spirituality’ (a sense of God, or ones' Creator)

is already a part of ones' life from the moment they enter the World ... religion, very simply, is not

Well, pagans are spiritual. Christmas is a pagan festivity. So if you travel to Sweden, or the laplands you see the reindeers, but it doesn't represent the nativity of Christ, who is present in all religions. It's just a pagan festivity. In practice, you believe in magic stuff, like love, positive emotions, and you may philosophise about these positive emotions, but not necessarily turn them into a set of rules for anyone to follow. It's something you feel by yourself. I think spirituality is more like philosophy and thinking about death, whereas religion is more like collective rules and it is more 'institutionalised', which makes it look very "political" in a way, and I believe its fascination too.

Religions are all con man made up profit making organizations first and foremost!!! Lies and make believe plus expecting money in return has no place in helping real needy humans!!! Yet you have all fallen for the con, when has any god or devil been seen by many people at once!!! NEVER!!! Gods and devils mare just personal beliefs nothing to do with reality!!! No actual gods or devils exist anywhere outside of any ones religiously inculcated minds!!! Just know it because too many religious beliefs rots the brain!!!

Well,first of all religion can not save a person, it's mostly who set up rules that them themselves cannot follow and demand it from others. Spiritual, is when you received the gift from God the one that is promised by Jesus Christ.

I know what religion is.

I do not know what spirituality is on the grounds I have no idea what a 'spirit' is.

There is a difference only in the perception of the person. The reality is there is no thought that does not have its source in either God or Satan, so all actions will be from what thoughts you hold dear to allow to grow into actions. We are workers either for God or for Satan, there is no third choice.

Religion, the laws of God, is supposed to help us become aware of our spiritual identity

Like to laws of a country should help us to become and be good citizens , without law it would be chaos

I am a spiritual person.....but not a believer in any religion or a divine entity.....that's the difference.....Mo Atheist