Religion vs. Spirituality
"Religion involves creeds and catechisms. Spirituality involves feelings and experiences that transcend mere words. Religion is imitative and comes from without; spirituality comes from within; spirituality comes from "my strength, hope and experience." Religion is "left-brain"-it is rooted in words, sacred texts, and culture. Spirituality is "right-brain"; it transcends the boundaries of body, language, reason, and culture...Most religious beliefs involve dogma. Spiritual trust involves metaphor. So what is the difference between dogma and metaphor? Metaphors are open-ended and playful; dogma is rigid and serious. Metaphors mean "analogous to" and "as if"; dogma conveys "so I've been told" and "it's right there in the Bible..." Metaphors allow the truth of our dreams to become clearer with every retelling. In contrast, dogma may insist that heretics be executed....Dogma retards science;metaphors advance science."
~ George E. Vaillant, MD, Aging Well, 2002 pg 260
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