Is There a Difference Between Religion and Spirituality???

[Akyeame Kwame]

Is There a Difference Between Religion and Spirituality???

[G.O.D.F.A.T.H.A.]

Spirituality isn't man made religion is man made.

[Akyeame Kwame]

Originally Posted by G.O.D.F.A.T.H.A.

Spirituality isn't man made religion is man made.

what/who is spirituality made by?

AK

[Rekhati]

Yes, there is a difference.

Religion is just what it means. It means to bind. Slaves practice religion. Its about ritual and dogma.

Spirituality is about cultivating the divine in you. Its about being accountable and not relying on morals and ethics, parables, stories, etc. You start creating your own stories. Why do you think all the sages that people like Ausar, Buddha, Christ etc. have a halo type figure or crown above their head? The arit or crown chakra was open. You can only open this by going within and seeking your divine. Now people follow them. Its pretty simple either you want to be a follower or leader. I choose to be a leader. Everyone has that divine quality in them, that can one day lead to them being revered. Why simply revere other and not yourself?

[Tehuti-4]

Originally Posted by Rekhati

Yes, there is a difference.

Religion is just what it means. It means to bind. Slaves practice religion. Its about ritual and dogma.

Just as we are not born able to speak or walk but must have these latent abilities awakened and developed so too our divine faculties are not fully awakened and must be cultivated through systems of divine initiation. The word religion refers to such systems. You are correct the etymology of the word does mean to tie or to bind but not necessarily as in "slavery" rather it means to tie or bind (ligion) once again (re) that which by natural or divine law is ONE - meaning the divisions of our spirit. This actually IS a correct description of what true spiritual systems or religions do. Few "religions" today however have any understanding of this meaning nor indeed what the actual goal or process of religion is and instead have as you correctly point out degenerated into dogma. "Ritual" as is understood in African systems we have no problem with.

[GoodRain]

Every living being has a spirit. Spirituality is universal. When your intentions are through mostly the positive love that rules the universe then your spirituality is good. Spirituality will be when religion will not. Some people can have their own spirituality and not follow any set religion while still remain in peace. You can have your own guidelines and religion. But I wouldnt go too far way from the African indegenous ones. They will allways be the core of true religion whether you realize it or not. They were set up with you in mind.
Religion is a set of beliefs and knowledge. The devil can have a own religion. Its not neccessarily good. True and good religion were created as guidelines to keep tribes in good relations with one another or within themselves. That shows that the noted tribes must be similar regardless of the different names they are given or have named themselves. Examples are Summerians, Cushites, and Kemetians before the area got influenced by evil ones.

[Rekhati]

Originally Posted by Tehuti-4

"Ritual" as is understood in African systems we have no problem with.

The ritual done Africa is a lot different than the ritual done on the continent. I have been to ritual in both the US and on the continent. Here we get stuck in ritual where we are just doing something on this day. Its not like on the continent where you are living your spirituality as a culture through everyday living. Where this ritual affects the whole community. We are not living in a community where there is no need to say Akan, Yoruba, or Khemetian. It just is. You are living your spirituality.

ATR in the US has become very Christian like.

[Tehuti-4]

Originally Posted by Rekhati

The ritual done Africa is a lot different than the ritual done on the continent. I have been to ritual in both the US and on the continent. Here we get stuck in ritual where we are just doing something on this day. Its not like on the continent where you are living your spirituality as a culture through everyday living. Where this ritual affects the whole community. We are not living in a community where there is no need to say Akan, Yoruba, or Khemetian. It just is. You are living your spirituality.

ATR in the US has become very Christian like.

This may be true in some instances but I'd be careful about making these types of sweeping statements about ALL ATR 's in the Diaspora.

[Rekhati]

I stand by it. There is only one Vodun community in the South who I see living in a culture where spirituality is the culture because they are in their own community.

[GoodRain]

Where exactly is it? What name do they go by?

[Rekhati]

Originally Posted by GoodRain

Where exactly is it? What name do they go by?

Cant think of it now saw a documentary on them. Maybe I can find it.

ETA: Just wanted to add, just because its ATR doesnt mean we cant disect it and scruntunize it like we do any other religions.

[IfasehunReincarnated]

Originally Posted by Rekhati

ATR in the US has become very Christian like.

That is a wholesale blanket comment. lol ATR that YOU are exposed to has become Christian like. I know that most of my elders do not operate within any dogma nor is anything mechanical. Everything is determined by authentic tradition (as laid by ancestors not modern man) and validated by Deity or Ancestors. (even if we think its tradition, they confirm it as suitable) I would venture to say that we are not in a minority.

many many temples cast off the judeo-christians attitudes and mechanisms very well. others do not. many temples are well aware that this is a spiritual science and take it very seriously. i have been blown away at what i have seen @ some temples to the point that their communal spiritual power is enough to make you dizzy when they are all together having a meal, much less doing ritual. i am sorry if your experiences have been to the contrary. we know it will get better over time as people master being afrikan.

[Rekhati]

Originally Posted by IfasehunReincarnated

That is a wholesale blanket comment. lol ATR that YOU are exposed to has become Christian like. I know that most of my elders do not operate within any dogma nor is anything mechanical. Everything is determined by authentic tradition (as laid by ancestors not modern man) and validated by Deity or Ancestors. (even if we think its tradition, they confirm it as suitable) I would venture to say that we are not in a minority.

many many temples cast off the judeo-christians attitudes and mechanisms very well. others do not. many temples are well aware that this is a spiritual science and take it very seriously. i have been blown away at what i have seen @ some temples to the point that their communal spiritual power is enough to make you dizzy when they are all together having a meal, much less doing ritual. i am sorry if your experiences have been to the contrary. we know it will get better over time as people master being afrikan.

Dont feel sorry for me. It is what it is. I just know that many people are flocking to ATR just like Christianity to find themselves in the US. Many are lost and impresionable people. Religion becomes something they hide in. Its used as an opiate. I cannot be around these people or this behavior. The deities are apart of us, but many of us even though we have found ATR operate on a Geb(earth) level.

ETA: Its not the ATR perse that is Christian like. Its the people. Many are not looking to transcend.

[Akyeame Kwame]

Originally Posted by Rekhati

ETA: Its not the ATR perse that is Christian like. Its the people. Many are not looking to transcend.

i have seen this a lot as well, Rekhati,

because the thinking and worldview of many Afrikans has never changed, it's like when the greeks went to Kmt to study the spiritual system...or it's like krakkkaz with enough extra dollars in their pocket to get initiated with "divine sanction"....when they come away with it, they put a bunch of Afrikan rituals into the european framework that they operate off of...

AK

[Ajaguna]

Originally Posted by Rekhati

The ritual done Africa is a lot different than the ritual done on the continent. I have been to ritual in both the US and on the continent. Here we get stuck in ritual where we are just doing something on this day. Its not like on the continent where you are living your spirituality as a culture through everyday living. Where this ritual affects the whole community. We are not living in a community where there is no need to say Akan, Yoruba, or Khemetian. It just is. You are living your spirituality.

ATR in the US has become very Christian like.

I can dig this sentiment. I've noticed Christian-like tendencies attached to Afrikan traditions in the Diaspora. Just as I've noticed Christian tendencies attached to Afrikan people in the Diaspora. Our ancestral traditions are inextricably linked to us as a people. Whatever we go through our traditions go through. We and our traditions have suffered under the domination of White supremacy. Our work now is to purge that which is unnatural and insane from our people/ Traditions.

I agree that part of what is missing from African Traditions here is the context of family, community, and nation. Apart from this context our traditions are fragmented. For me this is the work that we must do. To re-create the context that gave birth to us/our traditions. To abandon our traditions because of whatever problems we see with them due to Maafa induced injury is to surrender and concede ourselves.