SPIRITUALITY COMPARED TO RELIGION

"There is a hidden man, a hidden child, a buried living being, who must be liberated.  Here is the first urgent task of education ... "  Maria Montessori, The Secret of Childhood

Spirituality is defined in Webster's Dictionary as: breath of life.  Aline Wolf states in her book, Nurturing the Spirit in Non-Sectarian Classrooms, that spirituality is rooted in the depths of us all, in nature, and in the universe.  When we experience calmness, peace, feel uplifted, feel good about accomplishments individually and collectively, perform random acts of kindness, feel open, humble, etc. this is a reflection of our spirituality.

Sometimes spirituality and religion are thought of as being the same but there are basic characteristics for each:

                            SPIRITUALITY                                            RELIGION

           - Asking the questions                                            - Providing the answers

           - Universal personal concern for such                     - Particular answers to these universal
              questions as:                                                          human questions
                      Who am I?
                       Why am I here?
                       What is my purpose?

           - Basic quality of human nature                               - Beliefs and codes of behavior that are
                                                                                           expressed in prayer, dogmas, rituals, etc.

           - Inherent qualities such as love, goodness              - A particular Higher Power, founder,
             honesty, perseverance, courage, and integrity          prophet, etc.

Reference:

Wolf, Aline (1996). Nurturing the Spirit in Non-Sectarian Classrooms.  Hollidaysburg, PA: Parent Child Press.

Thanks to American Montessori Society presentation for this summary.