As I listen to people share at recovery meetings I’m aware of the fact most people understand the difference between spirituality and religion. But when I ask them what the difference is, they are not too clear. I suppose this is to be expected when you consider that few people are schooled in philosophy, and not many have studied theology. Those I speak with truly sense there is a difference but have a hard time putting it into words. Maybe this article will help.

When we begin to examine the word religion we see it is derived from a Latin word: religgio. The definition is "to tie" or "bind" or "bring together". What we begin to understand is the purpose of a religion is to tie the world or creation to God. Maybe even bind a person to God. The concept is beginning to emerge the role of religion is to bring together mankind (including women!) and creation into a definite relationship with God.

How does ‘religion’ do this? If you look at the world of religions, and it really doesn’t matter which religion you chose, they have very similar characteristics. They usually have a book (Bible or Koran) that contains the message God wishes to impart to his followers; ministers, priests or mullahs who interpret God’s message; then each religion has their own rituals regarding worship and prayer.

I think you will find all the religions of the world have the above characteristics and it is in this way they are able to bind, tie and bring the people and God together.

It goes without saying most religions are highly organized and this is true for the various denominations. The following examples immediately spring to mind: Roman Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran; or Shiite and Sunni; Orthodox Jews, Conservative or Reform.

Another consideration, when talking about ‘religion’, is most people are born into a specific denomination or group. Europe and the United States tend to be specifically Christian; Asia is Buddhist or Hindu; the Middle East is mainly Muslim with a smaller group of Jews. It is true a small percentage of people change their religion but most stay in their religion of birth, possibly changing their denomination…example, a Baptist becomes a Roman Catholic. So we see that your place of birth often determines your religion.

When we look at spirituality we experience a different definition and philosophy. Again, this word is rooted in the Latin word spiritus which means "breath" or "life" or "energy". It is much more open ended and poetic, less structured.

Thank God, and I really mean thank God, when Alcoholics Anonymous wrote the Twelve Steps, it stated "having had a spiritual awakening…" as opposed to "having had a religious awakening…" because then we would be forced to ask ‘which religion?’ That would have created a political and psychological nightmare.

Because the word spirituality is not allied with any one religion or denomination we find every type of religious person at an AA meeting; indeed, not a few are agnostic or atheist. I truly believe we can be spiritual without being religious.

Over the years I’ve suggested that an inclusive definition of spirituality is being a positive and creative human being. This can include both the religious person and the non-religious and suggests ‘the golden thread’ that unites all human beings.

A question that is often asked me is, does a spiritual person have to believe in God? The short answer is "No". But if we could be poetic for a moment, when we return to the root definition ‘spiritus’ we are presented with open ended concepts like breath, energy, life which is certainly less dogmatic as is the definition of religion.

This is why, when I attend recovery meetings that are spiritually based, I tend to hear words like honesty, respect, forgiveness, change and surrender…rather that creed, dogma, sin or Hell.

More importantly, I meet every type of person, every shade of religion, agnostics and atheists, gays and lesbians and the culturally diverse. At my meetings in Long Beach I experience America!

I would like to suggest it is possible to be both religious and spiritual. Examples abound of religious people who exemplified the best of what are considered spiritual values.

Mahatma Gandhi, a Hindu, worshipped as a young man in Christian churches when he was working as a lawyer in South Africa.

Mother Theresa welcomed into her orphanages Roman Catholic, Hindu and Muslim babies who were sick or dying.

The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, who when he was developing his philosophy of non-violence had no problem referring to the work and wisdom of a Hindu (Gandhi).

Spiritual people have always had the vision of the "Big God"; hence they inevitably become big people. Spirituality is about knowing that we are living in a Big World with a big "Big God".