Spirituality, religion and astrology, Part 1

A reader asks: What do spirituality and religion have to do with astrology?

That's a simple question with a complicated answer. In order to answer properly, I need to provide you with my working definitions, Obviously, there are many definitions, but these make sense to me and I hope they will to you also.

Though many adherents of orthodox religions regard spirituality as an aspect of their personal religious experience and the words religion and spirituality are often used interchangeably, an important distinction should be made between spirituality “in religion” and spirituality “in contrast to” religion.

We are often asked: What religion are you? What church do you attend?

This indicates to me that the "common" meaning of the term religion, discribes something that is socially or culturally defined. Such as a specific communal or congregational system whose members are organized around a common doctrine, dogma, or belief system.

Organized religion as “orthodoxy” describes a belief system that includes dogma, an absolute code of right conduct and beliefs that it's followers can not dispute or doubt. There is organization and authority as well as a belief that there is only “one” path and those who do not hold to this path are condemned to some horrible end.

But, there are also organized religious denominations that hold to the belief that there are universal truths in all religions.

Over a period of time the phrase “more spiritual than religious” has come to prominence. Saying this implies a individual who has moved away from organized religion with its doctrines, rituals and traditions and has found a personal relationship with God or some Universal creative force. These individuals maintain a "Christ like" life style throught their personal relationship with their creator.

In contrast to the common defination of religion, spiritualiity is not talk, or doctrines, or theories, nor is it sectarianism. It is the relationship between the individual soul and "God".... Spirituality does not consist of building churches, forming congreations or attending public worship. It is not found in books, or in words, or in lectures, or in organizations. To be spirtitual is to realize the divine at work in all of life.

Generally, those who speak of spirituality “in contrast to” religion accept the existence of many spiritual paths and see no objective proof about any single right path to follow. The emphasis is on being true to one's self...finding one's own way to “God”, “heaven”, “the after life”, or “life after life”, rather than following what the various orthodox religions preach is the correct or only road.

Those who walk the unorthodox, unorganized, personal spiritual path have a faith that is more pluralistic, tolerant and considerably less dogmatic than most established religions and sects. Most of those who are of this spiritual bent do not denounce or condemn any belief system...not orthodox religions or even atheism.

It should be noted, however, that some who have embraced a personal spiritual path are refugees from organized religions which accounts for their negativity towards religiosity. Most have come to see sectarianism as the battle cry of the extremists in the world.

The so called “New Age Spirituality”, that is often associated with astrology, is an unorganized spiritual movement that seeks Universal truths and the attainment of the highest individual potential...the God within. It is characterized by an individual approach to practices and philosophies while rejecting religious doctrine and dogma.

Religion and spirituality cover the gambit of belief systems and I haven't even touched on secular religion or secular spirituality. But, as you can see, the problem with defining religion “in contrast to” spirituality is that there is an over lap...and many spiritual individuals are involved in organized religion while many are not.

All of this is to make a point.. astrology is not religious or spiritual...

Continued in Part 2