Religion versus Spirituality

Religion and spirituality live in the same vein of existence; however, there are a few distinguishing factors between the two. One source refers to religion as an “organized approach to the supernatural reality through human activities, which are mostly spiritual and usually encompass a set of narratives, beliefs, and practices.”

11 Religion looks into ultimate meaning, expresses those values, and is characterized by faith. Over time, and due to some infuence by modernization and secularization, the practice of organized religion has decreased as spirituality has increased. Whereas religion typically speaks to a structured belief system devoted to the will of a God or gods, spirituality, according to one source, is a “multiform search for a transcendent meaning of life based on the refection of our human experience on the level of being” where people are conscious of a connection with all of creation.

12 In other words, religion is considered an organized faith system while spirituality refers specifcally to spiritual experiences and the fow of energy. The main diference between the two, as described by one author, is that “spirituality does not imply a doctrinal belief whereas religion claims an awareness of God that is institutionalized and supported by a rational doctrine.”

13 Though some may disagree with this diferentiation, it is important to distinguish between the two as more Millennials and Gen Z individuals claim to be spiritual but not religious. To many of today’s youth, religion and spirituality are not one and the same.

11 Paul de Blot, “Religion and Spirituality,” In Bouckaert L., Zsolnai L. (eds) Handbook of Spirituality and Business, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230321458_2.

12 Paul de Blot, “Losing my Religion and Finding Music.”

13 Ibid.

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| Alexandra Swink

After reviewing the information on the diference between religion and spirituality, one can understand how this population witnesses spirituality in their secular concert experiences. For some, the spiritual realities they face in secular concerts are far greater than in the Church. Kate Ryan, in an opinion piece for Elite Daily magazine titled “Here’s Why You Should Ditch Religion And God to More Rock Concerts,” wrote, “Last night was the most spiritual experience of my life. I wasn’t at church or kneeling in front of an altar; I was at a rock concert.”14 In just a few words, Ryan expressed the spiritual reality of secular concerts that many face. Spiritual experiences are almost expected now for concert attendees. For many, “attending a concert, whether [as] an avid fan or just a quiet observer, opens up a door to connectivity and magic comparable to attending a worship service.”15 In other words, attending a concert can lead to a spiritual encounter that is on par with a religious worship service. Some claim to feel “something even greater than God at [a] concert, and . . . [operate] on some sort of higher plane for weeks afterwards.”16 The spiritual encounters impress upon the hearts of concert-goers and ofer long-lasting efects that cannot be shaken. Again, this population engages with a spiritual realm that they believe is not necessarily connected to a certain religion. Why do these individuals turn from the Holy Spirit found in Christianity to a general spirituality?

Michael Graziano, professor of neuroscience at Princeton University, ofers a diferent perspective on music as a spiritual experience with a scientifc lens. Graziano is a self-proclaimed

14 Kate Ryan, “Here’s Why You Should Ditch Religion And God to More Rock Concerts,” March 10, 2016, Elite Daily, https://www.elitedaily.com/music/ditchreligion-more-rock-concerts/1416547.

15 Erin Bisesti, “The Spirituality in Concerts.”

16 Leigh Robshaw, “When Rock Concerts are a Spiritual Experience.” scientifc atheist with empathy for religion and high regard for emotional reverence. In his research, Graziano found that the human brain can process sounds and perceive the syntax of music, but recognizes that this does not explain the spiritual element of music. Graziano asks the question, What is the relationship between music and spiritual encounters? There are many common themes between religion and music, according to Graziano, but music seems to intensify emotions. Again, this is a simple explanation for a complex question. He writes that it is “something else harder to put into words, something that goes beyond cultural impact, [that] unites music and religion,” which he believes may be reverence and awe.17 Although listeners experience a higher power, many are hesitant to name the power as God. Science cannot fully explain the connection between religion or spirituality and music to the listener, though there is a deep correlation between the two, even for atheists or those in the religious “nones” category.

The responsibility for cultivating spiritual experiences at secular concerts in part falls on the artists. The musicians are the ones who perform and control the energy of the room. They are the ones who can tap “into the collective sense of alienation many people feel in life, and [do] it in such a highly artistic way it becomes transcendental. They do it in a way that relieves the alienation and connects people.”18 Musicians are signifcant players in the spiritualization of secular concert experiences. Often, the musicians are then deifed and sought after as examples of how to live a good life.

17 Michael Graziano, “Why is Music a Religious Experience,” Hufpost, June 15, 2011, https://www.hufpost.com/entry/why-is-mozart-a-religious_b_875352.

18 Leigh Robshaw, “When Rock Concerts are a Spiritual Experience.”