Theology and Spirituality

[dms1972]

How would you differentiate and define these?

 

[Eftsoon]

I don't like bifurcating the two of them. Both of them are modes of enquiry about the same thing. In both cases you can proceed by way of direct experience. It can however be useful to point out that theology can be entirely divorced from reality - that is, you can simply punch out logical statements and remain inside an imaginary system.

Spirituality can also produce the same isolation and removal from reality, but through deception/confusion. People who follow occult paths suffer from this. Very spiritual, but ultimately they lose their way in deception.

 

[Hmm]

I would say that Theology is the study of Christianity and Spirituality is the broarder view that there is more than just matter in the universe, that there is a mind-like reality as well and that this reality is the more fundamental of the two, i.e. the material universe depends for its existence on the spiritual reality in some way rather than the other way around.

 

[eleos1954]

Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief.

Spirituality means different things to different people. For some, it's primarily about a belief in God and active participation in organized religion. For others, it's about non-religious experiences that help them get in touch with their spiritual selves through quiet reflection, time in nature, private prayer, yoga, or meditation.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

I think of theology as intellectual and spirituality as practical application.

Theology is what we think or believe and spirituality is what we live.

 

[TedT]

Spirituality can also produce the same isolation and removal from reality, but through deception/confusion. People who follow occult paths suffer from this. Very spiritual, but ultimately they lose their way in deception.

...as Romans 1 contends so vehemently over and over again~

 

[fhansen]

How would you differentiate and define these?

I think we could say that theology is the use of faith and reason to help us define and understand spirituality. Arriving at the latter is the purpose of the former.