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Are you spiritual, religious, or both?  And is one more important than the other?
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Are You Spiritual or Religious or Both?  Does it matter?

Does it matter if you are spiritual or religions?  Can you be both spiritual and religious?  Let's take a look...what are the differences between being spiritual or religious?  Do these differences impact your life for better or for worse?
Whether you consider your self to be religious or spiritual or both it does impact your life.  Take a look at the differences and you decide where you want to be in your life now and in your future.

  • Religion is an institution established by man for various reasons. Exert control, instill morality, stroke egos, or whatever it does. Organized, structured religions all but remove god from the equation. You confess your sins to a clergy member, go to elaborate churches to worship, told what to pray and when to pray it. All those factors remove you from God.
  •  Spirituality is born in a person and develops in the person. It may be kick started by a religion, or it may be kick started by a revelation. Spirituality extends to all facets of a person’s life. Spirituality is chosen while religion is often times forced. Being spiritual to me is more important and better than being religious.
  • True spirituality is something that is found deep within oneself. It is your way of loving, accepting and relating to the world and people around you. It cannot be found in a church or by believing in a certain way.

 There is not one religion, but hundreds.    There is only one type of spirituality     
Religion is for those who want to continue rituals and the formality·     Spirituality is for those who want to reach the Spiritual Ascent without dogmas

 

  • Religion is for those who are asleep - Spirituality is for those who are awake
  • Religion is for those that require guidance from others-Spirituality is for those that lend ears to their inner voice
  • Religion has a dogmatic and unquestionable assembly of rules that need to be followed without question-Spirituality invites you to reason it all, to question it all and to decide your actions and assume the consequences
  • Religion threatens and terrifies- Spirituality gives you inner peace
  • Religion speaks of sin and of fault-Spirituality encourages "living in the present" and not to feel remorse for which has already passed - Lift your spirit and learn from errors
  • Religion represses humanity, and returns us to a false paradigm-Spirituality transcends it all and makes you true to yourself
  • Religion is instilled from childhood, like the soup you do not you want to take-    Spirituality is the food that you you seek, that satisfies you and is pleasant to the senses
  • Religion is not God-Spirituality is infinite consciousness and all that is - It is God
  • Religion invents- Spirituality discovers
  • Religion does not investigate and does not question-Spirituality questions everything
  • Religion is based on humanity, an organization with rules-Spirituality is DIVINE, WITHOUT rules
  • Religion is cause for division-Spirituality is cause for union
  • Religion seeks you so that you create-Spirituality causes you to seek
  • Religion continues the teachings of a sacred book-Spirituality seeks the sacredness in all the books
  • Religion is fed fear- Spirituality is fed confidence
  • Religion lives you in your thoughts-Spirituality lives in your conscience
  • Religion is in charge of the "to do"-Spirituality is in charge of the "to BE"
  • Religion is a dialectic-Spirituality is logic
  • Religion feeds the ego-Spirituality makes you transcend
  • Religion makes you renounce yourself to the world-Spirituality makes you live with God, not to renounce him
  • Religion is adoration- Spirituality is meditation
  • Religion is to continue adapting to the psychology of a template-Spirituality is individuality. 
  • Religion dreams of glory and paradise-Spirituality makes you live it here and now
  • Religion lives in the past and in the future-Spirituality lives in the present, in the here and now
  • Religion lives in the confinement of your memory-Spirituality is LIBERTY in AWARENESS. 
  • Religion believes in the eternal life-Spirituality makes you conscious of all that is
  • Religion gives you promises for the after-life-Spirituality gives you the light to find God in your inner self, in this life, in the present, in the here and the now…
Where does Unity fit in?   Unity promotes spiritual growth.  Often people come to Unity to explore something that is beyond religion. Unity has no dogma, no rules except the "Golden Rule".  Unity has a Statement of Faith and teachings that will help everyone to live a prosperous, happy, and healthy life. Unity is for those who want to know, without a doubt, that you are a greatly loved expression of the divine.

 

You can read the Daily Word inspirational message of the day by going to our website and scrolling to the bottom.  There you will find a link to the daily inspirational message.

The Benefits of Spiritual Growth
Spiritual growth is an inner process, not only for people seeking spiritual awakening, and who live in monasteries or ashrams, but for everyone. Spiritual growth is essential for a better, happier and more harmonious life, free of tension and strain, fear and anxiety.
  • Realization of who you really are.
  • Increased feeling of happiness and bliss.
  • Experiencing a state of inner peace.
  • Circumstances and situations do not affect your state of mind.
  • Becoming more patient and tolerant.
  • The ability to rise above frustration, disappointment and negative feelings.
  • Increased inner strength and confidence.
  • More common sense and seeing things as they really are

Spiritual seekers often say that finding Unity is like coming home. Unity is an open-minded, accepting spiritual community that honors all paths to God and helps people discover and live their spiritual potential and purpose.

A positive alternative to negative religion, Unity seeks to apply the teachings of Jesus as well as other spiritual masters. Unity affirms the power of prayer and helps people experience a stronger connection with God every day.

Unity emphasizes the practical, everyday application of spiritual principles to help people live more abundant and meaningful lives.

Although personal and spiritual growth come from within, most people appreciate learning, friendships, support and companionship along the way. Unity is committed to helping you find your way to your own understanding-and experience-of God. We encourage you to explore and apply Unity teachings based on your own spiritual understanding. We believe this spiritual understanding is enhanced through reflective prayer and meditation.

I often wonder when a newcomer joins us for our Sunday celebration service if they are surprised or even disappointed by our small yet evolving size?   All Unity ministries began as small groups.  I had been a member of Unity of Harrisburg for over twenty years. That ministry began with a group of less than ten meeting at a restaurant for a few years. By the first time I went to the Unity service it was a group of 35 people meeting in a hotel room. That group grew to 50 and bought a small building as their home.  Years after that Unity of Harrisburg out grew that building and bought an even bigger building with a separate office, and fellowship hall. This is where their home is now.

So, to be where we are is common for a pioneering Unity ministry.  We are an evolving spiritual family supportive and welcoming.  A powerful prayer group that has created many miracles for those who have joined us on Sundays.  As a minister, of course I would love to see a packed house, however, I don't want to give up quality for quantity.  Right now we have a quality group and we are growing at the right and perfect pace and at the right and perfect timing. Thank you God!!!
I've been watching the weather and it looks like there are going to be thunder storms for our picnic this Sunday.  We will have a typical Sunday celebration service with an inside picnic immediately following the service.  We will also be celebrating Katie's graduation from high school and Leanna and Heather's wedding. If you are someone thinking about checking us out this would be the perfect Sunday for that.  Stay after the service for some great food, great conversation and awesome people!!!  Hoping to see everyone there!!!
I am offering 4 Unity classes ONLINE this summer.
 
The Twelve Powers begins June 14, 2016 
Tuesday evenings-7:00-9:00 pm EST
 
Meditation Practices begins June 19, 2016
Sunday evenings-7:00-9:00 pm EST

Overview: Hebrew Scriptures begins June 23, 2016
Thursday evenings-7:00-9:00 pm EST

Discover the Power Within You begins Aug. 2, 2016
Tuesday evenings-7:00-9:00 pm EST


If interested talk to me after the service, on Facebook or via email for a special Unity of Southwestern PA discount.
Copyright © 2016 Unity of Southwestern Pennsylvania, All rights reserved.

We meet every Sunday at 11:00 AM at the
Community library , 60 Connellsville St.
Dunbar, PA
email: revdonna@unityofsouthwesternpa.org
cell: 724-710-9954
website: www.unityofsouthwesternpa.org


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