To many, the terms ‘religion’ and ‘spirituality’ have almost synonymous meaning.  There is a good reason for this, as people who are religious also tend to be spiritual.  But there is usually a hint of distinction to be recognized.

The term ‘religious’ is an especially vague word, even if it takes a concrete form at an individual level. But considering the sheer scope of religions in the world, the term’s elasticity becomes apparent when the repetitive chants of Buddhists and the Christian act of communion are both summed under the name of religion.

The term ‘spiritual’ is perhaps even more vague. Spirituality does not necessarily depend on a faith tradition for meaning, which makes the term more anonymous. Consulting Tarot cards, communicating with the dead, faith healing, meditation, and prayer are all forms of spirituality, and they are not necessarily tied to a specific faith tradition. As such, they can be practiced within a religious set of beliefs or outside of religion. Thus, it is possible to be spiritual without being religious.

The meaning of religion and spirituality is a source of debate, and the nature of their distinction is even more contested. One way to think of the distinction is by highlighting the independent nature of spirituality. At base, spirituality is nothing if not the search for the transcendent. When that search occurs in the context of religion, the spiritual act becomes meaningful within a religious tradition. Thus, people who are religious also tend to be spiritual and practice their spirituality within the frame of their religion.

But the search for the transcendent can occur outside of religion. For some, the practice of spirituality may be a simultaneous rejection of religion, where the focus is on personal development of a transcendental experience by any system of meaning that is available. Thus, as a term, spirituality may be considerably wider in meaning than religion because spirituality can be inclusive when it is practiced outside a religious tradition. However, when spirituality is practiced within a faith tradition, religion and spirituality are closer in meaning because spirituality is reflected in the body of the religion. Source