There has been and continues to be much confusion over what is religion and/or spirituality. In actuality, these two words have an identical meaning. "Religion" comes from the Latin root "religio" which means "to link-back" to the spirit. This is the identical meaning of the word "Yoga" which comes from the Sanskrit "Yuj;" i.e., "to yoke" to the spirit. Even before the word "Yoga" was used, the Vedas (Hindu scripture) use the word "Yajna" which essentially means "sacrifice." The word "sacrifice" comes from the Latin translation "sacred doing." With this understanding, one becomes aware of the inseparable nature of Yoga/Religion/Spirituality.
~ Religion is also about moral/ethical rules and various rituals. If the goal is "to link" or "to yoke" to the spirit (Spiritual-Realization), how does one arrive at this "ultimate" destination? This is precisely where religious rules and rituals come into play. If we liken Spiritual-Realization to the top of the mountain, the path is the rules and rituals–the sacred doing–that leads one to the summit. Of course, the classical yogic disciplines supply the necessary rules and rituals that the dedicated aspirant can choose to follow.
~ It is enlightening to realize that all religious traditions have as their foundation moral rules and various religious rituals or ethics and devotion, thus we see the universal nature of the path to Spiritual-Realization. Of course when we begin to use specific terminology, then do we define the various religious/spiritual traditions of the world. This is only natural and makes common sense. For example, the Ten Commandments and Mass immediately define Catholic Christianity, while the Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga immediately Hinduism.
~ If we return to the analogy of the mountain, the many paths to the "Oneness" at the top represent the many spiritual/religious traditions. As a spiritual seeker, one may spend years traveling around the base of the spiritual mountain sampling the various paths, but to finally reach the summit, one must at some point find a path that is comfortable to them and travel its length. Certainly, this complete experience would be vital before one could ever hope to be a teacher of a specific path.
~ Religion is also about organization. In reality when as few as two get together and begin discussing "things spiritual," we have the beginning of a religious organization. As the number of spiritual friends increases, so do the rules–no smoking, please take your shoes off, lets meet at 8:00, for example. This is not only inevitable but also practical and makes perfect sense. Naturally, the opposite of organization is chaos which is no way to live and certainly no way to effectively attain to Spiritual-Realization.
~ With these thoughts in mind, it should help one to clarify much of the general confusion over these sometimes very emotional topics. The modern cliche "I am spiritual but not religious" then becomes an oxymoron. The tendency to try and create a so-called "universal spirituality" while paradoxically using specific terminology becomes naive, at best. The many great religions of the world are made up of individuals who have similar likes and desires on their journey to the spirit. Naturally, the teachers come from among those whose interest and experience is keen and matured.
~ Of course, throughout history there has been much violence in the name of religion (and much non-sense in the name of spirituality). To many this has given "religion" a bad connotation. However given that religion is nothing without those who follow that particular path, we understand the problem. As fallible human beings, we do good and bad, period. Realizing this, it is really not wise to "throw the baby out with the bathwater." For example in various societal organizations, such as police and educators, a mature individual realizes that there will be a certain amount of corrupt police and teachers. This realization however does not illicit an emotional response to destroy these necessary institutions. The solution is obviously to simply get rid of the "bad apples." Interestingly, however, many react in just that way when it comes to religion. When it is discovered that there is something or someone that is corrupt, the outcry is to destroy all religion. This is not only naive but self-defeating. Relative harmony will come through the respect of the many religions not through the naive (and violent) attempts to eradicate all religions and the effort to make a one religion for all. Unity through Diversity is the key–not unity through "sameness" (fundamentalism) nor "unity through blindness (new-age universalism).
~ In an interesting psychological twist, many who have a distaste for religion (which is really only a lack of knowledge) claim to be following a spiritual tradition and not a religion. Of course with an understanding of the identical meaning of the words religion/spirituality this becomes an oxymoron. "Humorously," this claim is often followed by the assertion that one is following "the" universal spiritual tradition (of course, all the while using specific terminology that is unique to one or another of the world religions). This is like trying to simultaneously follow all paths up the mountain. One never reaches the top and certainly never fully knows any path. This is actually the indication of the formulation of a (potentially dangerous) "spiritual" cult. This attitude of "I am following the universal spiritual path" is found in "Yoga" zealots who naively assert "Yoga is not religion but the universal spirituality" and in those Christians who believe "Christianity is not a religion but the universal way." Hare Krishnas often assert they are not a religion but represent the universal spirituality (all is a reflection of the "reality" of Krishna). Devotees of Sai Baba claim the same "universal spirituality" of course, it is all a reflection of Sai. Will the real Universal Spirituality please stand up!