Religion provides a framework for the lives of people. Members of a religion follow rituals based on their core beliefs and moral standards. These rituals act as a social network, which has practical implications for daily behavior. For example, members of a religion will follow a distinctive dress code, moral codes, and other rules mandated by a supernatural being.
In many African contexts, spirituality is viewed as a belief system aimed at eradicating the causes of unhappiness. In traditional societies, spirituality was considered a sub-domain of religion. Despite these differences, traditional religion continues to be an essential background for many Africans. It provides a foundation of action and provides a sense of community.
Religion and spirituality are closely related concepts. The primary difference between them is the way in which they relate to the sacred. Religion focuses on social rules and rituals, while spirituality focuses on an individual’s connection to the soul. Both of these concepts are important, but they serve different purposes. For example, religion focuses on building character, while spirituality focuses more on the soul.
A person’s belief system evolves as they study and practice spirituality. In contrast, a spiritual person does not have to believe in the existence of a God to be a good person. In a spiritual context, however, their set of beliefs can be more flexible than those of the worldly realm.