Religion and Spirituality: What’s the Difference?

In this episode of What’s the Universe Say About That?, Mary and Michael explore a question so many of us quietly wonder about: What is the difference between religion and spirituality?

Do these two paths conflict, or do they somehow complement one another? And how can those of us who were raised with, or still hold, specific religious beliefs understand the Guidance that comes through on this show?

The wisdom the Universe shares here is clear, comforting, and surprisingly emphatic — almost as if the message carries a gentle urgency meant for this very moment.

Whether you're curious about how religion and spirituality intersect, or you're simply seeking more peace and clarity in your daily life, this episode offers insights that will speak directly to your heart.

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Email them at: WhatsTheUniverseSay@gmail.com

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maryobana.com

To arrange a private reading with Mary to receive the guidance the Universe has for you, visit:
maryobana.com/private-readings

For more information about Mary's book "Shine: A Simple Guide to Finding Your Light and Letting It Shine on the World", visit:
maryobana.com/amazon

Transcript

Michael Lannon

(0:00) What's the difference between religion and spirituality?

Mary Obana

(0:04) This is a question that was inspired by one of our listeners and we thought would be a great topic for this episode.

Michael Lannon

(0:10) Welcome to What's the Universe Say About That.

Mary Obana

(0:17) I'm Mary Obana and along with my husband Michael, we ask the Universe for answers. You see, I'm blessed with this beautiful gift where I get quiet and I can connect with the loving guidance of the universe.

Michael Lannon

(0:30) So today, you'll see and hear Mary connect directly to that divine guidance and hear the words of wisdom flow directly through her in response to questions about life and the challenges we all face at certain times.

Mary Obana

(0:44) So welcome to our home.

Michael Lannon

(0:46) And welcome to this now normal but always amazing part of our daily lives. So sit back, get ready, and let's hear what the universe has to say about that. 

Mary Obana

(0:56) Let's do it.

Hi there, welcome back.

Michael Lannon

(1:00) Hey everybody. Today, we're going to ask a question that I asked when I first started this whole path down, I'll call it spirituality in big terms. But it's a question we hear a lot from our listeners.

I think it's a question a lot of people have.

Mary Obana

(1:21) And this one came specifically from a listener.

Michael Lannon

(1:23) Yeah, yeah. And it's this idea of religion versus, again, I kind of do these air quote things. I'm going to call it spirituality, what we're calling the Universe, these messages from universe, do they conflict? How does a religion and this universe connection, how do those two kind of work together or against each other? 

(1:50) You know, there's a term called religious “nones”, N-O-N-E, not N-U-N, but it's a category of people who feel a connection, say they're spiritual, but they're not part of a particular religion per se.

(2:09) And I think there's a lot of people like that that kind of want to know how what we're hearing jives with the religious teachings.

Mary Obana

(2:19) Yeah, because there are others who are actually in a religious, you know, have studied religion or who have grown up with religion.

Michael Lannon

(2:26) That's me, yeah.

Mary Obana

(2:27) And how does that jive with this?

Michael Lannon

(2:31) Can they live harmoniously together in one mind, body, spirit?

Mary Obana

(2:37) Yeah, it's a beautiful question.

Michael Lannon

(2:39) Yeah.

Mary Obana

(2:39) Okay.

Michael Lannon

(2:40) I'm big on beautiful questions.

Mary Obana

(2:42) You're big on questions in general, shall we say.

Michael Lannon

(2:45) All right, so let's see what the universe has to say.

Mary Obana

(2:49) All right. 

The Universe

(3:01) We are glad you have asked this question. This is something that many are wrestling with, trying to make sense of, trying to understand for those who have grown up with or even currently in or part of a religious practice, how does that, the teachings, the Bible, how does that all connect with these messages from the universe?

(3:52) And Michael, it is true. There are others who have not and do not consider them to be a part of any organized religion, but yet feel some sort of spiritual presence and connection. What does that mean for them?

(4:21) We will return to a topic that is central to everything. Yes, love. That universal love, that energy of infinite love is where it all begins.

(5:00) There are different ways to connect with and understand this love. There are many who have shared teachings to help people understand how to incorporate this loving way into their lives. Everything, everything shares this common source of love.

(5:43) Just as we discussed recently about how different energy or the loving energy takes different forms, angels, spirits, gods, it does so in an effort to connect with those in the physical world. Similarly, religion also is for this purpose. This intentional connection with this loving force is beautiful.

(6:43) Whether one calls it God, Jesus, Allah, whatever that loving force is for the one who is practicing a life of living with love, it is all wonderful. Wonderful. And those who feel a connection with a presence that they cannot see, and those that connect with that presence with an understanding all their own, that is not defined by a religious practice, an organized doctrine.

(7:46) It is still beautiful. The human condition, the mind, tries to understand things, and one of the ways it exists, the human, in the life experience, is to understand that which they can connect with, that which they feel one with, that which they feel in communion with. People have different friends, people have different interests, people have different thoughts on things.

(8:34) They connect with others who share that. They connect with others who share that understanding. Through the ages, there have been different ways to translate the loving energy, that infinite source of energy in a way that people can understand.

(9:06) So stories, parables, music, are all ways, methods, to translate this love in a way that makes sense to one, so that that person can incorporate it into their life understanding. But through the ages, the mind has also created division between the ways these have been interpreted by others. So one believes in one understanding of this loving presence, and another has come to understand that loving presence through a different story.

(10:12) And the human has used these differences to divide. Wars have been fought over these different interpretations. Of that infinite love.

(10:40) But you see, if one is to understand the purpose of those stories, the purpose of those teachings, the presence of the love from which it comes, then you see each of these different organized religions or understandings of the way one connects with that which they cannot see if they elevate their understanding. Remember the reason and purpose for these teachings. It is about understanding and feeling the presence of this infinite love that is available to everyone.

(11:53) This is what is shared among all these different teachings and understandings. But the more the human focuses on the differences between the stories, they lose the understanding of its intention. So each one is drawn to, comforted by, interested in, connected to, that which resonates with them.

(12:50) And everyone should be grateful for that connection. And everyone should be grateful for the connection another feels to that love. If everyone can focus and understand the reason for these different approaches, organizations, teachings, they can know within their heart that this is a path to the connection with that infinite source of love.

(13:43) So whether one is connected to an organized religion or one feels connection to that love in a manner that is uniquely theirs, there should be celebration and thanksgiving for the connection. That is the most important thing. Not how the connection is made, not the differences amongst these different ways of connecting, but that there is a connection at all.

(14:35) We do not care what you call it. It only matters that you are connected with it. If humans can remove the judgment and self-righteousness that can be, and focus instead on the love, they can live in great harmony with their fellow human.

(15:28) Does this make sense? 

Michael Lannon

(15:29) It's beautiful. It's beautiful.

(15:35) Taking it down to literally a one-to-one level, and I've experienced this and Mary's experienced this, is how are we to interact with just even the people that are around us who feel separate, separated, they are uncomfortable with the difference. And we may feel that we can celebrate their different interpretation or their different language that they understand, stories, teachings, whatever. How can we help them feel comfortable with our path?

The Universe

(16:39) There is a great desire to change another. There is a great desire to collect others so they can join you. Understanding the principles of this loving connection, respecting the many forms this connection can take.

(17:25) It is enough that another has the connection that works for them. And there is great power in the way each one loves another. When each one can focus their understanding and attention on the love, not on the differences, not on the ways different people understand what that connection is to them, each one can only control themselves.

(18:28) Each one can act, behave in a loving way because of that connection. When another sees the way that you can live with peace with all your fellow humans, regardless of their interpretation or understanding. When they, these others, see the peace that you are able to live with, the love you are able to show for your fellow human, there's great receiving of that energy.

(19:29) And that energy has the power to shift and change the hearts of others. Do not feel it is your duty to change the thoughts of another simply by living a life of peace. Because of that understanding and connection to the love that you feel, you would be amazed at the impact that energy has on others, whether you talk about it or not.

Michael Lannon

(20:18) Hey, thanks for bringing me right back to where I need to be. Yeah, it starts.

The Universe

(20:29) It always starts. With the one. 

Michael Lannon

(20:31) The self.

The Universe

(20:33) It always starts with the one. It is all you can control.

(20:49) How you choose to live. The energy of love that is lived with consciousness is the greatest gesture of love one can make for all. 

Michael Lannon

(21:16) Thank you.

(21:34) I always say this. Brilliant commentary afterwards is, boy, that was good. That's like…

Mary Obana

(21:46) Reminder, you know? 

Michael Lannon

(21:48) Yeah, it's like... Reminder, yeah. You know, it's funny. It's so true, as all this wisdom is. It's so, like, innately true.

(22:01) And what I was trying to ask is, how do I put that truth into practice? (22:08) And of course, it was, how do I do something? And the reminder was, be, not do.

(22:21) You know, that's where it all starts.

(22:23) So, focus on the way, the energy I'm putting out there.

(22:33) That was amazing. That was amazing. Thoughts?

Mary Obana

(22:39) Well, it's interesting that you said that, you know, the impact that we have is from the being, not the doing. Because the being is, and when it's done consciously, and it's connected to that love, has more impact than anything. 

Michael Lannon

(23:03) Yeah.

Mary Obana

(23:03) You know, we somehow think that it doesn't matter unless we do it. But the truth is, energy is so powerful. And the energy we hold and choose to hold and give and send, we're always sending or receiving energy, whether we're saying a word or not.

(23:22) That is the amazing power of what we're giving and creating and how we're impacting those around us. And then beyond. 

Michael Lannon

(23:34) Yeah. And it's kind of funny because when you say it has the power, the impact, the reminder there was, it's not about changing other people's minds or getting them on your track or teachings.

(23:51) It's celebrating and respecting that they have a connection in a way that works for them.

Mary Obana

(23:56) Yeah.

Michael Lannon

(23:57) And instead of focusing on this, it's focusing on that. And we can all get there in different ways. As you know, just that's the reminder is don't focus on the differences or the conversions at this level.

Mary Obana

(24:13) Yeah.

Michael Lannon

(24:14) Focus on your own connection and respect and celebrate other people's connection.

Mary Obana

(24:21) Yeah. And when others feel the love that you are giving and emanating with your energy. 

(24:28) The focus is on the love, not the differences. The focus is on not the judgment, but on the acceptance and the, you know, so that energy is…

Michael Lannon

(24:37) This is one of those messages that, you know, all you have to do is look at headlines or read the newspaper or, you know, watch the news. And it's hard to see this in every day. I'm going to say on everyday practice, everyone's fighting and arguing over things.

(25:01) But it's a reminder that the problem lies in the disagreements. And all we can do is focus on ourselves. And if everyone like your light, you know, shine that light.

(25:19) If one person can do that, that can impact another person doing that, not converting them to your way of thinking.

Mary Obana

(25:29) Yeah. And the whole thing about energy follows attention.

Michael Lannon

(25:33) Yeah.

Mary Obana

(25:33) So where you're focused, your energy goes. So if you're focused on the vitriol or the anger or the differences or the hate, it's like your energy goes there. But when you're focused on…

Michael Lannon

(25:47) You know, it's funny, I was, I was thinking it's like languages in a way, you know, you wouldn't get, you wouldn't go to Italy and be furious that people are speaking Italian. I wouldn't, I want to speak Italian. And you can sit down at a table where you don't speak the language, a dinner table, and you can have a great time and communion with someone, even though you don't speak the language, you can kind of figure stuff out.

(26:14) But it wouldn't be, there'd be no thought of me to try to change them. Well, they need to speak English if we're going to have a talk and vice versa. Languages make travel richer.

(26:28) And it's the same, this is like different languages, but…You know, the connection is, is.

Mary Obana

(26:35) Universal.

Michael Lannon

(26:35) Universal. Yeah. So anyway, I don't know if I made a point there or not.

Mary Obana

(26:41) Not sure exactly, but anyway. Hope you took it, whatever it was!

Michael Lannon

(26:46) It'll come to me a couple hours from now. Anyway, thank you so much for joining us. And we'll see you again soon with more questions for the universe.

Mary Obana

(26:58) Infinite, infinite universe, infinite questions.

Michael Lannon

(27:05) We'll see you again real soon.

Mary Obana

(27:06) Take it easy.

Michael Lannon

(27:07) Bye-bye.