On Saturday morning, October 19, 2024, AWiB hosted a thought-provoking RTD session titled ‘Religiosity vs. Spirituality’ facilitated by Nahu S. Girma, Founder & Director of AWiB. The gathering aimed to explore the nuanced relationship between these two concepts, encouraging participants to reflect on their personal beliefs and experiences.

Nahu opened the session with four profound questions to prompt introspection among attendees: Who am I? What’s my purpose? What is the meaning of life? and What do I want? Participants chose one question to answer, serving as an effective icebreaker that set the tone for an engaging discussion.

Following this initial reflection, Nahu introduced the core topic and invited participants to define the distinction between religiosity and spirituality. This sparked a deeper conversation where many expressed the belief that different religions serve as a pathway to spirituality.

A point of discussion arose on the tendency of religion to be practiced on the basis of fear, which can create a barrier to spiritual growth. This observation prompted participants to examine how fear can detract from a genuine spiritual connection.

To conclude the session, Nahu sought reflection from the participants on their expectations and thoughts regarding the discussion. Attendees unanimously appreciated the opportunity to engage in such a sensitive topic openly, highlighting the importance of dialogue in understanding diverse perspectives.

Major Takeaways

• Open dialogue provides the opportunity of understanding diverse perspectives in such a topic
• Religion focuses on scripture while spirituality focuses on looking inwards to connect with the divine
• Religion can become a pathway to reaching spirituality
• Fear in religious practice can hinder authentic spiritual connection

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