CONTRIBUTIONS OF PEOPLE WITHOUT RELIGION WITH BELIEF ABOUT SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION

Abstract

This article is an integral part of the doctoral research that dealt with the non-religious with belief. As an important aspect in understanding the personal identification “I am without religion with belief”, we aimed to present the data and reflect on the meaning of the designations religion and spirituality for these individuals. To do so, we begin by presenting the word that is best associated with the term religion for people without religion. Subsequently, we expose the contributions regarding the meaning of the designation religion and spirituality, as concepts endowed with symbolic meaning. The methodology used was mixed, consisting of bibliographical and field research, through a structured digital questionnaire with undergraduate and graduate students at PUC Minas. We conclude from the data that for non-religious people with belief, religion and spirituality are not interdependent in meaning, nor are they synonymous. Religion is mainly associated with the Institution, with the formalities of doctrines, rites, religious traditions. On the other hand, spirituality is described as predominantly of the individual, although it may take place or be cultivated in a religious institution, it is deinstitutionalized because it is independent of religious institutions.