For all those who feel the need to overtly flaunt their religiousness, I have a question: Are you religious or are you spiritual? I make a distinction between the two. One is made up of empathy for fellow human beings. It is the construct of a love for others. The other is the age-old ritual of social control manifested by behavior, not done for the good of others, but done instead to claim one's right in a religious group as one of the pack.
People who are religious have given into the age-old dogma handed down by the pseudo-pious. They flaunt their religion both visually and verbally to advance themselves in their religious circle, church, synagogue, temple or what-have-you. It is important for them that others see how faithful they believe themselves to be. By doing so, those who think likewise think more of them. Further, they do this because they have been scared into believing in the medieval construct of hell. To not act in accordance with the dogma of their "chosen" religion almost certainly means banishment to hell upon death. Nevermind that the central theme of many of the great spiritual founders such as Jesus, Buddha etc. was not about going to some fiery hell. That was the central message of the religious foundersthe idea being that if you don't follow me, you will go to hell.
A person who is spiritual is different. A spiritual person would do the right thing even if no Bible, Koran or Torah were present. The right thing it seems, manifest across all cultures, is to be nice, forgive others and foremost to avoid harming other people. A person who is spiritual will have these as their central tenants. They do not need to show people how moral or cool they are in their convictions; they merely do what is right and make no fuss about it. Praying at the top of their lungs so that all can hear them or so "God will not send them to hell" does not play a part in it. A spiritual person knows that these are all constructs meant to control and further the goals of religious leaders who may be deluding themselves into believing that by showing everyone their beliefs, they score points with the Supreme Being as well as with their religious compadres.
