Religion

     Religion and spirituality are two main topics most people try to avoid in any conversation.  Both ideas never lead to a common understanding unless you are discussing them with someone you know feels exactly the same as you.  Otherwise, the discussion of both topics can lead and typically does lead to a heated discussion where one person tries to dominate the other person's beliefs.  Yesterday in University 101 we had this discussion.  We mostly focused on the similarities between religion, spirituality, and faith.  The common understanding we came to as a class and that I believe is that spirituality is something you believe and feel, while religion is something you practice.  Religion and spirituality can be interchangeable based on what is is you are practicing, but both I believe depend on faith.  Faith gives you the trust and belief in what you know, whether it is the faith in your religion or the faith within your spirituality, whatever that may be for you.
     For me, I have a strong faith in my religion.  I believe strongly as a Christian that Jesus died for my sins and is my savior.  I trust wholeheartedly in whatever God has in store for my life and rely on his love to know that whatever occurs in my life is all apart of his greater plan.  I would say I have more religion in my life than spirituality although I cannot define a clear line between the two.  Religion is the organized idea that I believe in, while spirituality is the overall understanding and feeling I have towards this idea.  Both are supported my faith and strong belief.
     Coming down south for college it is evident that more people are open to sharing about their faith and it seems a lot more prevalent.  More people in the south seem to be believers in Christ and press the importance of religion and faith.  Spirituality outside of religion is not as openly discussed because many people see their spirituality based on their religion.  I do believe that the south and USC has a larger Christian population than I first expected, but personally I am extremely happy of this fact.  I love the idea that a majority of the people I encounter on campus have a relationship with God in some way and typically are open to having a one-on-one discussion about their faith in him.  The south as a whole seems to reflect more of a Christian atmosphere with an importance to religion and faith-based spirituality, which is what I strive to do in my own personal life.