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Alfredo Crisanto N. Concepion
18 June 2022
GSBS1-MBA1A-83A
Prof. Carlo Tinio
Reflection Paper #1
The discussion that struck me the most is argument of Spirituality vs. Religiousness. Can you
be spiritual without being religious? And vice versa? Later during the discussion, it was revealed to us
that being spiritual and being religious go hand and hand. As a Catholic, its not enough that you believe
in God. We Catholics need to show it or make it “tangible”. We prove our spirituality by engaging in
the Church and other Catholic traditions. There is nothing wrong with praying by yourself beside your
bed at night before sleeping but as Catholics, our main form of prayer is in the Church. 1The spiritual
person understands spiritual truths (1 Cor. 2:13). He receives what the Spirit imparts. The spiritual
person, therefore, is the one who accepts the message of the cross. We are truly spiritual if, and only
if, the Spirit of Christ has given us the mind of Christ to receive the good news concerning the death
and resurrection of Christ. These religious practices and traditions are what defines not just our own
individual spirituality, but also our spiritual community. Our spiritual journey is certainly more enriching
and insightful when it is shared with other people who share our beliefs. They help us grow and
develop to reach our full potential as Catholics. When I was in high school, I used to be a guitarist in
our Worship Team during my school retreat. The worship teams perform the songs used for the prayer
and worship sessions. During that experience, while I was performing, I felt that more connected with
God because I was not just believing in Him, I’m also showing my belief for him and my love of Him
through these songs.
Another discussion that left a thought in my head is who is the Filipino Catholic. In the
discussion, we are shown the different religious Filipino traditions and celebrations. It also shows the
common characteristics of Filipino Catholics. My grandmother is a very devout Catholic. When I was
young, she would take me to her religious group, The Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and
Professionals, during Saturdays. This experience in my life showed that Filipinos are family-oriented,
that we in all things, including religion, love to our families to be a part of it. At young ages, parents let
their children learn the Word of God and raise them to be proper adults abiding to the Christian
lifestyle. Our spiritual journey is certainly more enriching and insightful when it is shared with other
people who share our beliefs.
1
Kevin DeYoung, “You Cannot Be Spiritual Without Being Religious”, June 19, 2002,
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/you-cannot-be-spiritual-without-being-religious/