Spirituality

According to Dictionary.com:
Religion: a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

Faith: belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion

Spirituality: predominantly spiritual character as shown in thought, life, etc.; spiritual tendency or tone.

To me, religion is the specific domination or practice that you believe. Your religion defines what you believe and how you live your life. Faith is your acknowledgement that there is a higher power and Spirituality is a connection to that higher power.

I don't necessarily define myself as a religious person. I'm a non-denominational Christian: I believe that Jesus was the son of God; that he died on the cross to forgive my sins and rose on the third day; I regularly pray. But, to me, a religious person is someone who devotes their life to God. And while I wish I could say that I have, at this point in my life, I haven't. For that reason, I define myself as a spiritual person. I think it would be hypocritical to compare myself to people like Mary Grace, who have clearly devoted their lives to serving God and living His word.

I do, however, feel like I have a connection with God. I pray when I'm scared and in need of strength. I pray when I'm sad and in need of uplifting. I pray when I'm angry or frustrated and in need of patience. I pray when I feel that someone else needs God's love in their life. I trust that God will show me the right way, in some form or another. For me, though, I seek to make that connection stronger. I want to WANT to live my life by His word; I want God to live through me.

USC is HUGEEE when it comes to religion. I feel like it's even bigger here than it is in Tennessee. Everytime you turn around, its there. Whether it is the nice ministers giving out those little green Bibles around campus, or that crazy man that stands in front of Thomas Cooper, yelling that we're all going to Hell, religion is something that is hard to escape. I think religion has had a HUGE influence on the culture of the South. But it doesn't bother me. I actually enjoy that fact that the society I'm living in follows God's word. It feels natural, and I don't know if I could get along in a place that wasn't so open to religion.