In my understanding religions grow, are maintained and propagated in order to explain and contextualize personal spiritual revelations/experiences within a broader community/society. Religions are primarily communal in nature allowing societies to maintain social order in the face of often widely variable revelations about the divine, they create comfortable borders around these revelations and pull outliers (individuals with deep spiritual revelations) back in to the communal whole solidifying social norms. I would differentiate between religions and spiritual disciplines although I’m not sure others would…
I also agree with InJoy as to additional motivations that can fuel religions:
Quote:
Originally Posted by InJoy  I think it happens all the time. Often there are other things, completely outside the spiritual realm, such as money or other agenda, that drive some religions or religious groups. |
Spirituality is very personal in nature, often not translating well to others. I’m not so sure what definition is being used for spirituality, are you including feeling the presence of god/the divine/whatever name you use or are you defining spirituality as the practice of spiritual disciplines (yoga, meditation, prayer) which can exist either inside or outside of formal religions?