A bit of dictionary background before I divulge, bare with me, it will all come together in the end!
Dictionary.com defines religious as the following:
1. of, pertaining to, or concerned with religion: a religious holiday.
2. imbued with or exhibiting religion; pious; devout; godly: a religious man.
3. scrupulously faithful; conscientious: religious care.
4. pertaining to or connected with a monastic or religious order.
5. appropriate to religion or to sacred rites or observances.
The site defines spiritual as the following:
1. of, pertaining to, or consisting of spirit; incorporeal.
2. of or pertaining to the spirit or soul, as distinguished from the physical nature: a spiritual approach to life.
3. closely akin in interests, attitude, outlook, etc.: the professor’s spiritual heir in linguistics.
4. of or pertaining to spirits or to spiritualists; supernatural or spiritualistic.
5. characterized by or suggesting predominance of the spirit;ethereal or delicately refined:
After reading both definitions, I’m not sure which one I fall under. I guess I have always thought of myself as a more spiritual person than religious. I say that because, in terms of my own beliefs, I think I can define spiritual better than religious. I believe there is a higher power that is responsible for life and everything on earth and I believe our souls/spirits move on to another place when our bodies can no longer sustain life. I will admit, I cant understand much of what is written in the bible. I might understand 10% of it. Which is why I dont like talking about this kind of thing. I dont know enough about the bible and I dont know how I feel about the bible and the things that are written in it. Dont get me wrong, I have tried to sit and read the bible but without someone who really understands what is written helping me interpret it, I retain nothing, I understand nothing. Just like when I was in school. I was never good at studying and my grades where a direct reflection of that. But in school I didn’t really have the drive to retain anything. Hence why it took me almost 8 years to get my Associates degree. But when it comes to the bible I do want to learn, understand and interpret the writings.
A few weeks ago my husband, son and I started attending Sunday service at The Rock of KC. It has been 10+ years since I have been to church. Back then it was for different reasons; If I didn’t get up and go with the family, I was grounded. I didn’t understand why my parents made my brother and I go to church. It was a burden to us. I know my parents had good intentions in taking us to church. As an adult with my own child, I am starting to see those intentions reflected in my own decisions. Today I have other reasons for going. Since our son was born, my husband and I have talked a lot about religion, the church and what it means to us and what we want our son to believe in and be a part of. It makes me a little sad that our son has not been baptized yet. I want to know that if he is taken from us that his soul will go on to a better place. I believe in my heart that he will, but I feel like I need the church and God to confirm it. OK, so now that I am on the verge of hysterical crying from typing that…let me regain my composure… Since we have been going to church, it feels good to be a part of that kind of community again. It feels good to be a part of something bigger than myself. We have made some amazing friends and with Pastor O’Rielly teaching the word of God, I am starting to understand what my relationship with God is all about, which was the whole point all along.
And when our son is grown and old enough to make his own decisions on the matter, I hope that he has learned from us and sees how this choice has bettered our life, until then he’s going to church with us or hes grounded 
