Spiritual or Religious?

I have pondered this thought for some time.  Am I Spiritual or Religious?  Some people who truly know me will say I am both.  My family would say that I am both as well.  When you look on the various websites, not just dating websites but Facebook profiles and the like - some people write they are Spiritual and not Religious.  Then I said to myself - what's the difference?  Growing up as a Catholic I always thought both were intertwined.  So I decided had to look it up myself.  According to Wikipedia and some other sites, at one point in time both Spirituality and Religion were intertwined.  Apparently with the New Millennium Spirituality took on another meaning or approach to Religion.  Both are seeking a righteous path to a "Higher Power" but in a different way.  The "Religious" are your traditional weekly church going congregation and attend weekly Bible Study groups.  While the "Spiritual" are not necessarily against tradition but use a beyond the norm practice of praying by meditation, lighting candles, burning incense - even reading New Age/ self-help books; and the occasional Yoga.

But my question is, do you have to attend a traditional service to be "religious?"  So if I like to meditate, practice yoga and read self-help books - I'm no longer considered religious but a "spiritualists?"  And is it possible to be both?  However if you read some peoples profiles, you get an inclination that they are neither Religious or Spiritual.  They believe in GOD and that's as far is their Religion or Spirituality.  If you ask me, some of these same people believe in a "GOD" and are neither Religious or Spiritual and never have been.
Sometimes I say to myself, "oh this person believes in a higher power, does not attend church, does not pray, does not own a Bible, and have no idea how to meditate."  Now does that make them an atheist?


All I can answer is for myself:  I am both Religious and a Spiritualist!  I attend Mass weekly, I light candles at home, burn incense (which they do in Catholic Churches), pray and meditate;  and I have a Bible at home as well as a Kabbalah, Quran, Wicca, and Chakra books.  I also practice Astrology, Numerology, do Tarot readings and follow the ways of my ancestors - the Yoruba people...

Peace Be Unto You,
ACHE

Rocky+