The notion of religion is sometimes separated from the spiritual approach. This separation may have a sense. In fact it is revealing two approaches of things that are confrontating many ideologies and traditions between and inside religions.
This opposition can be first found in Catholicism. In fact it is possible to say that an important spiritual tradition of Catholicism is linked to monastic life. We often tend to underestimate the role of Sulpicians, Chartreux and Franciscains in this process. During the Middle Ages those people succeeded to keep a vision of knowledge that was very important in this process.
This approach is showing that movement towards spirituality is a real wealth in the religious process. For instance the Chartreux monks use a lot of time studying and spending time alone. Loneliness is a real spiritual approach, that is really showing the importance of this process. Moreover it is possible to add that those approaches are seen a lot of time in religions: for instance we can say that, in Judaism, the Caballah is showing a process that is advocating a dialog with the transcendant. For instance the nice trees are showing a process of appearance of God. In this religion, God is retreating itself and the chosen people is preparing the advent of the Messiah in the long run.
In Islam, Soufism, funded by Rumi, is for instance advocating dance as a dialog with the transcendent. Preying is also an act of submission, for the reason that it is necessary to build an approach that is conform to the community of believers. To this extend, in Chiism, the Imam is the equivalent of the platonic philosopher, who is a guide to the believers. This structure is showing an approach that is really interesting.
If we go back to the contemporary world, it is possible to add that the time we live in, in my opinion, is two tied. First it responds to a search for identity which is really linked to the human nature. It is a reaction to globalization and its uniformization. That is the reason why this focus on tradition is, in a way, a sane approach. However the way it is done is much more problematic : communitarism, the rise of radical religious views, and the lack of education of actors is a real issue. It is necessary to focus on a serious approach concerning religion and its theories. Otherwise we may be open to all the problems of manipulations, for instance fake news. To this extend spiritual approach is very enriching : it is a link to individualism, it is a way to enrich dialog and go overcome barriers. This approach in philosophy looks like the Hegelian one, who wanted to go beyond the separation between nature and culture.
Preying is also a way for religion to reinvent itself. The development of modern science was putting into question the fact that conscience, for instance, was linked to God. Malebranche, for instance, developed the theory of occasionalism that was saying that God was manifestating itself at the occasion of ideas. What is described by Henry de Lubac as atheist humanism is often linked, on the contrary, on a manifestation of the emancipation of individualism. This approach of conscience will be reused by Kant, by Hegel with his notion of bad conscience and later Husserl with phenomenology. Those approaches are showing that the religious process has to encompass scientific progress, and focus more on an purely individual demeanor.
Recent theologians were confronted to this approach. For instance Mariton aimed to adapt to the modern world the theology of Sanct Thomas of Aquinas. To the same extend, the reformer Al Afghani criticized the views of Renan, which was saying that the muslim religion was decadent. But this theologian made a reflection on how to adapt the muslim religion to a modernity dominated by the Western world. Its focus on a demanding education and on a more spiritual approach looks to be compatible with the demeanor of Soufism for instance.
Those approaches are showing that religion, in my opinion, should be more individualistic. Of course the notion of community has a sense, especially humanly. Giving and sharing are notions in the heart of the notions of religions. However it is necessary as well to build an approach compatible with a more individualistic view. That is necessary for a freer approach of the religious demeanor, and fight communautarism that is spreading everywhere.
The observer 