What is the relationship between religion and spirituality? Religion contains a powerful spiritual element insofar as its techniques perform two tasks: quiet the mind, and aid the discernment between temporary and eternal. The seeker should see religion and spiritual as a single ladder, and climb to whatever point they can, and practice there. Or they can see it as a key, and trace its curve to whatever point they are able and insert it there. The idea is to cultivate concentration and discernment by any means possible.