The intersections, limits and confrontations between “Spirituality without Religion” and “Religion without Spirituality”: a first reading between Kant and Maslow

Abstract

This article critically examines the contemporary dissociation between spirituality and religion, using the philosophies of Immanuel Kant and Abraham Maslow as comparative axes. Drawing from the tension between “spirituality without religion” and “religion without spirituality,” the paper explores how these categories function as expressions of human experience amid belief pluralism, secularization, and the subjective reconfiguration of the sacred. Kant grounds spirituality in practical reason and moral autonomy, asserting that religion is legitimate only when it aligns with ethical rationality and upholds human dignity. Maslow, conversely, understands spirituality as a dimension of self-actualization, manifested through subjective experiences of meaning, unity, and transcendence—independent of institutional religion. The analysis demonstrates that spirituality and religion, though distinct, are not mutually exclusive but can complement each other when mediated by ethical values and a sincere search for meaning. The paper also addresses the risks of faith commodification in prosperity theology and the ethical challenges of non-directive spiritual movements. It concludes by proposing the inclusion of non-Western frameworks and empirical studies on everyday spiritual practices. Ultimately, ethical and reflective spirituality is presented as a legitimate path to meaning-making, particularly when rooted in moral responsibility and the recognition of otherness.