There is a vital tension between the external structures of faith and the internal state of the practitioner. We examine why rituals require a prayerful heart to be more than a mere waste of time.

This episode breaks down the roles of religion and spirituality. Religion acts as the cultural setting and vessel that allows traditions to survive, while spirituality represents the essential life and goal of the practice: the purification of the mind and the cultivation of ethical values.

• Religion provides the tangible traditions and customs that support society.
• True spirituality is directed toward pleasing the Divine rather than satisfying social norms.
• A sincere emotional connection is the internal spirit required for any ritual to have meaning.
• Traditions survive through the ages because religious rituals m ...