Thanks for the replies everyone. I find this very interesting.

Spirtuality is important to me. I have been studying the bible for some 15 years I realize that there is a force out there larger than us. I also believe in the big bang and used to teach it at school when I was teaching. Something must have started the big bang or created particles and the like. I don't pray and I don't believe in a personal God however I see God in everyone I meet really seeing the good in people. Spirtuality is being at peace with yourself and the world. You can achieve this by prayer or mediation. It is the force that recognizes that "I am" and is surely a part of good mental health.

Spirituality or Religion?

Well I kind of have a mix of the two.... I have a religion I ascribe too and then I also believe in meditation.... getting somewhere totally quiet (it's hard to find trust me) and clearing my mind.... being silent, at peace.... of course, it is a challenge for me to stay consistent... lol imagine that!! So I just do the best I can...... :-)

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=5ET8zhjeYMs

Trouble is, we shouldn't even have to ask such a question. Our ancestors took it for granted that the spiritual life was real, important, and unavoidable. We have learned to think like scientists, and that if it can't be proved, it isn't real. Spirituality is something that humankind has only recently tried so hard to eradicate from every day life.
Spirituality is as real and necessary as much as our physical and mental welfare.
Scientists did brain scans on some test subjects to show what parts of the brain were most active when people were, meditating, praying, reading religious texts, etc. A certain part of the brain always came up, and they said this was the same part of the brain that was active when people did certain drugs, (I think acid and stuff? Idk.). But, their findings also showed that these spiritual and/or religious activities had many physical and mental benefits. In other words, maybe the "spirit" does indeed reside in the brain. The main difference between the two philosophies is that with spirituality, there is more awe, wonder, and acceptance of the fact that we don't know it all. When one feels that they can rattle off the explanation for an emotion or passion as being a two sentence description of a chemical reaction in the brain, there is no awe, and often, there is the arrogance of believing that one has it all wrapped up, we learned it in sixth grade, so it's old hat, right? Nothing spiritual can really be absorbed well with that kind of attitude. Yes, I believe that even an atheist can be spiritual.

Knowing God gives me hope for a better future even if it is after I die. When depressed I need that hope to help me hang on.

Believing in God and putting my trust in him helps me to go on, especially when I am down.

I know he's there and I believe in my salvation, but it's like someone saying they're at home but all indications tell you they're not. I just can't find him right now so my faith and hope are pretty shaky at best.

My own belief in God has helped me get through the really tough times. During those times it may seem that God has left you but He hasn't. When the physical or mental side of us becomes more prominent, as in an illness, it tends to overshadow the spiritual side of us. I know that God is always watching over me, even when I can't feel Him.

I am a very spirtiual person. I believe in a few supreme beings. It is all in what you believe and its your own decision. You do whats in your heart. Dont let anyone make your mind up for you. I believe being more spirtual will help you in your journey keep that in mind.

I have read pretty much every spiritual book out there. In a way they made me feel like I couldn't be like the authors claimed to be, so at peace and perfect all the time. They do inspire me to try and be as calm and peaceful as much as I can. I realized that I had to celebrate my imperfections and downfalls because I am human and whose to say that every part of us is not beautiful. That's my rant anyway.

yes although it is hard i try to think that if G-d gave me these problems He is the only one that can take it away. Or they are for the good in the end. I cant pray so much or think too much about these things now- though i need to. The lord wouldnt have made me if I were worthless. I tell myself that anyway