I don't like the dogma of organized religion which tells a person the answers for them and never allowing the person to discover his or her own secrets to truth and their life journey.
Buddha said, "However many holy words you read, However many you speak, What good will they do you, If you do not act upon them?" Precisely, one can regurgitate the lessons from the scriptures but they don't teach you how to think for yourself and find the answers within. True wisdom comes from within. One develops a grounding of philosophical tenets that stand in good stead in times of adversity. A person learns critical thinking skills along with the use of reason. Without this training one is apt to fall under the spell of blind spots, denial, rationalization and emotional reasoning. This is true no matter how many days you go a religious institution.
To me the best representation of spirituality can be found in nature. I admire those religions and Native beliefs that have close ties to Mother Earth. We here in the West have lost this spiritual connection to Mother Earth or Gaea as the Puritan faith does not give much info on our fellowship with animal-kind. More the pity.
“The spiritual path is not a solo endeavor. In fact, the very notion of a self who is trying to free her/himself is a delusion. We are in it together and the company of spiritual friends helps us realize our interconnection.†Tara Brach
"The path of spiritual growth is a path of lifelong learning." M. Scott Peck
"The requirements for our evolution have changed. Survival is no longer sufficient. Our evolution now requires us to develop spiritually, to become emotionally aware and make responsible choices. It requires us to align ourselves with the values of the soul: harmony, cooperation, sharing, and reverence for life." Gary Zukav