Very neat to differentiate between religion and spirituality, how religion can be a stepping stone but spirituality delves further into the soul. Growing up in a Christian household, there really wasn't any other choice, and my sibling and I went to Sunday school etc. We weren't taught that we had options until we were almost adults. By that point, so much of what we were taught relied on regulations or rules and I realized there was more to it than that. That's what makes different religions so beautiful. I feel like every child should have the choice and grow to know other faiths, if they choose to, if they want to. One of my favorite classes I took as a teen was ecumenism, learning about other denominations and traditions. I learned a great deal, especially the similarities and how we interpret or can mold religion into being spiritual in daily life. I am not Christian anymore, but appreciate this poem and your thought process and understanding in it. My only critique is that I think the length of the poem dulled the message and that some stanzas could be omitted. Certain parts became too repetitive and the poem could maybe hold and keep that strength with fewer stanzas, since your voice is clear in this already.

Thanks for sharing, keep writing!