Originally posted by Doward
spirituality is more of a personal faith experience whereas religion is the formalized institution. Short answer: yes I believe the two can (and should) coexist. One should be religous AND spiritual.
That's about how I see it, but there is one thing I come upon when I imagine the difference between a religious person who is not spiritual (or not particularly spiritual), compared to a spiritual person who is not religious (or not particularly religious). I'm not going into much detail, because if the difference doesn't strike you as significant, then it doesn't. But I if I were seeking help dealing some issue in my life having to do with why I am here, or why did my loved one have to die, I would rather talk with someone I regard as spiritual but not religious, than someone I regard as religious but not spiritual.
Of course this could just be my attitude, and there are people who are both spiritual and religious, so it isn't black and white, it's shades of gray.
It seems to me that your point about being both, happens whenever spiritual people decide to regularly come together to share in their spirituality.