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In Dale Canons book "6 Ways of Being Religious" an excellent case study of "The Way of Right Action in Buddhism and Christianity" can be found. (Chapter 11). Here I give you an example of a personal case study done by a Dutch native.

Spirituality is mostly confined to the “ private chambers” within today’s western society. So finding out whether a way has actually become a way of drawing nearer to Ultimate reality has also become a private matter. The 6 Ways can be witnessed in Dutch society as following:

The way of sacred rite

As shown in the investigation  God in Nederland, fewer and fewer people seek the Christian (Protestant or Roman Catholic)Church as an institution for guidance in this way. Believe has become a private matter for the most people I know. In churches one sees generally only the elder people joining in service. (Apart from Pentecostal and Jehovah’s witnesses movements). 

The way of right action

From the fact that basic needs are (more or less)catered for by secular means one can say that the way of right action(As being primarily Calvinist) has been a strong one in Dutch society since the beginning of last century.

The way of devotion

The growth in the Pentecostal Church and (less) in Jehovah’s witnesses movements I can say that the need for this way of devotion is growing stronger within Dutch personality types.

The way of Shamanic Mediation

“ Our”  own Dutch Shaman Jomanda who is world wide popular gives an example of the need within Dutch society for this way of being religious. Also the grown popularity of healing stones , New ages movements give a way of expression to these personality types.

The way of Mystical Quest

Few mystics to be found in Holland, small groups of people who follow that path are to be found, hardly mentionable on the religious chart. If so primarily Buddhist tradition, since it appeals to the “ atheist” .

The way of reasoned Inquiry

Generally the road “ most”  taken. Science as a whole is strongly cultivated in western society. Within the religious disciplines (University etc) we can see a decline though of people interested in following that specific path. 

As an answer to the question how I define “ my religion”  within the framework of Dale Canon : 

The way of sacred rite. Being well basically perfecting outward gestures and using tools to achieve high goal. What counts is the inner state, so in a way a scientist does the same, only calls it differently and may, or may not connect it with an "irrational", higher goal.

The way of devotion. Submission to a higher goal, usually directed  towards an intermediary. Again the inner state counts, so outwardly this could go from baking bread to cutting diamond,  all within fortune and fame. 

The way of right action. Action directed towards a higher goal. We all think what we do is the way of right action, by loving our children, by going to school etc. Need not be said all depends on the inner state we do it with. A mother stealing food for her children is in essence, no less on the way of right action as mother Theresa was. 

The way of shamanistic mediation. Been in an altered state of mind, dreaming, love, drugs, war, questioning who is thinking in your mind? Well I guess we are all shamans, again in our inner state. 

The way of Mystical Quest. Union minded? Been born inside a womb? Guess we got to have that one in common, somewhere. The Mystic only “claims” to be in union now with the God, what counts again is our inner state.

The Way of reasoned inquiry. Why, When, Where, How, What, Who? Ever asked questions starting like that? Need I say more?

The next part is an explanation in detail, but the above explains a bit about how I interpreted the ways as described earlier. Because it is my individual way it looks different, but of course, we are all uniquelie, intuned in our way to the “higher Goal”. All 6 Ways include vices and virtues (underlined words), concerning how they can be used. I limit the following to my own 2 primary ways.