Is there a difference between organized religions and Spirituality per se?

I notice a lot of people have a problem with organized religions and the adherents thereto. I am wondering if these religions and their seeming manipulation of dogma to control their “flock(s)” are completely at odds with the spiritual reality from whence they came.

It seems to me the only job a priest and any organized religion has is to help their brethren realize that they don’t need the priest nor church to communicate with the almighty (if he really exists). And then they should back off and themselves try really communicating with god. (which they don’t seem to have been doing very well for, oh…1000 years now.