For years, the terms “religion” and “spirituality” have been synonymous and often their derivative forms were used interchangeably. Even an English thesaurus will list these words as having the same or similar meanings. Today, more people are self-identifying as spiritual but are not necessarily affiliated with a particular belief or faith. Many individuals are intentional about carving out a space in their regular routines for spiritual care as opposed to making time for religious activities such as church attendance. Let’s take a closer look at this modern idea of being “spiritual but not religious.”
Examining the History
According to some religious scholars, the idea of spirituality as distinct and separate from religion began in the 1960s as a new Romantic movement at the time. Romantic movements tend to arise from individual feelings, acts, and experiences during periods of solitude. They also tend to resemble spiritual movements, which emphasize the mystical and unorthodox. Additionally, there tends to be less structure and more ambiguity in spiritual and romantic experiences, which contrast with the rule-based order of many mainstream faiths.
In 2012, the Pew Research Center conducted a study that showed the number of Americans who did not identify with any religion had increased from fifteen to twenty percent in the previous five years. Today, over twenty-five percent of the US population do not identify with any faith. Per the Pew Research Center, twenty-seven percent of adults view themselves as spiritual but not religious. This growing trend appears to cross lines of gender, race, ethnicity, age and even political party affiliation.
Exploring the Differences
You might think that spiritual but not religious types are agnostic or atheist. The reality is that many people who identify this way aren’t as much anti-religious as much as they don’t want to be controlled or restricted by religious dogma. According to research, many spiritual but not religious people feel a tension between spirituality and its emphasis on the personal and religion’s focus on rules and conventions. A more accurate description of spiritual but not religious types might be that they put a great emphasis on the personal and less on what’s institutional. Concepts such as intellectual progressiveness, autonomy, freedom, and mystical hunger tend to be very popular among those who embrace spirituality and reject the structure and piety associated with organized belief systems.
Categorizing Spiritual but Not Religious
As per some scholars, spiritual but not religious people tend to fall into these categories:
- Dissenter: This describes those who are intentional about moving away from organized religious institutions. This group includes those with negative personal experiences about established faiths as well as those who are largely skeptical of religion and don’t consider it to be essential to spirituality.
- Casual: This person views spirituality as therapeutic with respect to well-being. It boosts mental health, emotional support, and relief of stress.
- Explorer: This refers to spiritual but not religious people who seem to be curious about matters of the spirit and are constantly on a journey. The emphasis is on the journey and not a particular spiritual or religious destination.
- Seeker: Unlike explorers, seekers look to commit to a spiritual home.
- Immigrant: This includes people in an environment that is radically different from what they’re accustomed to. For these people, adjustment can be a difficult process.
Criticizing Spiritual but Not Religious
Some of the most vocal critics of this movement are adherents of organized religion. Common criticisms include the idea that spiritual but not religious people are self-centered who equate their knowledge and growth of self with knowledge of God. Another criticism includes deliberate or inadvertent cultural appropriation of indigenous, African, and Eastern faiths.
A changing world includes evolving and emerging faiths and belief systems. Some descend from ancient traditions, while others appear to have more modern origins. As more people prioritize spirituality over religion in their day-to-day life, it’s important to recognize their worldview as valid.