In the 19th century, the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche famously declared, “God is dead.” Many people who are termed and who call themselves “spiritual but not religious” (SBNR) would agree.
It is important to point out that Nietzsche was not talking about the literal death of God, but rather the death of religious ideologies and religiously sanctified ideas about God. Nietzsche was alluding to the difficulty that traditional religions are having in retaining relevance in the modern world, a fact that the growing subset of unchurched people (currently 20 percent of Americans, according to BeliefNet.com) attests to.
Differences Between People who are Spiritual and People who are Religious
On first glance, it may seem like the terms “religious” and “spiritual” are similar, but in the view of religious traditionalists and spiritual seekers the words describe opposing points of view.
The term “religious” is usually interpreted as meaning adherence to a particular religion, orthodox doctrine, and consecrated belief structure, while the term “spiritual” is less rigidly defined and can encompass ideas from various, and sometimes seemingly discordant, faith traditions as well as personal spiritual ideas.
The BeliefNet.com article “Spiritual But Not Religious” notes that SBNRs “[forsake] formal religious organizations … [and] have instead embraced an individualized spirituality that includes picking and choosing from a wide range of alternative religious philosophies. They typically view spirituality as a journey intimately linked with the pursuit of personal growth or development.” The Pew Forum also addressed this spiritual cherry picking phenomenon in its 2009 study.
Religious individuals, on the other hand, are highly devoted to a particular religious organization and take many of the beliefs inherent in such a religious framework on faith.
Reasons People are Spiritual But Not Religious
Many unchurched people are agnostic to varying degrees. Many of these seekers are college educated and have found it difficult to accept many religions’ exclusive claims to truth, which are contradicted by their own study of scientific findings as well as their exploration of various cultures and belief systems.
CNN’s article “Are there dangers in being 'spiritual but not religious'?,” quotes theology and philosophy professor June-Ann Greely, who observed, "Religion demands that we accord to human existence some absolutes and eternal truths, and in a post-modern culture, that becomes all but impossible.”
Many SBNRs have also had negative experiences with religious institutions and church leaders. Some grew up in church organizations they found stifling. Some discovered that too much questioning of religious doctrine got them in trouble. Others butted heads with religious authorities over issues of morality and values – some finding religious dictates to be too constricting and out of touch and others discovering the institutions and members to be hypocritical.
Are SBNR Seekers a Threat to Religions?
Some religious leaders believe spiritual but not religious people pose a threat to organized religion. The CNN article explains how religion scholars warn that “seminaries, churches, mosques and other institutions will struggle for survival if they don't somehow convince future generations that being religious isn't so bad after all.”
Perhaps reacting partly out of fear, some leaders of world religions label the unchurched as lazy and egotistical. They point out SBNRs feel they do not need and have evolved beyond an established religious foundation, and, because of this perception, they forsake the benefits religions offer – a strong spiritual foundation and sense of community.
Jesuit priest James Martin, also quoted in the CNN piece, remarked, "Being spiritual but not religious can lead to complacency and self-centeredness. If it's just you and God in your room, and a religious community makes no demands on you, why help the poor?"
Despite the pitfalls inherent in going it alone, SBNRs are content to forge their own spiritual path, abandoning the authority of religious leaders and discarding packaged institutional answers.
Sources:
Are there dangers in being “spiritual but not religious”?, CNN.com. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
SBNR Community, SBNR.org. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
Spiritual, But Not Religious, BeliefNet.com. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
Aimee Larsen Stoddard - Aimee is a professional writer/editor. She has a BA in English and is currently completing an MS in Theology.
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