Spiritual But Not Religious
Mike Ervin

Below is a comprehensive summary of the key findings and insights from Pew Research regarding those who identify as “spiritual but not religious” (SBNR):

Scale of the SBNR Identity

  • 22% of U.S. adults describe themselves as “spiritual but not religious”—meaning they consider themselves spiritual, but either don’t call themselves religious or say religion isn’t very important in their lives.
  • Among U.S. adults overall:
  • 64% identify as spiritual
  • 53% as religious
  • 38% say they are both spiritual and religious
  • 25% are spiritual but not religious
  • 14% are religious but not spiritual

Core Beliefs and Definitions

  • A vast majority across all groups hold spiritual beliefs:
  • ~83% believe in a soul or spirit
  • ~81% believe in something beyond the natural world
  • ~74% say there are things science cannot explain  
  • SBNR individuals:
  • Often see spirits in nature ~71% believe spiritual energies inhabit places like mountains, rivers, or trees  .
  • Define spirituality in terms of connection: to nature, inner self, or a higher reality.

Belief in Traditional Religious Concepts

Compared with religious people, SBNR individuals are less likely to believe in:

  • Biblical God: Only ~20% affirm belief, versus majority among religious individuals
  • Heaven: 54% vs. 93%
  • Hell: 40% vs. 83%  

Religious Affiliation & Community

  • About 45% of SBNR individuals still identify with a religion (21% Protestant, 12% Catholic).
  • Only 11% participate in religious communities, compared to 62% of religious people .
  • Engagement in non‑religious “spiritual communities” is also low: 13% vs. 18% of religious people.

Attitudes Toward Organized Religion

  • 38% of SBNR say organized religion does more harm than good, compared to only 7% among regular religious Americans  .
  • They often see their identity more as a reaction against religion than an affirmative one—Nancy Ammerman describes it as “a kind of negative identity”.

Demographics & Politics

  • Gender: 57% of SBNR individuals are women  .
  • Some research suggests women find “spiritual” less stigmatizing than identifying as atheist.
  • Age: SBNR tend to be younger: 25% are ages 18–29, 43% ages 30–49  .
  • Politics:
  • SBNR lean significantly Democratic: ~60% identify or lean Democrat vs. 34% Republican.

Spiritual Practices & Meaning

  • SBNR individuals often find meaning through nature, meditation, ritual, and mindfulness rather than religious worship.
  • Their spiritual engagement frequently includes:
  • Feeling connected to nature
  • Experiencing awe, a sense of something greater
  • Engaging in rituals or customs - though less formalized  

Context & Broader Trends Feature Spiritual but not       Religious (SBNR) % of U.S. Adults ~22% Belief in soul/spirit ~83% Belief in nature spirits ~71% Believe in Biblical God ~20% Believe in heaven/hell 54% / 40% Religious affiliation 45% (Protestant 21%, Catholic 12%) In religious community 11% In spiritual community 13% Religion does harm 38% Gender 57% women Age (18–29) 25% Democratic-leaning ~60%

  • Younger generations continue to move away from organized religion, yet express high levels of spirituality - a blend of individualized belief and ritualistic needs .
  • The rise of SBNR appears tied to:
    1. Distrust or rejection of institutions perceived as conservative, excluding, or corrupt.
    2. A desire for personalized spiritual experiences, often drawn from multiple traditions.
    3. A need for ritual, connection, and meaning amid modern stress  .

Takeaways

  1. SBNR is a sizable and stable portion of the population, rooted largely in disillusionment with religion, not a lack of spirituality.
  2. Spiritual but not religious does not mean non-spiritual - they hold strong beliefs in souls, higher realities, and non-material experiences.
  3. Their spirituality is sensual and individual - connected to nature, ritual, awe - yet not tied to doctrinal structures.
  4. Ritual and communal forms are still important, but often sought outside traditional institutions.
  5. This reflects a broader trend of deinstitutionalized, individualized spirituality, especially among younger generations.

Spiritual But Not Religious

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