Statistics show 33% of Americans spiritual but not religious

by Susan Marie Kovalinsky | August 23, 2009 at 07:40 am

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A decline in organized religion in the Untied States is coupled with the ascendancy of a minority - a sizeable and significant minority - who consider themselves "spiritual but not religious" (SBNR). . .

Polling data from an ARIS study conducted at the opening of the decade showed a significant shift away from organized religion, with an increasingly number of Americans designating themselves as "spiritual but not religious". The same study showed that more Americans define themselves as SBNR than the number who are Lutheran, Methodist, or Episcopalean taken as a whole. In a 2007 study, ARIS research projected that by the middle of the century, non-Christians in America will outnumber the Christians and asked openly if the U.S. were losing its Protestant majority.

Of course this would have political ramifications; since the early 1970s, the rise of fundamentalist and evangelical Christianity as a politcal force for the right has been steady and unrelenting. A sea level shift away from this demographic would drastically alter America's politcal and cultural landscape. Psychologists and sociologists know the impact of spiritual and religious beliefs on human behavior. One's transcendent views are not neutral but positive factors in the life process, and any aleration of these tend to show up in the voting booth , the media, and have numerous rippling consequences. Saucier and Skrzypinska in their academic paper, "Spiritual But Not Religious: Evidence for Two Independent Dispositions (Universtiy of Oregon) hypothesized that there is even a typology for this sort of division.

Clearly for Americans, this issue of spiritual versus religious perspective is entangled with the political mileau moreso than in European countries. It is evident that those who tend toward conservatism and have a proclivity for dogma and ritual would be less likely to consider themselves as "SBNR". Ian Lawton of Michgan is the founder of the Spiritual But Not Religous foundation and Community Church in west Michigan. (For more info see http://SBNR.org).

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a211423

at 10:33 on August 23rd, 2009

I consider myself spiritual but not religious. However, I do not reject organized religion en masse; for example, the saintliness of St. Francis is unique for universal love, gifts as a poet, his rapturous love of nature, and innate goodness. Rumi the 13th century Persian Muslim poet is unique as he is considered a theologian and poet, and his poetry has been read for centuries for their powerful spiritual images. He was praised and revered in his own time by all religions. Also, the teachings of Buddhism can be summed up in the Dhammapada, verse 183: Not to do any evil, to cultivate what is wholesome, to purify one's mind: this is the teaching of Buddhas.

To me being spiritual is inclusive, i.e., accepting the values of compassion, tolerance, and universal love can be found in most religious and spiritual beliefs. Discovering how the world philosophies and religions are alike, rather than how we are different is my path.

Susan Marie Kovalinsky

at 10:42 on August 23rd, 2009

Yours is a very good view, because you are inheriting and surpassing religion, instead of simply dismissing it. I think in America - you are in California so perhaps not quite so bad? - the bigotry and mean-spiritedness of much of the evangelical movement has scared people away from religion, and made them defensive and bitter. Not too evangelical of those Christians to have done such! You are obviously a scholarly type, and can reason and explore things calmly. For many people, they go by the "gut", and sense they need transcendence, but want to get away from all the "last judgement" rantings. ( Not so bad now as it was in the '80s, I guess). Thanks for those nice references! :)

a211423

at 11:54 on August 23rd, 2009

Yes, I live in California, but fundatmentalism is here also. My beliefs are in contrast to my daughters; however, I accept her values and beliefs and never demean or discredit them. Her views are basically conservative and mine are liberal. She is accepting of my beliefs.

My leanings are toward Emerson's interpretations of Transcendentalism with an intuitive approach to reality. The focus being on self-development of the individual, and correspondence between the human soul and everything in the universe. I particularly relate to his theory of what is now call intelligences which is a design principle of relative compensation. This purports that if a person lacked in one area, Nature would provide with another. However, conversely a great gift in one area meant a deficiency in another. This might seem punitive, but really it is not. Which brings us to the nature of reality and metaphysics. *sigh*

Susan Marie Kovalinsky

at 12:21 on August 23rd, 2009

Oh, you are an Emersonian, another thing we have in common. And i do understand the compensation theory as you relate it, because it was one of my favorite essays of his. As to the nature of reality and metaphyscis, yes, *weary sigh* lol ;) Your comments are like little essays, really lovely!

a211423

at 12:45 on August 23rd, 2009

Thank you smkovalinsy you are too kind. : )

Not many are willing to discuss a topic like religion and spiritualism. We are all so protective of our beliefs, and I am no exception. But I am willing to enter a conversation in the spirit of discovery!

Susan Marie Kovalinsky

at 12:49 on August 23rd, 2009

Yes, the spirit of discovery is the driving force of philosophy, which honors wisdom and not just knowledge! (& you are more than welcome! ;))

Sputnic

at 19:58 on August 23rd, 2009

There is a danger when experimenting with spiritual beliefs of falling for trickery, may I suggest that readers read the chapter of the Quran called The Jinn. Their is much great information inside.

Right wing Christian, how is that possible? Is it not easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven !

suzana megles. (not verified)

at 10:26 on August 24th, 2009

Anytime I see a name ending in sky - I think it is a slavic name. And when I think of the Slavs I think of my own ethnicity which is Slovak and many of us are Catholic. Yet you only covered the Protestants. Why is that? Of course there were Slovak Lutherans in Slovakia as well as here in America. Funny that I should see this article because I was rereading a 2008 Catholic Digest and they seem to not agree with your views. Per the Catholic news Agency - Most Americans believe in God. For me this means they are probably more than "spiritual." The Harris Online poll in 2008 revealed that the vast majority of Americans believe in God (82 %), miracles (79%), heaven (70%), and the devil (60%). And the poll also said that 70% consider themselves to be religious.

Susan Marie Kovalinsky

at 10:55 on August 24th, 2009

Well, this study resonates with what I have encountered. Methodology is sometimes skewed. Kovalinsky was my husband's name, who was Russian. And belonged to the Russian Orthodox Church. I have encountered among liberals mainly the "spiritual but not religious". I was raised to be "SBNR" so i never got indoctrinated into formal religion, and do not know what it is about.

suzana megles (not verified)

at 13:44 on August 24th, 2009

Thanx for clarifying. After posting, I also remembered that Jews living in Slavic lands had that "sky" ending as well. As re the Russian Orthodox- they are definitely Christian and as a Byzantine Catholic I relate to their liturgy and we recognize their having the true succession from the apostles. More than you want to know? Sorry. As you may have surmize - religion is important to me.

Susan Marie Kovalinsky

at 16:08 on August 24th, 2009

No, not more than I want to know; I am quite interested. Yes, I assumed my late husband's religion was akin to Catholicism, but he abandoned it. As I said, I never had any, not by choice: was not given any to identify with. You are lucky that religion is important to you. The "spiritual but not religious", I suppose, is not very rooted. Although Emerson is a good solid touchstone there. thanks....l.