Spiritual But Not Religious

By Scott Sutton

Miami University journalism student

There are more than 4,000 religions in the world; however, while there are many people who practice religion and are religious, there are a number of people who consider themselves "spiritual but not religious."

The Interfaith Center in Oxford held a "spiritual but not religious" supper last Wednesday. Scott Wagar was the featured speaker.

Wager, a Miami alum, teaches writing classes in the English department and did his dissertation on the practice of the spiritual but not religious (SBNR). His presentation on SBNR explained how it has emerged as an identity marker claimed by a significant portion of the U.S population, including some churchgoers and atheists. Interfaith Center Director Mike Johnson says spirituality can bind people together.

"Spirituality allows us to connect," Johnson says. "It seems to be a natural experience, it compliments how our body and mind connect with each other."

The Interfaith Center’s mission statement is "to enable students and community members to share their deepest convictions, shape solution to common concerns, and deepen their understanding of both faith and non-faith perspectives."

In his talk, Wager made it clear that spirituality is different from religion. Religion, he says, is interpreted as institutional while spirituality is viewed as more individual and experiential. However, there is a lot of overlap between spirituality and religion. Many Americans consider themselves spiritual and religious.

In his classes, Wager has his students write about the topic.

"I want my students to be able to articulate the terms 'religious' and 'spirituality' themselves," Wager says. "I want to see what would come out but I agree that it is complicated. So much hinges on definitions and terms. There is just so many angles to it."

The idea is not without its opponents. United Church of Christ pastor Lillian Daniel wrote a piece for the Huffington Post called "Spiritual But Not Religious? Please Stop Boring Me." The pastor explains how people, once they find out what she does, try to explain to her that they are spiritual and not religious.

"There is nothing challenging about having deep thoughts all by oneself," she writes. "What is interesting is doing this work in community, where other people might call you on stuff, or heaven forbid, disagree with you. "

Interfaith Center Office Manager Judy Waldron says some people can find communion in being spiritual.

"Using the term spirituality is probably very helpful to many people who feel dissatisfied by what they think their experience has been with religion," says Interfaith Center Office Manager Judy Waldron. "If you use another term it gives them the opportunity to look into another direction. But they do find satisfaction in community and think the right thing to do is participate in religious activity."

The Interfaith Center holds a number of events that explore various aspects of religion and spirituality, including a weekly interfaith luncheon.

Photo: Venn Diagram of spirituality and religion -- Photo by Scott Sutton