The Rise of Spirituality
—not religious, by: Dr. Denise Renye (curated).
If I asked you to describe your spiritual or religious views, what would you say? Would you identify as someone who is spiritual and not religious? If so, you’d be a part of the 70% of U.S. adults considered “spiritual” because they say spirituality is very important in their lives.
There is enough overlap between what people mean by spirituality and what they have in mind by religion that nearly half of U.S. adults indicate they are both spiritual and religious, according to a survey from Pew Research. And then there are 22% of U.S. adults who count themselves as spiritual but not religious.
What exactly is spirituality?
It’s deeply personal and hard to define but many will tell you it’s primarily about connection to something greater than themselves. How people connect varies widely—prayer, meditation, getting outside, lighting candles, rituals, etc. That’s the beauty of being spiritual—you can do whatever works for you. You don’t have to let someone else tell you what to do.
Is interest in spirituality increasing? Do more people identify as spiritual and not religious than in years past? It’s hard to say definitively but previous Pew research found a decline in traditional religious beliefs and practices. Specifically, that meant a drop in the number of U.S. adults who say they believe in God with absolute certainty, attend religious services regularly, pray daily, and consider religion to be very important in their lives.
I have gathered qualitative data on spiritually embodied spiritual experiences and practices. Spirituality is increasing and I see this as an expression of whispers about an unseen world not wholly governed by logic and reason. The Divine sings a song of creativity, joy, and connection that is for you and you alone. Identifying as a spiritual person may mean saying, “No thank you” to the hierarchy present in many religions and recognizing there is a Self within you that is wise, compassionate, and all-knowing. A spiritual practice helps you get in touch with this Self.
It's for this reason we care so deeply about spirituality. A spiritual practice is complementary to therapy and depth coaching because it can help to provide access to the internal world. This internal world is where healing happens because it’s the untarnished part of yourself that is already whole, complete, and perfect.
Some people may say that the rise of “spiritual but not religious” reflects the downfall of society because people are straying from moral values that are often found in religions, but it’s the opposite. The rise of “spiritual but not religious” means people are more connected than ever before—to themselves, each other, and something Greater than themselves.
Spiritual disconnection has consequences so encourage spirituality, whatever that means for you. Talk the talk of an individual who is more “spiritually evolved.” Spirituality is also grounded and includes reality, not just “love and light.”
Spiritual Bypassing
It’s important to be aware of “spiritual bypassing,” where spirituality is used to sidestep issues. True spirituality is grounded and acknowledges both light and shadow. It’s an invitation to explore, heal, and connect in ways that are uniquely meaningful to you. Your spiritual practice is your compass, guiding toward wholeness.
05/18/25