Being spiritual but not religious

Area of Science:

• Psychology of Religion
• Sociology of Religion
• Cultural Anthropology

Background:

• Increasing prevalence of the 'spiritual but not religious' (SBNR) self-designation.
• Need for scientific literature review to understand the SBNR phenomenon.
• Ambiguity and diversity in SBNR conceptualizations and user motivations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To unpack the meaning of the 'spiritual but not religious' designation.
• To review existing conceptual and empirical analyses of SBNR.
• To identify demographic and cultural factors associated with SBNR.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of scientific literature.
• Analysis of conceptual frameworks related to spirituality and religion.
• Examination of empirical studies on SBNR populations, primarily Western.

Main Results:

• Significant diversity and ambiguity in how individuals understand and use the SBNR label.
• Correlation between SBNR designation and demographic/cultural background factors.
• Empirical evidence of a divergence between conventionally religious individuals and those with mystical tendencies.

Conclusions:

• The SBNR designation is complex, characterized by varied individual interpretations and motivations.
• Mystical tendencies, often associated with SBNR, are heterogeneous and not monolithic.
• Further research is needed to fully understand the multifaceted nature of spirituality outside conventional religious structures.