'Spiritual but Not Religious': A Rising, Misunderstood Voting Bloc

[rug]

No, they're not just atheists.

Steven Barrie-Anthony
Jan 14 2014, 7:00 AM ET

Spirituality is a big story in politics. Maybe as big a story as religion. It’s been more than a decade since evangelicals helped George W. Bush win the White House, and we’ve gotten used to the idea of the “values voter,” of religion as a political force. But while the evangelical bloc seems to have frayed a bit and liberal mainline religion continues to lose influence, another major religious category is gathering force and deserves politician and pundit attention—the “spiritual but not religious” vote.

A fifth of Americans check “none” on surveys of religious preference. Among the young adults under 30 who helped propel Obama into office, a full third check “none.” Atheist pundits are quick to claim these gains for their own, but that is not the case—nearly 70 percent of “nones” report belief in God or a universal spirit, and 37 percent describe themselves as “spiritual but not religious.” This may or may not be the story of the decline of “religion,” but it is clearly also the story of the ascent of “spirituality.”

Smart politicians and media observers will pay attention to this trend. There is the potential for spiritual voters to exert major influence this year and in 2016. Religiously unaffiliated voters are strongly Democratic in national elections, and a majority are socially progressive on issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage. But there is growth possibility for Democrats. While religious nonaffiliation has expanded rapidly in recent years, “nones” account for a flat 12 percent of voters in presidential contests since 2008. Over the same period, the percentage of “nones” identifying as Democrats fell slightly, while the percentage identifying as independents increased to half—good news for Republicans and third-party candidates. Republicans are unlikely to wring much from spiritual voters; but Democrats stand to gain significantly, or lose out, depending on their ability to inspire them.

The question is, will politicians study the category well enough to identify and appeal to broadly shared values and longings? Spiritual voters are a diverse cohort and do not come hand-delivered as a political bloc—but there are shared values and experiences that call out for political cultivation. Their support for progressive causes links up with a broader unease with religious, political, and financial institutions viewed as tainted by wrongheaded values and jaded self-interest.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/01/spiritual-but-not-religious-a-rising-misunderstood-voting-bloc/283000/

[get the red out]

1. I doubt they (we) will be considered

We are despised on all sides, the Christians hate us and the Atheists hate us.

And no, I have no desire to debate my beliefs with either.

[uriel1972]

3. I am an atheist and so far I have no reason to hate you...

Hurt people and that may differ, Otherwise you are fine by me.

[cbayer]

5. I think this group confuses both.

Some people desperately want you to be with them or against them and get antsy when you really aren't either.

But I think they will be more ignored than despised.

[cleanhippie]

14. I don't hate you.

Where do you get the idea that atheists hate you?

[Goblinmonger]

16. Yeah, I don't know where you get that atheists hate you.

Don't see that at all.

Never comes up in our secret meetings, that's for sure

[AtheistCrusader]

23. Do you legislate upon dogma invented around your spirituality?

If not, than we have no beef at all.

Try to re-order laws around your spirituality, and then we probably would have a problem.
Live and let live.

[longship]

28. Atheists don't despise those who label themselves spiritual.

Myself, an open and strongly professed atheist, I do not despise spirituals.

My problem is that I do not understand the terminology. If one is spiritual, isn't that professing a religious belief? So calling oneself "spiritual but not religious" seems to me to be saying, "I am religious, but not really." Or maybe it's "I am religious but don't believe in any particular organized religion."

I have no problem with any of those descriptions, or any alternatives. It just does not bother me that others have beliefs differing from mine. (At least as long as they keep them to themselves.)

[PotatoChip]

29. One can be 'religious' about anything.

But that does not necessarily mean they believe in a deity. "I religiously brush my teeth 3 times a day" would be an example.

re·li·gious
adjective \ri-ˈli-jəs\

: of or relating to religion

: believing in a god or a group of gods and following the rules of a religion

: very careful to do something whenever it can or should be done

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/religious

[longship]

31. Well, I think when somebody says they are religious (or not)...

...without a modifier one can assume that they are talking about religion, not about tooth brushing. And in this context it can only mean religion.

But you are technically correct.

[uriel1972]

2. I know people who go to Church...

Who describe themselves as "Spiritual, not religious".... go figure.

[TreasonousBastard]

4. Always been that way..

and not just with mainline churches. There are many reasons to go to church, and not all that many of them are religious.

Ever been to a UU service?

[uriel1972]

6. No..

But if you participate in a religious organization at a senior, just below the pastor level and really, really, speaking in tongues believe, might you not be a tiny bit religious. I am confused.

[TreasonousBastard]

9. There are a lot of those out there, but...

in the churches I've been to, very few members or attenders put much thought into "religious" questions. There are first communion and confirmation classes, but after that's over there isn't much to discuss about the whole God thing. Modern Quaker meetings don't even require a belief in a deity and there is a large set of atheist Quakers. UUs don't require any belief at all and you'll find their churches full of atheists and agnostics. Neither is allowed into the National Council of Churches because they don't subscribe to the Apostle's Creed. (Or is it the Nicene Creed? Or both? I never got that straight.)

Many people are looking for something "more" in life, and often the "more" is called spirituality for lack of a better description. The Lutheran church I was raised in was a conservative one, but I never got the impression that anyone but the pastor really believed everything in the King James bible. Nobody talked about it, anyway. The church was very active in other ways, though, and it seemed the congregation showed up for social reasons more than religious ones.

Historically, churches have been the social center for towns, and a place to catch up on family business, gossip, and recipes. With a little bit of religion thrown in. Once considered more respectable than the other social centers-- taverns, everything is changing now.

There are few active Quaker meetings around here, so, like all good Quakers, I attend the local Universalist church in town. UUs' don't bother me with the doctrinal stuff I'd get from the Presbyterians or Methodists (btw, the Catholic church is completely out) but we have full charitable, social, and arts programs and Sunday morning services offer a quiet meditation of a sort.

(And I have never heard anyone speaking in tongues, although a couple of the local drunks did a good impersonation while being carried home.)

[pinto]

7. "Spiritual voters are a diverse cohort and do not come hand-delivered as a political bloc"

I agree that there's an opportunity for Dem's here - if the party thinks a bit more "outside of the box". One would think a broad, progressive agenda would resonate with the none cohort. Set aside the labels, focus on the agenda.

[uriel1972]

8. Egads what an idea...

Become a progressive party, what will they think of next?

[cbayer]

10. Coalitions, coalitions, coalitions.

Dems need to start listening to and reaching out to this group.

They are generally young, idealistic, politically interested and left leaning.

Anyone who mocks them undermines our shared interests.

[Dawson Leery]

12. +1

[Starboard Tack]

11. Sounds good to me.

I consider myself a spiritual atheist. I think most people fall into the category of spiritual but not religious, regardless of church attendance, or even formally professed belief, such as Confirmation and Communion. I seriously doubt too many take the Creed literally. It's more about symbolism and ritual, which humans find comforting and unifying.
The only people who get bent out of shape are the fundamentalists and purists, be they religious or atheist.

[pinto]

22. Well said. I go to mass once or twice in a blue moon. I find the familiar ritual comfortable,

and enjoy joining with friends in the thing. I don't take communion when I go, have no intent to pretend to be a "practicing catholic".

Yet I like the ritual - the cadence and the format hasn't changed in all my life.

The inclusion of multiple languages for the standard Latin has been a plus - - the odd evangelical raising of the hands thing nowadays - whaa? - seems off to me. I still enjoy an occasional visit.

Most often, I simply go by the mission to light a candle and just sit. It can be a nice slice of life, imo.

[dimbear]

13. Another important group: religious but not spiritual.......

It gives a certain unity to the diagram........the Zen of Wenn....

[uriel1972]

15. An overnight thought...

Calling yourself 'Spiritual, but not religious' whilst maintaining, supporting and living within a religious community allows you to claim the benefits of that community, but absolving yourself of all the responsibility and negative aspects.

The atrocities, past, present and future, the discrimination, the scandals and so on. You don't have to make changes within the organisation because all those are part of 'Religion' and you aren't 'Religious'.

This may not be true of those who identify as 'SBNR', but the thought keeps nagging me. Maybe it's because I've seen the dark side of too many people. YMMV.

[cbayer]

17. Actually, they population they are discussing report that they are

"religiously unaffiliated" and don't maintain or support religious communities. I'm not sure what you mean by "living within".

[uriel1972]

19. I'm talking about those who go to a church and say they are 'SBNR'...

[cbayer]

20. I understand that, but that's not the group the article is addressing.

I might call the group you describe as "Religious but not Spiritual"

[PotatoChip]

25. If I had to put myself in a category, it would be

SBNR I suppose.

I don't attend church mostly due to bad memories of growing up in a strict authoritarian, rw fundamentalist environment during the 70's and early 80's... The Moral Majority, Jim and Tammy Faye Baker and their nauseating 700 Club, Falwell, Schlafly and Anita Bryant were all part of those memories.

I realize that type of intermingling of religion and rw politics is not true of many churches. But I somehow just can't bring myself to step inside any sort of organized place of worship to this day without a visceral feeling of dread and unease.

As a believer, I find the Bible to be comforting and uplifting in a myriad of ways, but something I prefer to partake of privately.

I agree w/CBayer. I would think that most who (like me) self identify as SBNR, are probably not churchgoers.

[rug]

18. Are the atrocities of the British Empire core to being a Briton?

[uriel1972]

21. Yes they are..

They are part of a shared past and must be acknowledged.

As an Australian of UK descent I am aware of the atrocities committed against the indigenous population by, if not my direct ancestors, then by their fellow white Australians.

I think, feel and act with this knowledge to try and weed out from myself the ingrained racist attitudes of white Australia. I also try and behave in a manner which will help indigenous people overcome their disadvantages in white society, even if this is reduced to voting for those committed to Indigenous rights.

If you share the good fortune, the privilege then you should accept the knowledge of the injustices that brought them about and try and rectify the damage. Even if you can only do little things like vote.

[LostOne4Ever]

24. Spiritual but not religious?

Not affiliated with religion but believes in God(s)/Universal spirit/Etc.?

Sounds like a type of Deism to me. Though based on the passage above they would probably be subgroups of the "nones."

[DinahMoeHum]

26. "Religion is for people who are afraid of going to hell. . ."

". . .Spirituality is for people who have already been there. . ."


- so it has been said

[cbayer]

27. Said by the person that I would most like to be reincarnated as - Ms. Bonnie Raitt.

[PotatoChip]

30. Oh, I like that!