Spiritual, But Not Religious

What percent of Americans, according to the best and most recent statistics (both GSS and Baylor’s study are nearly the same here), are “spiritual but not religious”? And what is a profile of the “spiritual but not religious” person? (Fascinating.)

Again, I’m using What Americans Really Believe

. Here are their numbers:

Spiritual but not religious: 10%

Spiritual and religious: 57%

Religious, but not spiritual: 17%

Neither: 16%

Now the profile of the 10% of Americans who say they are spiritual but not religious:

Gender: women are slightly more likely

Race: both Whites and African Americans are about the same

Age: 18% of those under 30 say they are … and the numbers decrease as age goes up.

Education: 6% of those who did not attend college are; 12% of those who attended grad school.

More after the jump…

Politics: Repubs 5% Dems are at 11% and Independents are at 16%.

Now it gets even more interesting. It’s all about “conventional religious practices.” Weekly church attendance (14%), prayer daily (27%), Bible reading weekly (13%), the Bible as legend etc (59%)…

Now even more interesting:

Spiritual but not religious see God as a higher power or cosmic force (44%), fatherly (50%), a “he” (24%), mystical (21%) and theological liberal (35%) and feels at one with the universe (42%).

Basically, this group of people rejects a materialistic worldview and conventional religion. The spiritual but not religious people also approve of marijuana use (72%), homosexual marriage (68%), physician-assisted suicide (74%). Of the women who fit this category, 56% consider themselves a feminist.

Spiritual, but not religious