It has become increasingly popular for people to deny that they are religious or a member of a religion, all the while espousing religious doctrine and encouraging religious practices. Sometimes it seems that there are no religious people left in the modern world at all.
Between 10% and 33% of people in the U.S. identify as “spiritual but not religious,” a curious phrase considering that historically the two terms were synonymous. For example what people now label “spiritual experiences” are extensively described in William James’ 1902 The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature. Before you read on, think about the connotations of “spiritual” versus “religious” that you have and that you hear in the culture. What’s the difference?