EP. 24: Spiritual But Not Religious - with Dr. Terri Daniel

If you identify as “spiritual but not religious,” you are not alone. Do you know there’s now an acronym for that?  It’s called S.B.N.R., and it’s a new buzzword that signals a growing trend

In this audio excerpt from the 2022 Symposium on Death and Bereavement Studies, Dr. Terri Daniel explains what it means to be “Spiritual But Not Religious." As more and more Americans relinquish specific religious identities , the movement has earned its own acronym… SBNR. Along with the designation of SBNR, two additional categories have emerged known as “none” (no particular religious affiliation) and ”done” (no longer affiliated). 

The rise of “Nones, Dones and SBNRs” (N/D/SBNR) in America’s spiritual landscape is a source of heated debate in many theological circles, and as one might expect, opinions are often divided along party lines. Conventional religious communities think it’s unacceptable to “cherry pick” spiritual ideas and cobble together a personal theology.  But on the other side of the aisle, progressive thinkers can’t imagine relating to the divine any other way. 

As an example of two vastly different views from noted theologians, Harvard Divinity professor Harvey Cox  observes that “people are drawn more to the experiential than to the doctrinal elements of religion.”[1]  And in stark contrast, UCC minister Rev. Lillian Daniel disdainfully refers to SBNR theology as a “cheap god of self-satisfaction.” [2]
 

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