What Does It Mean to Be Spiritually Curious? A Guide for the Religiously Unaffiliated
According to the New York Times and a 2023 survey of 5000 Gen Z people in the United States, 40% of women and 34% of men declare themselves as “religiously unaffiliated.” While this number is not exhaustive and a proper representation of the overall Gen Z population, it does align with the Pew Research Center’s survey indicating that there has been an increase of young people declaring themselves religiously unaffiliated throughout the 2020s. In fact, in comparison to the average population growth, the religiously unaffiliated are outpacing almost every other religious category.
However, this isn’t a sign of an uncaring population – quite the opposite. In the same surveys, 86% believe people have a soul or spirit in addition to their physical body, and 79% believe there is something spiritual beyond the natural world. This coincides with the rise of Wiccan and witchcraft-esque beliefs in Gen Z, especially among the TikTok crowd.
The turn from organized religion as a whole seems to be driven by an overall need for identity exploration and growth. Which is where the term “spiritually curious” comes into play.
What is spiritual curiosity?
Spiritual curiosity is born from the exploration of other spiritual identities outside of your own. This can be as simple as doing research on Google or Wikipedia, all the way up to attending the services of different faiths to learn about their practices and beliefs. It’s defined by the search for understanding of the spirit and the divine, and can be seen as something spiritually neutral as opposed to spiritually damaging.
To those that are more strict and rigid in their beliefs, the spiritually curious can be seen as spiritual anarchists, defined by outspoken atheists and those that are only looking out for themselves. But just as there are different sects and differences in practice among the major religions, the spiritual but unreligious are not a single monolith defined by its most outspoken followers. They can be as community-minded and oriented as any other religious person, or have their own rigid belief system that lies outside of organized religions. This is why interfaith spaces are as important for the spiritual but unreligious crowd as they are for the religious folks.
Common questions from the spiritual but unreligious population:
1. Is it okay to explore multiple faiths?
Curiosity is a gift that all humans share, so it stands to reason that you’d be curious about what other people believe in. It’s quite alright to explore multiple religions, especially alongside someone from that faith. Just remember to stay safe, and ask a trusted person outside of the faith questions if you have any concerns or fears about the religion you’re researching. This is not a warning to stay away from any particular religion, but a reminder to stay safe when faced with religions that aren’t always welcoming to religious curiosity.
2. What if I never commit to a religion?
There’s no law that says you need to commit to a religion. If you’re happy with your beliefs and are just curious about other religions, it’s always okay to explore and return back with a better understanding of your set of beliefs. If you’re happy with simply being spiritual over religious, being curious will simply help you understand the basis of your beliefs and give you a deeper understanding of those around you.
Where do interfaith spaces come into play?
Interfaith spaces such as Tri-Faith Initiative play a large role in connecting the spiritually curious to other religions around them. While the name “Tri-Faith” indicates the 3 founding faith partners on the Tri-Faith Commons, the Tri-Faith Center itself is an interfaith center with no specific religious affiliation that is open to people of all religious identities–including the unreligious. Without a neutral place to learn, those that are spiritually curious may not get to experience a truly unbiased educational experience. These spaces are open to all to learn and to teach, and provide a non-judgemental place for those with questions to ask and answer.
How do you begin your journey as someone spiritually curious?
- Look into the different faith congregations that can be found in your city. You’ll be surprised what religions are represented within your city, all of whom will be happy to answer any questions you ask via email, phone call, or in person.
- Go to places like the Tri-Faith Initiative. Tri-Faith often features events with speakers from multiple faiths as well as their own educational programming to educate the spiritually curious.
The world was built on the backs of curious people. Without them, we wouldn’t know anything that we do now about the universe, each other, or ourselves. It’s natural to be curious about belief systems other than our own, so don’t be afraid to ask questions, attend services, and look to interfaith entities for guidance on your spiritual journey.
If you’re ready to get started, Tri-Faith is hosting a World Religions 101 class weekly starting in August. Stay turned to our social media channels for dates, times, and further information.
