When I was 14, my parents were going to a weird Christian spiritual center that was new age and modern. I was raised episcopalian but by moderate hippies; this church was pretty cool until the woman priest leader and some pals embezzled money and it got shut down.

Around the same time though, I was deeply in love with a girl from high school, which didn’t go well because I was wrestling with my faith (proud christian at the time) and she was “spiritual but not religious” – which was the weirdest term I’d ever heard and a total, satanic cop-out (or so I though at the time).

These days I’m probably spiritual but not religious myself, somewhere between agnostic and conspiracy theorist. Are aliens altering human history? Why not, who knows? So I put together this little article, hope you like it!

In a world where organized religion seems to be losing its grip on younger generations, a new label has emerged—Spiritual But Not Religious (SBNR). You’ve probably heard it before, or maybe even used it yourself. It’s the answer people give when they want to reject dogma without rejecting the idea that there’s something bigger, something sacred, out there. For some, it’s a thoughtful stance. For others, it’s a way to keep the door open to possibility while sidestepping pews and pastors.

But what does it really mean to be spiritual but not religious? And why are so many people gravitating toward this identity? Let’s dive into the rise of SBNR, what it says about modern culture, and why it feels so personal—even to people like me who grew up in the shadow of religion but never fully stepped into its light.

Where Did “Spiritual But Not Religious” Come From?

The roots of SBNR are surprisingly ancient. Long before it became a trending hashtag or a checkbox on a survey, the tension between spirituality and institutional religion was playing out in the philosophies of the world’s great thinkers. The Stoics in ancient Greece, for example, believed in cultivating inner virtue and aligning oneself with the natural order of the universe—a deeply spiritual approach that didn’t require temples or gods. Similarly, many of the mystics within Christianity, Islam, and Judaism pushed against rigid orthodoxy, seeking personal experiences of the divine that transcended rules and rituals.

In modern times, SBNR gained traction during the countercultural movements of the 1960s and 70s. Eastern philosophies like Buddhism and Hinduism found eager audiences in the West, while practices like yoga and meditation became ways to explore spirituality without attaching to a specific creed. The idea flourished in the decades that followed, fueled by dissatisfaction with institutional authority, growing secularism, and the rise of individualism.

Why Are So Many People Choosing SBNR Today?

Let’s be honest: traditional religion can feel restrictive. For many, it’s a set of rules you didn’t choose, handed down by people you don’t trust, to keep you in line with a system you don’t believe in. And that’s just the surface. Peel back a layer, and you find stories of abuse, hypocrisy, and exclusion that make the whole structure feel hollow.

Against that backdrop, it’s not surprising that people are looking for something more personal—something that feels authentic to their own experiences. In fact, recent studies show that younger generations are the least religious in history, but that doesn’t mean they’re less spiritual. They’re meditating. They’re burning sage. They’re consulting tarot cards and downloading astrology apps like Co–Star and The Pattern. And they’re finding meaning in these practices without feeling the need to attach themselves to a church or a holy book.

For me, this shift feels almost inevitable. It’s not that people are rejecting spirituality; it’s that they’re rejecting the idea that it has to come packaged with someone else’s rules. SBNR offers freedom—freedom to explore, to question, and to connect on your own terms.

What Does It Mean to Be SBNR?

The beauty of SBNR is that it can look different for everyone. For some, it’s about mindfulness and inner peace. For others, it’s about connecting with nature, exploring ancient traditions, or even creating their own rituals. Here are a few common threads I’ve noticed:

1. A Focus on Personal Experience: Instead of relying on scripture or sermons, SBNR individuals often seek direct experiences of the sacred. That could mean meditating under the stars, feeling awe during a hike, or even having a moment of clarity while journaling.
2. Blending Traditions: Many people in the SBNR camp draw inspiration from multiple sources. You might find someone who practices yoga, reads Buddhist philosophy, and wears a crystal pendant for protection—all while identifying as “spiritual but not religious.”
3. Ethical Living Without Dogma: Morality isn’t about following commandments; it’s about compassion, empathy, and doing what feels right. For SBNR individuals, being a good person matters more than adhering to a specific code of conduct.
4. Curiosity and Wonder: Above all, SBNR embraces the mystery of existence. It’s about asking big questions—Who am I? Why are we here?—without insisting on definitive answers.

The Criticism: Is SBNR Just a Trend?

Of course, not everyone is a fan of the SBNR movement. Critics argue that it’s shallow, self-indulgent, or even lazy—a way to avoid commitment while still claiming to be “spiritual.” And sure, there are people who treat spirituality like a menu of aesthetic choices, more interested in Instagramming their crystal collection than in doing the hard work of self-discovery.

But dismissing SBNR as a trend misses the point. For many, it’s not about branding themselves as “spiritual.” It’s about stepping away from systems that feel broken and finding practices that resonate on a deeply personal level. If anything, it’s a sign of how much people still crave meaning and connection, even in a secular age.

What SBNR Says About Modern Culture

The rise of SBNR isn’t happening in a vacuum. It reflects broader cultural shifts—toward individualism, skepticism of authority, and a desire for authenticity. In some ways, it’s a response to the failures of traditional institutions. When religion has been used to justify oppression, silence victims, or deny science, it’s no wonder people are looking elsewhere for meaning.

But it’s also a reflection of something hopeful: the idea that spirituality doesn’t have to look one way. You don’t need a church to find community or a holy book to ask big questions. Spirituality can be fluid, creative, and deeply personal—and still profoundly meaningful.

My Own SBNR Journey

I’ve always felt a strange pull toward the spiritual, even as I’ve kept religion at arm’s length. I don’t belong to any church, and I don’t claim to have any answers, but I’ve had moments—sitting under a vast night sky, walking through an ancient forest—where I felt something. Call it awe, call it connection, call it whatever you want. It’s those moments that keep me curious, keep me searching.

Maybe that’s why SBNR resonates with so many people. It’s not about abandoning the search for truth; it’s about redefining it on your own terms. And in a world as messy and chaotic as ours, that feels like a revolution in itself.

However: I’ve also found that our beliefs shape reality… when I had sleep paralysis I saw and heard terrifying demons; later it was aliens. One of my first spiritual encounters was the easter bunny. When I was on ayahuasca, I experienced all the supernatural things but didn’t believe they were REAL; others were talking to a goddess or mother because that’s what they expected. I was talking to a big goat man in the sky if I remember right, and elves… but I didn’t take those experiences are external manifestations of conscious beings.

A New Spiritual Frontier

The rise of the spiritual but not religious identity doesn’t mean the end of spirituality—it means a reimagining of what it can be. It’s an invitation to explore, to question, and to create meaning in ways that feel authentic to you. Whether that means meditating in silence, pulling a tarot card, or simply pausing to marvel at the beauty of existence, the SBNR movement reminds us that spirituality isn’t confined to the walls of a church or the pages of a sacred text.

In the end, it’s about something deeply human: the desire to connect—to ourselves, to each other, and to something bigger than all of us. And that’s a search worth celebrating.