Spiritual Seeking in the United States: Report on a Panel Study
This paper examines the rise of a spiritual quest culture in the United States. A large-scale survey of the post-World War II baby-boom generation reveals high levels of fluidity, of people moving in and out of religious groups and of frequent changes in beliefs and practices. The term “spiritual” i...
Salvato in:
| Pubblicato in: | URI:https://journals.openedition.org/assr, |
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| Autore principale: | |
| Natura: | Article ou chapitre numérique |
| Lingua: | Anglais |
| Pubblicazione: |
Archives de sciences sociales des religions
2009
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| Accesso online: | Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM |
| Riassunto: | This paper examines the rise of a spiritual quest culture in the United States. A large-scale survey of the post-World War II baby-boom generation reveals high levels of fluidity, of people moving in and out of religious groups and of frequent changes in beliefs and practices. The term “spiritual” is now commonly used to identify oneself, usually conjoined with the word “religious” but often not. Spiritual concerns are widely expressed, having to do especially with “journey” and “recovery” mong groups as diverse as evangelical Christians and more open-minded metaphysical believers. This changing style of spirituality is described as “reflexive,” with its emphasis on self-engagement, exploration, and process. Discussed are the new modes of religious production which make use of the “spiritual” as a category, particularly the rise of the “seeker church” and an expanded religious book market with its appeals to those searching for answers. |
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