Secularization is one of my favorite topics to discuss, but it is also one of the most complex. I define secularization as a decline in the importance of religious behaviors and thoughts. Many of my thoughts are summarized in a recent publication in Religion, Brain & Behavior, titled, “Religion Survives, but does it Thrive?”
When discussing nonreligious populations, there is much debate about how to categorize and define the various groups. I am especially interested in studying two categories that I believe are understudied. SBNR, or spiritual but not religious, individuals are usually not affiliated with any traditional religious organization, but still believe or practice in ways that are similar to religion. On the other hand, Apatheists are individuals who are quite literally apathetic towards religion. Apatheists do not feel concerned with religious ideas and practices, and may feel frustrated by others who seek to influence public policy according to religious thinking.
By understanding the cultural changes that allow these subgroups to emerge, we can understand more about the human condition, human flourishing, and public policy. In 2019, I completed an ethnographic research project of college students who disaffiliated from the religious institutions of their parents. The resulting paper is unpublished, and available for download here. In the paper, I argue that religious disaffiliation is increasing among younger generations in America due to the intertwining of mainstream religion and conversative politics, plus an increasing number of alternative avenues to spiritual satisfaction (SBNR).