Are you spiritual but not religious?
Australia is becoming more secular
Every time the census comes around, it comes with a wave of hand-wringing about the decline of institutional religion. Australia, like much of the Western world, is becoming more secular—on paper, at least. But does that mean people are becoming less spiritual? Not necessarily. We had a deep discussion with Natasha Moore about what it means to be "spiritual but not religious”.
Hunger for Spiritual Connection
According to Natasha Moore, a Senior Research Fellow at The Centre for Public Christianity, many Australians are thinking about their spirituality. In a 2021 ABC article, Moore notes that while traditional religious affiliation is declining, the belief in something beyond ourselves—whether that’s God, the supernatural, or the universe—is still alive and well. For many, spirituality has become an intensely personal and self-defined journey.
The Rise of "Non-Religious" Spirituality
COVID-19 compelled more Australians to consider their spirituality, with 49% of Australians admitting they were open to having spiritual conversations during the pandemic, according to Eternity News. These conversations don’t always lead back to institutional religion. Instead, people now find meaning in mindfulness, meditation or communal experiences like music festivals. Andy Crouch’s book The Life We're Looking For speaks to this hunger for connection in a technological world—where relationship, rather than ritual, maybe the heart of modern spirituality in our secular world.
What Does It All Mean?
For some, the freedom to define spirituality on their own terms feels liberating. Yet, thinkers like Francis Spufford in Unapologetic argue that Christianity, despite everything, still offers a deeply compelling and emotionally satisfying framework for understanding life. The Bible, especially passages like Isaiah 55, suggests that our deepest longings are best met in a relationship with God.
We’re in a world that’s still open to finding meaning beyond their material worlds which brings with it an openness to consider the God of the Bible.
If you’d like to listen to the full discussion with Natasha Moore about how our society is thinking about spirituality, listen to the full episode HERE.
