NPR

Can Spirituality Exist Without God? A Growing Number Of Americans Say Yes

Spirituality is about “constantly coming back, looking inward, getting re-centered, and looking beyond ourselves," Krista Tippett says.
More than a quarter of Americans say they are spiritual, but not religious, according to Pew Research Center. (William Farlow/Unsplash)

The global research firm YouGov lists “being more spiritual” as one of Americans’ top 10 New Year’s resolutions for 2020, and the icon used to illustrate that aspiration is a person meditating — not praying.

And more than a quarter of Americans now say they are spiritual, but not religious, according to Pew Research Center.

What does it mean to be spiritual outside the confines of religion? For some, both exist side by side. For others, even those who consider themselves atheists or “nones,” the concept of spirituality might feel critically important.

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