Choosing our religion : the spiritual lives of America's Nones

345 Pages·2016·2.262 MB·English

by  Drescher, Elizabeth

Choosing Our Religion

Choosing Our Religion
The Spiritual Lives of America’s Nones
ELIZABETH DRESCHER
1
1
Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers
the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education
by publishing worldwide. Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University
Press in the UK and certain other countries.
Published in the United States of America by Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, United States of America.
© Elizabeth Drescher 2016
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the
prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted
by law, by license, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reproduction
rights organization. Inquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the
above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the
address above.
You must not circulate this work in any other form
and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer.
Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
Names: Drescher, Elizabeth.
Title: Choosing our religion : the spiritual lives of America’s Nones /
Elizabeth Drescher.
Description: New York : Oxford University Press, 2016. | Includes
bibliographical references.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015034053 | ISBN 978–0–19–934122–1 (cloth : alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: Spiritual biography—United States—History and criticism.
Classification: LCC BL71.5 .D74 2016 | DDC 200.973—dc23 LC record available
at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015034053
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
Printed by Sheridan, USA
And we all have a duty to do good. And this commandment
for everyone to do good, I think, is a beautiful path towards
peace. If we, each doing our own part, if we do good to others,
if we meet there, doing good, and we go slowly, gently, little
by little, we will make that culture of encounter: we need that
so much. We must meet one another doing good. “But I don’t
believe, Father. I am an atheist!” But do good. We will meet one
another there.
— Pope Francis, remarks at morning mass, May 22, 2013

CONTENTS
Tables and Figures ix
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction: An American Spiritual Pilgrimage 1
1. Nones beyond the Numbers 16
2. Becoming None: Religiously Manufactured Spiritual
Self- Invention 53
3. Companions on the Journey: Resources for
Unaffiliated Affiliation 89
4. Being None: Family, Friends, Fido & Food 116
5. Praying between the Lines: Prayer among the Unaffiliated 157
6. Good Samaritan Nones: Religious Echoes & a Cosmopolitan
Ethics of Care 182
7. The Kids Are Alright: Raising the Next Generation of Nones 218
Conclusion: The None-i ng of American Religion & Spirituality 246
Appendix A: On Methodology 253
Appendix B: Characteristics of Interview Subjects 269
Notes 275
Bibliography 299
Index 315
vii

TABLES AND FIGURES
Tables
1.1 Change in Childhood Religion by Religious Group 17
1.2 Basic Demographic Profile of US Nones 20
1.3 The Four Fs of Contemporary Spirituality 43
A.1 Spiritually Meaningful Practices for the Unaffiliated 255
A.2 Nones Beyond the Numbers Survey Questions 257
A.3 Interview Locales and Dates 261
A.4 Narrative Interview Guiding Questions 263
B.1 Age Distribution of Unaffiliated by Percentage 269
B.2 Gender Distribution of Unaffiliated by Percentage 269
B.3 Racial and Ethnic Distribution of Unaffiliated by Percentage 270
B.4 Household Configuration 270
B.5 Geographic Distribution 271
B.6.1 Religious/ Spiritual Self- Identification 272
B.6.2 Primary Religious Upbringing 273
Figures
1.1 Percentage of Nones in Nine US Census Divisions (2014) 19
1.2 Growth in the Percentage of Nones in Nine US Census Divisions
(2007– 2014) 19
ix