Increasingly in different studies, people have stated that they do not belong to any religion.
However, defining religion or irreligion is not straightforward and according to Woodhead, not all those professing to have no religion are purely secular.
“Many engage in spiritual activities in private, but consider traditional public religious communities and religious leaders as well as so-called conservative religious values as alien to them.” In addition, many respondents described themselves as spiritual, but not religious.
In terms of age distribution, the values of young people seem to have diverged from those of older people.
“In this sense, young people in Britain do not follow their parents’ religious footsteps, but have a markedly more critical attitude towards religion.
The gap between values becomes even more pronounced when examining the attitude of young people towards the official institutionalised religions, which are thought of as antiquated in comparison with new forms of religion.
“In the relocation of religion in society, its cultural side as well how religion and what has been sacred have become routine and secularised are highlighted. Through this, meaning and values are being sought in a modern and pluralistic society,” estimates Woodhead.
Religion’s new forms
According to
“In multireligiosity different alternative combinations of religious movements and sub-cultures come together into open spiritual participation in many different directions.
People seem to have many different spiritual interests at the same time.”
Instead of the permanence and exclusivity distinctive of traditional religion and religiosity, Lewis talks more of dispersed religiosity and spirituality.
He does not however ascribe to the significance of religion diminishing in society and culture.
“Contrary to some assertions, religion is not dying, but it is changing in form. “
Professors Linda Woodhead and James R. Lewis were keynote speakers at