Spiritual Resurgence
Cultural Transformations and the Spiritual but Not Religious
- World Religions
- Ethics, Culture & Social Issues
- Publisher: Fortress Press (Augsburg Fortress)
- Published: 2026
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Publisher's Description
Religious studies scholar Terry Shoemaker adeptly traces the ways in which the emergence of our present Information Age has contributed to the rise of the Spiritual but Not Religious demographic in American life. Defining "spirituality" as a type of position, posture, and set of practices competing with religion in contemporary American society, Shoemaker analyzes how information overload, ideological polarization, and the cooptation of established religion by politics and capitalism increasingly prompts individuals to seek out the spiritual. Resisting any urges toward oversimplification, Shoemaker notes that the moniker "Spiritual but not Religious" itself indicates the ongoing significance of "religion" as that against which the "spiritual" must be defined. Among other benefits, the label of "spirituality" permits individuals to resist the still-suspicious labels of "secular" or "atheistic." A cogent critic of where religion is compromised and where individualized spirituality may stray from its civic duties, Shoemaker theorizes that as society has experienced a collective untethering from cultural establishments and norms, it is replacing those norms with a new type of hyper human-technology tethering. Spirituality may function in ways that attempt to mitigate the negative effects of information overload, a divided society, and unhealthy economic and political structures--but, drawing on the endless flow of resources the Information Age makes available, rarely will any two spiritualities look identical. Will contemporary expressions of spirituality become coopted by religious institutions? Shoemaker posits that the seemingly endless array of options the Information Age presents may foreclose this from occurring. In any event, Shoemaker astutely demonstrates why we need to take contemporary spirituality seriously.
Endorsements (4)
“The Spiritual but Not Religious trend in American culture has been discussed for decades, but no one has explored it more perceptively and thoroughly than Terry D. Shoemaker. Spiritual Resurgence demonstrates that the phenomenon is far more complex than mere disenchantment with institutions; understanding the causes will help us appreciate those who, in the author's words, "seek different avenues for navigating the journey of life." Such an understanding may also help us repair our social fabric.”
“This book offers a powerful challenge to the dominant conception of spirituality as individualistic, fleeting, and selfish, and grants it the serious consideration it deserves as a response to the widespread untethering of contemporary American life. A timely and invaluable resource for courses in religious studies, sociology of religion, and practical theology.”
“With Spiritual Resurgence, Terry D. Shoemaker has provided us with an important and compelling contribution to the study of spirituality (including the Spiritual but Not Religious) in the United States today. Drawing upon an impressive array of interdisciplinary resources, Shoemaker argues for the distinctiveness of the current spiritual resurgence--deftly weaving the phenomenon into the broader fabric of the politics, economics, and culture of the Information Age. In the process, he problematizes the secularization thesis and provides insights into our religious/spiritual moment. In this book, Shoemaker certainly has advanced our understanding of American religion and spirituality. It very much deserves our attention and reflection.”
“In Spiritual Resurgence, Terry D. Shoemaker takes seriously, sensitively, and in a sociologically grounded way spirituality as a distinct category from religion. Through careful research, he shows that spirituality in the United States stands in its own right as a trend growing in importance and popularity for those who no longer find religion legitimate or fulfilling. Spirituality is made meaningful to many today as a resource for understanding profound technological and social changes. Shoemaker's work offers an essential contribution to the growing social scientific study of spirituality.”
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