Modern-Day Meaning and Purpose in Religion and Spirituality
Details
We will be meeting at Southeast Regional in Room C.
About the Group: This is a Socratic Café where we explore big ideas through open conversation. No philosophy background is needed, just curiosity, and respect.
Background:
Religion is a collective, institutional experience focused on shared beliefs and rituals, while spirituality is an individual, internal experience focused on personal meaning and connection.
There are thousands of religions and spiritual philosophies practiced throughout the world. When accounting for denominations or sub-sects of religions, the number rises into the tens of thousands. In the 1940s, approximately 95% of the U.S. population held a religious identity. Today, between 24%-29% of U.S. adults do not identify with any religion—known as the “nones” (Pew Research Center; Gallup). This shift appears to mark a significant change in our society over time. So, how did we get here, and what might this mean for us as individuals and as a collective?
In this discussion, we will explore the modern-day dimensions of religion(s) and spirituality, potential similarities and differences, meaning and purpose, and how this all fits into our society within the U.S. today.
Discussion Questions:
1. What is the purpose of religion?
2. Do you think all or most religions hold the same core values?
3. What role do you think religion and spirituality play in modern-day society?