The Emptiness of Being Culturally Religious - by Jamie Paul

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About 25 percent of Americans are “culturally religious.” Like the 22 to 28 percent who say they have no religious affiliations, the culturally religious are not religious in any conventional sense. They don’t usually pray, or follow religious rules, or practice religion. In some cases, they may not even believe in God. Nevertheless, they identify with a particular religion and simultaneously flock to their local house of worship once or twice a year like migratory birds. These folks are not to be confused with the now-dated valley girl affirmation, “I’m not religious, but I’m spiritual.” As Bill Maher once joked, “The last time you did anything spiritual, you were praying to God you weren’t pregnant.” No, the culturally religious are the opposite. They aren’t spiritual, yet they cling to the façade of organized religion.

Growing up, I watched Jewish congregants make their annual 20-minute pilgrimage to synagogue, arriving late during Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur services, and leaving early after about an hour. As they disappeared back into their Volvos, not to be seen again for another revolution of the sun, I found myself asking, “Why bother?” If they believed in God and their religion, why would they only show up for an hour or two a year? And if they didn’t really believe, why come at all? Why would anyone identify with a religion if they clearly don’t believe in its teachings enough to put in the time?

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