As The Rev. Professor Christopher Schelin observed in The Conversation online newsletter on November 1, 2021, "for over a decade, one of the biggest stories in American religion has been the rise of the “Nones”, a broad term for people who do not identify with a specific faith. The religiously unaffiliated now make up just over one quarter of the U.S. population.

"While the Nones include agnostics and atheists, most people in this category retain a belief in God or some higher power. Many describe themselves as “spiritual but not religious,” or “SBNR,” as researchers refer to them.

Schelin continues: "The spiritual but not religious are independent seekers, many of whom pray, meditate, do yoga and other spiritual practices outside the confines of a particular tradition".

As he notes, the theologian Linda Mercadante spent several years interviewing SBNRs. In her book “Belief without Borders” (Oxford University Press, 2014) Mercadante identifies some common characteristics: "SBNRs tend to be individualistic, trusting their own experience and intuition as a guide. They reject claims that any one religion contains the ultimate, exclusive truth, but they also believe religions possess wisdom and offer “many paths to the same summit".... many continue to experiment with rituals and prayers that draw on established religions, including Christianity."

These cultural developments are interpreted in many different ways. One of my favorite understandings is voiced by The Rev. Dr. Shawnthea Monroe, now Pastor of The Peoples Church in downtown East Lansing, Michigan, as she reflects on Matthew 21:28-32: "Jesus is trying to open the eyes of religions leaders to an expanded understanding of God's kingdom work."

Rev. Dr. Monroe further suggests that this parable can help us "redefine the boundaries of God's vineyard or even enrich our understanding of what it means to be faithful." She compares people who are not officially religious to the "first son" in the parable Jesus tells--the one who first says no to his father's request that he work in the vineyard, but then ends up going and putting in the work anyway. She notices how common it is for people unaffiliated with a congregation to seek out those in need, share their money generously, and commit themselves to joining with others to build a more compassionate and caring world. Whatever their spiritual pathways may be or become, their "yes" to loving their neighbors is a profound blessing.

Rev.Dr. Monroe's full reflections on Matthew 21:23-32 can be found in Connections: A Lectionary Commentary, Year A, Volume 3, 2020, pages 350-352.

The Rev. Dr. Christopher Schelin is Dean of Students, Director of Contextual Education, and Assistant Professor of Practical and Political Theologies.