Frequently Asked Questions

An approach to meaning, purpose, morality, and human experience that doesn’t require supernatural belief.

Not necessarily. Spirituality can also describe natural experiences of awe, contemplation, and connection.

That’s a fair question, and much of the disagreement comes down to how we define spirituality.

For many people, spirituality is inseparable from belief in gods, souls, supernatural forces, or some reality beyond the physical world. But spirituality can also describe our pursuit of meaning, experiences of awe and transcendence, personal reflection, and our sense of connection to something greater than ourselves.

We use the term spirituality deliberately because we’re interested in preserving these aspects of the human experience without requiring supernatural explanations.

Consider the experience of standing beneath a star-filled sky and feeling profoundly connected to the universe. One person might interpret that feeling as evidence of a divine presence. Another might understand it as a natural psychological response to awe.

Their explanations differ, but both may find the experience deeply meaningful.

We can reject the supernatural explanation without rejecting the natural human experience.

Secular spirituality is our attempt to explore and cultivate those experiences through a naturalistic understanding of the world.

No. Curious people from many different backgrounds are welcome to explore these ideas.

No.

Secular spirituality has no sacred scriptures, prescribed worship, supernatural doctrines, or unquestionable authorities.

It does not claim to possess ultimate answers to life’s greatest questions.

Instead, it encourages individuals to explore meaning, personal values, and human experiences through curiosity, evidence, reflection, and compassion.

There’s certainly overlap.

Psychology helps us understand how people think, feel, and behave. Philosophy helps us examine questions about existence, knowledge, morality, and meaning.

Secular spirituality draws upon both, but places particular emphasis on how we experience those questions in everyday life.

It’s not simply about understanding why people experience awe, gratitude, or connection. It’s also about cultivating those experiences, creating meaningful rituals, and building communities around shared human values.

We don’t consider secular spirituality a separate scientific discipline or a replacement for philosophy. Rather, it’s a perspective that brings these ideas together as a way of engaging with life.

Only if we define spirituality as necessarily supernatural.

Secular describes an approach that does not depend on religious authority or supernatural belief.

Spirituality, as we use the term, concerns the experiences and practices through which people explore meaning, connection, contemplation, and transcendence.

Those concepts are compatible when spirituality is understood in naturalistic rather than supernatural terms.

We recognize that not everyone will agree with this definition, and that’s perfectly reasonable. The experiences themselves are more important than the labels we attach to them.

Secular spirituality and secular humanism share many values, including reason, compassion, human dignity, and ethical responsibility.

Secular humanism commonly emphasizes ethical philosophy, human welfare, and the ability to live meaningfully without religious belief.

Secular spirituality places additional emphasis on cultivating experiences often associated with spiritual traditions, such as awe, contemplation, ritual, transcendence, and connection.

The two perspectives are complementary rather than competing. An individual can comfortably identify with both.

Secular spirituality does not require belief in any of these concepts.

We approach consciousness, emotions, and human experiences through naturalistic explanations informed by scientific inquiry.

We recognize that scientific knowledge is incomplete and that many questions remain unanswered. However, an unanswered question is not, by itself, evidence of a supernatural explanation.

Our goal is to remain open to discovery without treating speculation as established fact.

We believe it can, depending on what we mean by sacred.

Something can be sacred in the sense that we regard it as profoundly meaningful, precious, or worthy of special respect.

A relationship, a cherished tradition, a place in nature, or a moment of profound connection can hold extraordinary personal significance without possessing supernatural properties.

In this context, sacredness describes the value we assign to an experience, rather than a claim about its supernatural origins.

Because rituals can have value independent of supernatural claims.

Rituals help people commemorate important events, express gratitude, remember loved ones, establish traditions, and strengthen social bonds.

Their significance can arise from the intentions, emotions, and relationships involved.

A secular wedding, a memorial gathering, or a personal practice of reflection can be deeply meaningful without invoking supernatural forces.

The absence of magic does not imply the absence of meaning.

Morality can be explored through empathy, reason, cooperation, philosophy, and our understanding of how actions affect living beings.

Our approach emphasizes a principle called Mutual Thriving.

Mutual Thriving recognizes that individual well-being is interconnected with the well-being of others, our communities, and the natural world.

It encourages us to consider how our decisions contribute to flourishing, reduce unnecessary harm, and respect the interests of those affected by our actions.

It does not promise simple answers to every moral dilemma, but provides a framework for approaching ethical questions thoughtfully.

No. Our primary purpose is to explore and encourage meaningful living without requiring supernatural beliefs.

We believe religious claims, like other claims about reality, should remain open to critical examination. However, we also recognize that religion can be deeply connected to personal identity, family relationships, community, and emotional well-being.

We respect an individual’s right to examine their beliefs and reach their own conclusions.

For those who are questioning or leaving religion, we hope to offer resources, understanding, and support.

Our goal is not simply to challenge what people believe, but to help demonstrate that meaning, morality, connection, and wonder remain available beyond religious belief.