When One Religion Isn't Enough : The Lives of Spiritually Fluid People

An exploration into the lives of people who embrace two or more religious traditions, and what this growing community tells us about change in our society Named a best book of 2018 by Library Journal In the United States, we often assume religious and spiritual identity are pure, static, and singular. But some people regularly cross religious boundaries. These “spiritually fluid” people celebrate complex religious bonds, and in the process they blur social categories, evoke prejudice, and complicate religious communities. Their presence sparks questions: How and why do people become spiritually fluid? Are they just confused or unable to commit? How do we make sense of them? When One Religion Isn’t Enough explores the lives of spiritually fluid people, revealing that while some chose multiple religious belonging, many more inherit it. For many North Americans, the complicated legacies of colonialism are part of their family story, and they may consider themselves both Christian and Hindu, or Buddhist, or Yoruban, or one of the many other religions native to colonized lands. For some Asian Americans, singular religious identity may seem an alien concept, as many East Asian nations freely mix Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist, and other traditions. Some African American Christians are consciously seeking to reconnect with ancestral spiritualities. And still other people are born into religiously mixed families. Jewish-Christian intermarriage led the way in the US, but religious diversity here is only increasing: almost four in ten Americans (39 percent) who have married since 2010 have a spouse who is in a different religious group. Through in-depth conversations with spiritually fluid people, renowned scholar Duane Bidwell explores how people come to claim and be claimed by multiple religious traditions, how spiritually fluid people engage radically opposed truth claims, and what this growing population tells us about change within our communities. In the United States, we often assume religious and spiritual identity are pure, static, and singular. But some people regularly cross religious boundaries. These "spiritually fluid" people celebrate complex religious bonds, and in the process they blur social categories, evoke prejudice, and complicate religious communities. Their presence sparks questions: How and why do people become spiritually fluid? Are they just confused or unable to commit? How do we make sense of them? When One Religion Isn't Enough explores the lives of spiritually fluid people, revealing that while some chose multiple religious belonging, many more inherit it. For many North Americans, the complicated legacies of colonialism are part of their family story, and they may consider themselves both Christian and Hindu, or Buddhist, or Yoruban, or one of the many other religions native to colonized lands. For some Asian Americans, singular religious identity may seem an alien concept, as many East Asian nations freely mix Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist, and other traditions. Some African American Christians are consciously seeking to reconnect with ancestral spiritualities. And still other people are born into religiously mixed families. Jewish-Christian intermarriage led the way in the US, but religious diversity here is only increasing: almost four in ten Americans (39 percent) who have married since 2010 have a spouse who is in a different religious group. Through in-depth conversations with spiritually fluid people, renowned scholar Duane Bidwell explores how people come to claim and be claimed by multiple religious traditions, how spiritually fluid people engage radically opposed truth claims, and what this growing population tells us about change within our communities. In the United States, we often assume religious and spiritual identity are pure, static, and singular. But some "spiritually fluid" people celebrate complex religious bonds, and in the process they blur social categories, evoke prejudice, and complicate religious communities. Bidwell explores the lives of spiritually fluid people, revealing that while some chose multiple religious belonging, many more inherit it through complicated legacies of colonialism or being born into religiously mixed families. Discover what this growing population tells us about change within our communities. -- adapted from jacket In The United States, We Often Assume Religious And Spiritual Identity Are Pure, Static, And Singular. But Some People Regularly Cross Religious Boundaries. These Spiritually Fluid People Celebrate Complex Religious Bonds, And In The Process They Blur Social Categories, Evoke Prejudice, And Complicate Religious Communities. Their Presence Sparks Questions: How And Why Do People Become Spiritually Fluid? Are They Just Confused Or Unable To Commit? How Do We Make Sense Of Them? When One Religion Isn't Enough Explores The Lives Of Spiritually Fluid People, Revealing That While Some Chose Multiple Religious Belonging, Many More Inherit It. For Many North Americans, The Complicated Legacies Of Colonialism Are Part Of Their Family Story, And They May Consider Themselves Both Christian And Hindu, Or Buddhist, Or Yoruban, Or One Of The Many Other Religions Native To Colonized Lands. For Some Asian Americans, Singular Religious Identity May Seem An Alien Concept, As Many East Asian Nations Freely Mix Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist, And Other Traditions. Some African American Christians Are Consciously Seeking To Reconnect With Ancestral Spiritualities. And Still Other People Are Born Into Religiously Mixed Families. Jewish-christian Intermarriage Led The Way In The Us, But Religious Diversity Here Is Only Increasing: Almost Four In Ten Americans (39 Percent) Who Have Married Since 2010 Have A Spouse Who Is In A Different Religious Group. Through In-depth Conversations With Spiritually Fluid People, Renowned Scholar Duane Bidwell Explores How People Come To Claim And Be Claimed By Multiple Religious Traditions, How Spiritually Fluid People Engage Radically Opposed Truth Claims, And What This Growing Population Tells Us About Change Within Our Communities. Where I Stand -- Normal Spirituality? -- Choosing -- Receiving -- Collaborating -- A Field Guide To Spiritual Fluidity -- Observations, Implications, Provocations -- A Note On Methods And Criteria. Duane R. Bidwell. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. **An exploration into the lives of people who embrace two or more religious traditions, and what this growing community tells us about change in our society****Named a best book of 2018 by __Library Journal__**In the United States, we often assume religious and spiritual identity are pure, static, and singular. But some people regularly cross religious boundaries. These “spiritually fluid” people celebrate complex religious bonds, and in the process they blur social categories, evoke prejudice, and complicate religious communities. Their presence sparks questions: How and why do people become spiritually fluid? Are they just confused or unable to commit? How do we make sense of them?__When One Religion Isn’t Enough__For some Asian Americans, singular religious identity may seem an alien concept, as many East Asian nations freely mix Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist, and other traditions. Some African American Christians are consciously seeking to reconnect with ancestral spiritualities. And still other people are born into religiously mixed families. Jewish-Christian intermarriage led the way in the US, but religious diversity here is only increasing: almost four in ten Americans (39 percent) who have married since 2010 have a spouse who is in a different religious group.Through in-depth conversations with spiritually fluid people, renowned scholar Duane Bidwell explores how people come to claim and be claimed by multiple religious traditions, how spiritually fluid people engage radically opposed truth claims, and what this growing population tells us about change within our communities. An exploration of the gifts and challenges of being part of two or more religious traditions at the same time. The world sees religious and spiritual identity as pure, static, and singular, but some people regularly cross religious boundaries. These "spiritually fluid" people celebrate complex religious bonds, and in the process they blur social categories, evoke prejudice, and complicate religious communities. Their presence sparks questions: How and why do people become spiritually fluid? Are they just confused or unable to commit? How do we make sense of them? Already, one-third of US marriages are interfaith and nearly one-third of Americans report worshiping in more than one religious tradition. In the past decade scholars have become increasingly interested in the phenomenon of complex religious bonds. But they frame it primarily as a choice, asking: "Is it possible?" and "Is it right?" For some people, being spiritually fluid is indeed a choice, but for most, it's about relationships, culture, and a response to colonialism, migration, and family history. Through in-depth conversations with five spiritually fluid people, When One Religion Isn't Enough explores how people come to claim multiple religious traditions, how spiritually fluid people engage radically opposed truth claims, and what religious multiplicity means for religion and spirituality today.