Religion and spirituality are hugely influential and rapidly evolving facets of life in the United States — yet media coverage does not always engage thoughtfully with these subjects or accurately reflect people’s experiences with them. This section of Language, Please style guidance aims to provide context on common terms associated with spirituality and religion in the US, to help storytellers approach these topics with nuance and avoid stereotypes and misunderstandings.
This resource was informed by questions and discussions from our own newsrooms. It is a living document that will update and expand over time. It is not meant to be comprehensive or the definitive arbiter of language “rules” but instead aims to give context and inform decision-making. Have a suggestion for an update, change, or addition? Please fill out this brief survey, or contact Language, Please directly.
How to use: Browse the whole section or search for the term you need guidance on; click into any term for in-depth context, additional resources, and related terms.
Additional resources:
antisemitism
What to know Antisemitism is discrimination, prejudice, hatred, or violence targeting Jewish people or institutions based on stereotypes about their religious practices, identities, genetic makeup, and role in society. Rooted in centuries of religious thought and church teachings, the term was popularized in 1879 by Wilhelm Marr. He used pseudoscientific theories to scapegoat Jews and… Continue reading antisemitism
apartheid
Apartheid refers to a system of institutionalized racial segregation and oppression designed to establish and maintain domination by one racial group over another. It is characterized by laws, policies, and practices that intentionally deny equal rights and freedoms to targeted populations. It is important to note that apartheid has a specific legal definition under international law. While many forms of discrimination or systemic bias exist worldwide, not all meet the legal threshold for apartheid. Consulting credible research, human rights documentation, and legal experts can help ensure accurate use of the term.
birthright citizenship
Birthright citizenship grants citizenship to a person at birth, either by being born in that country or, in some cases, being born abroad to citizen parents. Nearly three dozen countries, mostly in the Americas, offer unrestricted birthright citizenship. The 1868 ratification of the 14th Amendment made it a constitutional right in the US. During his second term, President Donald Trump moved to end automatic birthright citizenship with Executive Order 14160, which directed federal agencies not to recognize the citizenship of children born in the US without at least one parent who is a US citizen or has permanent lawful residency. The order was challenged in court and temporarily stopped from going into effect. Journalists can refer to the American Immigration Council and American Immigration Lawyers Association for timely and reliable information to inform their reporting.
conversion
Conversion, also called religious switching, is the process of changing from one religious identity and/or affiliation to another. Forced conversion is a form of conversion in which one is coerced into giving up their religion for another or for no religious affiliation. multiple religious practice is normalized. Some people who join extremist religious groups convert through a process of radicalization. Since definitions and understandings of religious conversion vary, matching the language that people use for their own religious experiences helps to ensure that their experiences are represented accurately. However, it’s important if discussing cases of forced conversion to clearly distinguish them from voluntary conversion.
cult
One meaning of the term cult is a derogatory term for a small and religious group labeled by outsiders as “extreme,” “dangerous,” and “deviant.” A cult is not the same as a religious sect, which is a group that breaks off from a larger and more broadly accepted religion. The difference between what gets labeled as a religion versus a cult mainly lies in the negative connotation of the term as well as who has the power and interest to make such a claim. Some experts advise using the term sparingly since it can raise suspicions of and delegitimize communities labeled as such. The sensationalization of cults in media also contributes to minimizing adherents’ genuinely held beliefs and the trauma they might have experienced in a cult. In cases where people experience harm in cults and other religious groups, emphasizing abusive and traumatic dynamics without resorting to highly dramatized language remains important.
cultural appropriation, religious appropriation
Cultural appropriation is the taking of signifiers or artifacts of a culture not one’s own without any context of the original culture. It contrasts with cultural appreciation, a good-faith effort to explore and connect with another culture. Religious appropriation refers to the taking of practices or signifiers of a particular religious group by people or entities that are not part of that religious group. Negotiating reporting on cultural appropriation can be challenging since it requires a nuanced understanding of the power dynamics at play between communities in any given scenario. In the case of religious appropriation, increasing your religious literacy can help to navigate reporting on religious communities and the potential issues of appropriation that might arise.
culture war
“Culture war” is a recurring term in political discourse that refers to arguments over a broad range of topics, for instance racial and gender equity, secularism, substance use, and freedom of expression. The term “culture war” is nonspecific and may largely serve to confuse or gloss over issues if it’s used without context. Consider carefully whether the term serves your reporting, and whether divisions over an issue are as profound as some sources may make them out to be. Keep in mind that issues like abortion, immigration, and affirmative action aren’t simply “cultural”; they have direct short-and long-term political and socioeconomic impacts on many people.
deconstruction
Deconstruction, or religious deconstruction, refers to the process of an individual taking apart and examining their own previously unquestioned religious beliefs in order to gain new understanding and perspective. One noteworthy group within the broader deconstruction movement is those who have left their evangelical church, who often self-identify as ex-evangelicals or exvangelicals. While the terms ex-Christian, ex-evangelical, and exvangelical are often used interchangeably, taking into account someone’s preference whenever possible ensures coverage aligns with their lived experience. Note that deconstruction is not synonymous with deconversion, in which someone leaves a religion altogether, and that many who deconstruct will remain within their religious traditions.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) refers to a framework of organizational values and practices developed to counteract discrimination and bias, broaden participation, and promote equitable treatment and opportunities across professional, institutional, and social contexts. Rooted in the US civil rights movement of the 1960s, DEI became formalized in the 1980s and 1990s through the work of human resources professionals, management consultants, and educators. Over time, the scope of DEI came to include a broad range of communities and values. While skepticism toward DEI has existed for decades across a broad ideological spectrum, the 2020s witnessed the emergence of a concentrated political movement to restrict or dismantle DEI programs, primarily led by conservative policymakers and activists. When reporting on DEI, specific language that reflects the precise goals or values in question can provide necessary clarity, and it is often wise to confirm whether a source or organization actually identifies its work as DEI before applying the term.
epidemic
An epidemic is characterized by the spread of an infectious disease within a distinct geographic area at a frequency far above normal. The term has also long been used metaphorically to describe social phenomena (e.g., epidemics of loneliness or gun violence). Reporting with care, restraint, and reliable data sources, including experts with relevant credentials, is necessary to provide crucial information and avoid stoking public panic.
Featured term: religiously unaffiliated/religious “none”
The term religious “none” is often used to describe someone who reports no affiliation or membership to a religious tradition on a poll or survey. Religious “nones” might identify with labels such as atheist, agnostic, “nothing in particular,” or spiritual but not religious. It’s important to recognize that religious “none” is a statistical category that groups together a wide range of ideologies, viewpoints, and practices, and the group cannot be treated as a monolith. Coverage should also be cautious of generalizations about individuals and communities within the group, such as that all religious “nones” do not hold ethical and moral beliefs (when in fact, many religious “nones” leave organized religion due to ethical and moral concerns). Presenting diverse perspectives from religious “nones” who articulate ethical and spiritual beliefs outside of organized religion might help avoid perpetuating stereotypes.
Featured term: Indigenous religions
Indigenous religions is an umbrella term for the spiritual traditions and practices of Indigenous peoples across the world. Indigenous religions tend to emphasize relationships with land and human and non-human beings and don’t usually articulate or reinforce doctrines and systems of theology. Using the term “Indigenous religion” as a broad category might give the false impression that all Indigenous religions are essentially the same. Using the general term may make sense when referring to trends across various Indigenous cultures (like oral tradition, non-proselytizing, and relationships with land as the center of spirituality). Naming these similarities while also pointing to diversity helps avoid stereotyping all Indigenous peoples and religions. In cases where specific groups of people are the subject of reporting, understanding and naming the particular religious traditions of that group (e.g., the Seven Sacred Rites of the Lakota) ensures clarity and accuracy.
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