Religion, Spirituality, and Worldview

Religion and spirituality are evolving concepts with contested definitions, meaning that some people use these terms interchangeably while others maintain a strict distinction between the two. People can claim one or both terms as descriptive of their experiences, practices, and identities. When reporting on these and other issues that engage with questions of the differences between religion and spirituality, you might consider how framing a group or ritual as religious or spiritual will impact the dynamics of the issues you’re exploring. Taking into account the language that people and communities use for themselves will help represent groups and individuals on their own terms. In order to paint an accurate and holistic representation of an individual or group, it also might be useful to name when there is dissonance between how people see themselves and how outsiders label them in relation to religion and spirituality.

Religious extremism refers to taking extreme interpretations of religious tenets and may involve using violence to try to spread those beliefs. Note that some forms of extremism are not overtly religious, but instead align with ideologies such as white supremacy. Journalists can use several tactics to avoid amplifying and reinforcing extremist messaging, such as focusing on the victims of attacks, avoiding sensationalized headlines, and even practicing “strategic silence” — avoiding covering events about certain extremist activity.

Religious fundamentalism is a form of strict adherence to religious practice that is associated with conservative interpretation and application of religious texts. While fundamentalist ideologies are related to and can lead to religious extremism, the two concepts aren’t synonymous. The term fundamentalist is sometimes used in a negative sense to discredit the beliefs and concerns of individuals and groups who may or may not in fact hold fundamentalist beliefs. Opting for person-first language to refer to people who hold fundamentalist beliefs can help avoid this negative usage, while using “fundamentalist” in reference to particular beliefs, practices, groups, and leaders might not hold the same negative connotation.

The religious right is a coalition of politically powerful organizations, institutions, and individuals and is not typically used to identify individual voters. It is often conflated with related groups like evangelical Christians and Republicans because of these groups’ historical and contemporary overlap. Using the term religious right in its particular political context and distinguishing between these groups helps avoid simplistic generalizations (such as that the religious right is the same as the Republican Party or that all evangelical Christians are part of the religious right). Note that while some publications alternate between “Christian right,” “evangelical right,” and “religious right,” religious right is perhaps the most commonly used term. Using the terms “Christian right” and “evangelical right” could help clarify the identity of a particular group instead of inaccurately grouping all religious people into this movement.

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.

Separation of church and state and religious freedom/religious liberty are terms associated with the American legal tradition and the US Constitution, though the meaning and uses of these terms have changed over time. For instance, many American courts have shifted since the 1990s to defending religious individuals’ rights in the face of an increasingly secular society and away from protecting secular people from the imposition of religious beliefs in the public sphere. When reporting on separation of church and state and religious freedom issues, being precise about the ways in which subjects within the story are using these terms may help to clarify both meaning and the stakes at hand — for instance, explaining that religious freedom is sometimes used as grounds to discriminate against vulnerable communities. It also may be helpful to note that in the face of significant demographic and societal change, some religious communities (and not only Christian ones) may feel like they are a minority in need of protection from a dominant liberal-secular culture.

Vodou is an African diaspora religion that originated between the 16th and 19th centuries in groups of enslaved people from various West African ethnic communities on the island that is known today as Haiti. The term vodún refers to the religious practices of communities in West Africa today. Related traditions like Louisiana Voodoo and Hoodoo also derive from vodún and are related but distinct practices. Racist stereotypes and misunderstandings of the traditions are common in US media; understanding, challenging, and avoiding stereotypes about Vodou and about communities within the African diaspora more generally helps avoid racist portrayals and increase the accuracy of reporting on these communities.