"Nones" and Wilderness Mysticism

In preparing for a workshop I'm giving on Wilderness Mysticism this Sunday, I did a little more research about "Nones" - i.e., those who identify themselves as religiously unaffliated. According to a 2014 Pew Research Center study, 23% of the U.S. adult population are Nones, up 8 points from 2007. Especially important in driving this increase are those in the Millennial Generation (born 1981-1996), 35% of whom consider themselves to be Nones. Interestingly, only 7% of Nones identify themselves as atheist or agnostic. While more studies need to be done, it appears that increasing numbers of Nones consider Nature their primary source of religious inspiration. A new study from Baylor University claims that those areas containing especially beautiful landscapes in the vicinity also have a higher percentage of Nones. Portland is certainly an example of this correlation, where 42% of the population identifies as Nones.

In any case, I've been committed over the past 30 years to providing meaningful theological reflection on the spiritual experience of Nature. Many people I know (at least in Colorado, where I live) love to recreate in the Great Outdoors, but very few actually reflect on the meaning of their experience and relate it to their spirituality. I am excited to offer Wilderness Mysticism as one way of doing that! :)

Photos: (Top) Indian Paintbrush and West Glacier Lake; (Middle) Rocks on an unnamed lake. These two photos were taken in the Snowy Range (WY) on August 22, 2015; (Bottom) Subalpine Arnica and Lake Helene, with Notchtop Mountain towering above, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, August 25, 2015