Spiritual but not religious. A survey on university students in Turin

Abstract

Based on an online survey conducted in January 2018 at the University of Turin, the article examines the relationship between young people and spirituality, with particular reference to those who identify themselves as «spiritual but not religious» (SNR). The results of the research reveal that the interpretations of the notion of spirituality are based on three fundamental dimensions: «ethical-altruistic», «institutional-normative», and «inner seeking-existential». From these intersections at least four different types of spirituality emerge that show how differently the concept is interpreted - going beyond mere introspection, which is the only characteristic of SNR according to some scholars of contemporary spirituality.