Exploring Single and Multiple Religious Belonging

Abstract

This contribution studies the notion of single and multiple religious belonging in a sample of 265 Dutch respondents. We will first focus on modalities of religious belonging and subsequently compare those who claim to draw from just one religion (the monoreligious) with those who indicate that they combine elements from different religious traditions (the multireligious) in terms of their intensities and styles of belonging, loyalty and mobility, and motivations for belonging. In general, multireligious respondents are characterized by their larger flexibility in religious matters as they tend to focus on similarities and common elements in different religions, and less on boundaries between them. By being loyal to themselves in the first place, they feel free to adopt and to leave behind religious beliefs and communities. Emotional and institutional bonds for each religion appear to be less strong than for monoreligious individuals in relation to their single religion.

Multiple Religious Belonging and Religious Communities

“…While it is easy to learn superficial elements of several religions, belonging should be reserved for "serious knowledge," which either requires "long periods of immersion … or a great deal of study" (Bruce 2017, 608). Broader definitions (e.g., Berghuijs 2017;Berghuijs et al 2018;Kalsky 2017;Liefbroer, Van der Braak, and Kalsky 2018;Van der Braak and Kalsky 2017) include all those who combine elements of different religious traditions without requiring affiliation and identification with, or membership of, recognized religious traditions. In the latter case, belonging could include "feeling at home with," "being related to," or "being connected to" religious beliefs, practices, people and ways of life" (Berghuijs 2017, 34).…”

“…The implications of choosing narrower or broader approaches to religious belonging are crucial. Berghuijs et al (2018) refer to Lähdesmäki et al (2016), who treat belonging as a type of involvement that is hybrid and multilayered as well as flexible, ambiguous, and fragmented. The resultant definition of belonging is broad: "the variety of ways in which individuals are connected to one or more religious traditions, by combining elements (texts, beliefs, practices or other) from one or more traditions in their lives" (Berghuijs et al 2018, 21).…”

Buddhist-Christian Belonging and the Reimagining of Buddhist Belonging: Natal, Convert, and Post-Buddhist Belonging

“…15 We want to argue that multiple religious belongers do have a genuine religious longing, not any less than single belongers, even if they cannot completely fulfill that longing in one religious tradition, or even in any religious tradition at all. 16 Seen from this perspective, even if they wouldn't self-identify as Buddhist, Western Buddhist practitioners might still be counted as Buddhist belongers. They do feel at home with Buddhist contemplative practices, Buddhist meditation groups, Buddhist platforms, and other Buddhist practitioners.…”

Multiple Religious Belonging (MRB)

“…4 There have been newer studies on single and multiple religious belonging. 5 Also, more suggestions in concepts and styles of addressing the same question keep experts busy. 6 In the African religious/spiritual context, these phenomena addressing the question of interreligious relationships are not just connected but share similar challenges.…”