Uneven Blessings: Sacred Experiences, Positive Emotions, and Mental Health Among the Spiritual but Not Religious

Abstract

Abstract

Sacred experiences are profound moments marked by heightened meaning and a sense of connection to the sacred – whether understood in religious, spiritual, or secular terms. Although well-documented among religious individuals, less empirical attention has been given to understanding how sacred experiences arise among the non-religious. The present research investigated sacred experiences among religious, spiritual-but-not-religious (SBNR), and neither-religious-nor-spiritual (NRNS) individuals. Across two studies (one pre-registered), we found consistent evidence that religious individuals reported the highest presence and frequency of sacred experiences, followed by SBNRs and then NRNSs, with medium-to-large effect sizes (η2 = .10–.12). While less conclusive, we also found evidence that SBNRs experienced self-transcendent positive emotions – often linked to sacred experiences – to a greater extent than NRNSs, but still lesser than religious individuals (η2 = .04). Finally, using regression models, we showed tentative evidence that sacred experiences and self-transcendent positive emotions positively predicted well-being in all three groups, but did not significantly predict burnout. Collectively, these findings suggest that SBNRs can access sacred experiences in secular contexts and that such experiences are positively associated with mental health.