EPISODE · May 27, 2026 · 6 MIN
S01E23 - Religious Nones and Spirituality: A Comparison between Italian and Uruguayan Youth
from Non+Religion Research Brief · host NSRN
Breskaya and Pereira Arena’s 2024 article, "Religious Nones and Spirituality: A Comparison between Italian and Uruguayan Youth," utilizes survey data from over 2,000 university students to challenge the oversimplification of "Nones" as a homogeneous group, revealing how their identities are deeply influenced by their national cultural contexts. The study finds that while Nones in both countries are predominantly male and prioritize individual autonomy in their spiritual journeys, Uruguayan Nones—who live in a more explicitly secularized society—paradoxically show stronger spiritual identities, higher rates of belief in God, and more frequent private prayer than their Italian counterparts. Conversely, Italian Nones are more likely to identify as atheists, reflecting a more potentially antagonistic stance toward the dominant Catholic tradition, whereas agnosticism is the more common skeptical position in Uruguay. Ultimately, the authors conclude that the spiritual lives of Nones are defined not just by a "lack" of religion, but by the unique, proactive ways they construct meaning within their specific social and secular environments.Full Citation:Breskaya, Olga, and Valentina Pereira Arena. 2024 "Religious Nones and Spirituality: A comparison between Italian and Uruguayan youth." Religions 15(7):769.
What this episode covers
Breskaya and Pereira Arena’s 2024 article, "Religious Nones and Spirituality: A Comparison between Italian and Uruguayan Youth," utilizes survey data from over 2,000 university students to challenge the oversimplification of "Nones" as a homogeneous group, revealing how their identities are deeply influenced by their national cultural contexts. The study finds that while Nones in both countries are predominantly male and prioritize individual autonomy in their spiritual journeys, Uruguayan Nones—who live in a more explicitly secularized society—paradoxically show stronger spiritual identities, higher rates of belief in God, and more frequent private prayer than their Italian counterparts. Conversely, Italian Nones are more likely to identify as atheists, reflecting a more potentially antagonistic stance toward the dominant Catholic tradition, whereas agnosticism is the more common skeptical position in Uruguay. Ultimately, the authors conclude that the spiritual lives of Nones are defined not just by a "lack" of religion, but by the unique, proactive ways they construct meaning within their specific social and secular environments.Full Citation:Breskaya, Olga, and Valentina Pereira Arena. 2024 "Religious Nones and Spirituality: A comparison between Italian and Uruguayan youth." Religions 15(7):769.
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S01E23 - Religious Nones and Spirituality: A Comparison between Italian and Uruguayan Youth
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