Spiritual Atheist Scientists

Abstract

Spiritual atheists comprise the smallest subset of atheist scientists in the U.S. and U.K. Unlike modernists (who are not spiritual) and culturally religious atheists (who participate in religion), spiritual atheist scientists construct alternative value systems without affiliating with religious traditions. Many cast spirituality in emotional terms of awe and wonder provoked through scientific understanding of the world, while others frame their spirituality in terms of the dimensions of life that cannot be explained through science. Such constructions of spirituality are consequential for secular spiritual practices. For scientists, these involve scientific work itself, morality in relationships, personal wellness practices, and resources for coping with adversity.