Spiritual Belonging: 40 Faith Leaders Reimagine Community, Connection, and Belief

An energetic generation of spiritual leaders is reviving religion in the United States. They are creating enterprising grassroots organizations that have brought forth new expressions of belief and belonging for people who continue to long for deeper engagement in spiritual life and practice.

For the first time in the United States, most Americans do not belong to a church. And yet, while churches are emptier, new spiritual leadership is hard at work building inventive centers of belonging rooted in the search for meaning, values, and guidance for this time of technological change and social fracture. Some of these spiritual entrepreneurs and builders are clergy. Many more are laypeople who have heard a call to higher purpose out of the pain of peers and distinct from denomination. America’s spiritual revival now emerges, and through the portraits of those shaping this awakening we witness new and innovative ways they fulfill people through belief, feelings of belonging, and activation.

Spiritual Belonging: 40 Faith Leaders Reimagine Community, Connection, and Belief spotlights these exciting new leaders and the communities they are creating, shining light on innovative paths forward for those yearning for more connection and meaning in their lives.

Highlighted leaders include Alejandro Aguilera-Titus, Imam Abdullah Antelpli, Rabbi Elan Babchuck, Rev Jennifer Bailey, Helen A. Berger, Anju Bhargava, Yolanda Blue Horse, Dr. Rabbi Marc Borovitz, Dr. Matthew Bowman, Blake Chastain, Rev. Tyler Coles, Dr. Brian Corbin, Halil Demir, Lisa Doi,  Kevin Garcia, Kate Gordon, Matthew Johnson Harris, Casper Ter Juile, Dr. Rucha Kaur, Dr. Uriah Kim, Rev Dr, Karoline Lewis, Kathryn Lohre, Pastor Daniel Lybarger, James Martin, Dr. Scott Mitchell, Dr. Anila Ali, Reverend Luke Moon, Rev Dr. Joy J. Moore, Dr. Rami Nahashibi, Kursat Ozenc, Anthony Cruz Pantojas, Dr Eboo Patel, Rev Dr. Marc Rivera, Rabbi Or N. Rose, Harriet Rossetto, Dr. Simran Jeet Singh, Rev Dr. Matthew Skinner, Bishop Robert Stearns, Dr Stephanie Varnon-Hughes, Ani Zoonveld.

"Rabbis Benjamin Spratt and Joshua Stanton gather a remarkable array of voices whose work speaks to a widespread hunger for meaning, belonging, and connection beyond traditional institutions. Offering a balm to a world often focused on how we differ and what we have lost, the authors turn to the lived stories of those reimagining spiritual life across America. Each story builds faith in human goodness, and the collection of portraits encourages us to see a renewal underway and a multifaith future that builds connectivity through shared values."

—Deborah Sunya Moore, senior vice president and chief program officer, Chautauqua Institution

"Spiritual Belonging stitches together the beautiful, fragile, precious tapestry of the diverse religious traditions that make up our democracy. Each individual essay offers spiritual wisdom and inspiration, yet in this book they offer proof that our sum total is greater than our parts. America needs this book right now."

—Rev. Paul Raushenbush, president and CEO of Interfaith Alliance

"In a country so divided, when every institution seems diminished, Spratt and Stanton uncover dazzling real-life lessons of cooperation and innovation with the provocative and inspiring idea that those on the margins of traditional religion are the trailblazers who can lead all of us to find unity and purpose—despite our differences. This book will surprise you and may well change your own views about your relationship with your own faith. At a time when the need to be a part of something larger than ourselves has never seemed more real, Spiritual Belonging will change the way you look at the world and—when we most need it—prompt us to find new paths to hope and harmony."

—Neal Shapiro, president and CEO of WNET/Thirteen and former president of NBC News

"Spiritual Belonging offers a thoughtful and wide‑ranging portrait of the changing religious landscape in America, introducing readers to leaders and communities working across profound differences of belief and practice. While readers from confessional Christian traditions will rightly engage the book with theological discernment, it provides valuable insight into how faith shapes identity, community, and public life in a pluralistic society. For those involved in religious liberty and civic engagement, this volume is a useful window into the convictions, aspirations, and social dynamics of our religious neighbors. Understanding these realities is essential for preserving space for faithful witness within a diverse democracy."

—David A. Hoag, Ph.D., president, Council for Christian Colleges & Universities

"In a time of pervasive loneliness and isolation, Americans are searching for community and connection wherever they can find it. This book is a powerful celebration of the diverse ways in which our faith, traditions, and spirituality—no matter how they may look—can bridge differences and create belonging in a world where it’s desperately needed."

—Desmond K. Blackburn, PhD, president and CEO of Facing History & Ourselves

"Spiritual Belonging highlights faith communities that are doing what religions in America have always done—refreshing, remixing, and reinventing themselves to flourish in a changing spiritual environment. The example set by these diverse faith leaders reminds us that religious pluralism is in America’s DNA. Whether personally religious or not, anyone who seeks to understand the nature of faith in today’s America should read this book."

—David Campbell, University of Notre Dame, Packey J. Dee Professor of American Democracy; director, Notre Dame Democracy Initiative

"Spratt and Stanton take us on a pilgrimage meeting forty compelling leaders building the future of religion in the United States today. With engaging prose and deep insight, the authors reveal to us a rich tapestry of belonging being woven by leaders from all faith backgrounds and walks of life."

—Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, president, Sojourners; and author, A More Perfect Union: A New Vision for Building the Beloved Community

"Spiritual Belonging is a timely, essential guide to America’s growing religious pluralism and a major contribution to interfaith understanding. Written by leading voices in the field, it clarifies contested concepts and lays out practical foundations for sustainable collaboration grounded in mutual respect and joint service. A must-read for educators, students, practitioners, and all who care about building stronger interfaith communities."

—Dr. Mohamed Elsanousi, executive director of the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers; former commissioner at the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom

"Spiritual Belonging provides a fresh antidote to every religious boundary marker ever conceived or stumbled upon."

—Peter W. Marty, editor/publisher of The Christian Century

"Stanton and Spratt gather the voices of a diverse group of faith leaders, and in doing so create a new kind of dialogue that helps us better understand what it means to be a believer today. The figures in this book, while united in their efforts to find and define community, may not always agree with one another on how to do it—but that is part of what makes their conversation, and the book, so interesting."

—Kerry Weber, executive editor of America Media; author, Mercy in the City