Inspiring the Nones?: Exploring Self-Transcendent Media Use and Outcomes Among the Religiously Unaffiliated

Arthur A. Raney; Sophie H. Janicke-Bowles; Mary Beth Oliver; Katherine R. Dale

doi:10.1080/15348423.2025.2575717

Inspiring the Nones? Exploring Self-Transcendent Media Use and Outcomes Among the Religiously Unaffiliated

Arthur A. Raney
, Sophie H. Janicke-Bowles
, Mary Beth Oliver
, Katherine R. Dale

Communication

Chapman University
Pennsylvania State University
Florida State University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

More than one in four U.S. adults now claim no religious affiliation, representing a 460% increase in religious “nones” since 1972. However, despite a recent spate of studies on self-transcendent media experiences, media scholars have paid little attention to this trend. Data from two waves (n_Wave1 = 2,016; n_Wave2 = 1,544) of a nationally representative panel survey facilitated the first exploration of transcendence-related media experiences and well-being outcomes among religiously affiliated and unaffiliated individuals.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	21-42
Number of pages	22
Journal	Journal of Media and Religion
Volume	25
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/15348423.2025.2575717
State	Published - 2026

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10.1080/15348423.2025.2575717

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Inspiring the Nones? Exploring Self-Transcendent Media Use and Outcomes Among the Religiously Unaffiliated

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