Physician Health and Well-Being: Spiritual but not Religious
By John A. Patterson MD, MSPH, FAAFP, ABIHM
Founding co-chair LMS Physician Wellness Program (2016)
We’ve all heard the admonition to avoid talking about politics or religion in certain gatherings, perhaps including our own family. It is somehow fitting that polls show a shift toward the middle in both our national politics and religions.
According to polling earlier this year, 45% of Americans identify as political independents – neither Democrat or Republican – a new high for political non-affiliation.
Similarly, and perhaps not surprisingly, more Americans identify as spiritual but not religious – not identifying with a specific religion. Polling shows that 22% of Americans self-categorize as spiritual but not religious because they say they think of themselves as spiritual or they consider spirituality very important in their lives, but they neither think of themselves as religious nor say religion is very important in their lives.
Karen Armstrong was the recipient of the $100,000 TED Prize in 2008 – an award given to someone with big ideas that have the potential to change society and the world. Many years ago, she was training to become a Catholic nun but left the monastery after being told she asked too many questions. She is now perhaps the most ardent and articulate of those studying comparative religions and interfaith dialogue.
Armstrong is the author of several books, including :
A History of God; The Case for God; Buddha; Sacred Nature; The Battle for God; Jerusalem – One City, Three Faiths; Muhammad – A Prophet for Our Time; Islam – A Short History
Over the next few months, this column will review each of Armstrong’s – 12 Steps to a Compassionate Life. For now, this quote from the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of the Tibetan Buddhist religion, exemplifies the common ground on which all religions stand. He says ‘my religion is compassion.’
Resources
Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life (Knopf 2011)
https://dn790008.ca.archive.org/0/items/edg4-1/edg4-1Twelve%20Steps%20to%20a%20Compassionate%20Life%20Karen%20Armstrong.pdf
New High of 45% in U.S. Identify as Political Independents
Gallup Poll, 2026
https://news.gallup.com/poll/700499/new-high-identify-political-independents.aspx
Who are spiritual but not religious Americans?
Pew Research, 2023
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/12/07/who-are-spiritual-but-not-religious-americans/
About the Author–
Dr Patterson spent 30 years in solo family medicine in Estill County/Irvine, Kentucky, where his staff included a mental health counselor and dietitian. He majored in psychology at Vanderbilt and has viewed his entire medical career through that mind body lens, including residencies in family medicine and preventive medicine and a master’s degree in public health. He is certified in family medicine, integrative holistic medicine, mind body medicine, mindfulness-based stress reduction and yoga therapy. He is past president of the Kentucky Academy of Family Physicians and is on the faculty of U of Rochester Mindful Practice in Medicine and the Center for Mind Body Medicine (Washington, DC). He operates the Mind Body Studio on Southland Drive in Lexington, where he offers individual consultations and group classes for persons with stress-related chronic conditions and burnout prevention for health professionals, teachers, businesses, faith communities and non-profits, emphasizing a mindfulness-based approach to promoting resilience, managing stress, preventing burnout and cultivating compassion. Those with financial hardship simply pay as they are able.
He can be reached through his website at www.mindbodystudio.org
