What “Counts” As Religious or Spiritual Experience? Separating Phenomenology from Appraisals

We examined what kinds of experiences are considered religious or spiritual (R/S) by people in different religious and non-religious groups, using a theory-neutral measure. Experiences involving “presences” or self-diminishment were often considered R/S, even among the non-religious. However, groups also varied in the prevalence and R/S appraisal of certain experiences.