Multiple religious orientation

Abstract

This paper focuses on the question of how one can live out multiple religions at once. I arrive at and explore eight answers to this question in the form of eight multiple religious orientations that I argue form a continuum from lighter to more intense forms of participation, i.e., seeking, multiple religious curiosity, hybrid identity without belonging, open single belonging, single belonging with crossing over, hybrid identity with belonging, double belonging, and beyond belonging. In the end, this understanding of religious orientations gives us names and a conceptual order for multiple religious participation which together may allow us to ask old questions more carefully and ask some new questions, too. It also leaves us with a wider personal perspective on the field.