Seeking Transcendence examines the various paths taken by those who have detached themselves from their traditional, institutional religious roots but are seeking non-traditional paths to spiritual experiences. Called the “nones” or "non-affiliated" in popular mass media, these include a significant number of Western folks who maintain a belief in God or at least consider themselves “spiritual but not religious”.

Each chapter of the book explores these trends with a specific theme, as well as a case study based on the author’s ethnographic observation of alternative spiritual communities and practices in North America and Western Europe.

Ultimately, this book shows how contemporary alternatives to traditional institutional religion appeal to nones, presenting the relevance of new religious movements and more secular spiritual paths to transcendence.

Joseph C. Manzella, PhD, is Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at Southern Connecticut State University, USA. He is co-founder of the Anthropology department and served as its first chair, and has published several articles and two books on media and community in Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, South Africa, Western Europe, Venezuela and the United States. The subject of his 2010 book Common Purse, Uncommon Future was intentional communities.