The easy distinction between religious and spiritual (which doesn’t surprise you) is exactly what I found so fascinating. In this particular case, we see a place where not only are religion and spirituality distinct, but they are in fact diametrically opposed to each-other and predictive of opposite behaviors. And this is true even in a group predominated by self-identified Christians! (For the record, another ~8% identified as a non-Christian religion.)

This shows just how thoroughly religious and spiritual ideas have grown apart. It’s also interesting because it shows how thouroughly ascetical ideas have fallen out of spirituality (at least for women), even though they were traditionally associated much more with the spiritual/mystical tradition than with the mainstream religious practices. (Perhaps an ascetical undertone to masculine spirituality accounts, in part, for men having less sex?)

Another interesting consequence is the fact that less spiritual young women have less sex: the inverse of the catchy headline. Which goes directly against the idea that nihilism or non-spirituality is a risk factor for dangerous behaviors like sex with many partners without a condom: it’s been a running assumption in many circles that spirituality is part of the solution for self-destructive behaviors.

Getting back to the mens’ part of the study—note that what you consider obvious only seems to hold true for women. While it’s true religious men have less sex than non-religious men, the fact that spiritual men have less sex than non-spiritual men is really a bizarre curiosity to me, particularly when put in contrast with the increased sexuality of spiritual women.

So there’s a whole lot here.

Similarly, I am not at all surprised that those who identify with a religion that states eating a certain kind of food is wrong eat less of that food tan those who are “spiritual”. Religion is largely about about the precise rules and conduct laid out for that religion, otherwise you wouldn’t be part of that religion. Hence, it tends to foster less, or at least more specific, activity than non-adherents.

Certainly, it’s possible that one can be “spiritual” and have even greater restrictions on sex or other activities (I’d venture a guess to say that those who are more “spiritual” also tend to be more vegan) but, by and large, the people I’ve met who at one point in time identified as such seemed to have much less stringent sexual rules.