Have you ever caught yourself stifling a yawn during a homily or struggling to stay engaged in prayer? If so, you’re not alone.
A new international study highlights the phenomenon of spiritual boredom, which affects practitioners across various religious and spiritual settings—including Catholic sermons, meditation, and retreats.
While boredom has been widely studied in workplaces and classrooms, its presence in spiritual contexts has received little attention.
Yet, history tells us that spiritual boredom is not a new concern.
Medieval Christians called it “acedia” or the “demon of noontide,” a spiritual lethargy described by St Thomas Aquinas as the “enemy of spiritual joy.”
Viktor Frankl, the Austrian neurologist and Holocaust survivor, also linked boredom to an existential vacuum, revealing its deeper implications.
The Study: What Causes Spiritual Boredom?
Published in Communications Psychology, the study examined five spiritual practices: yoga, meditation, silent retreats, Catholic sermons, and pilgrimage. Researchers assessed 1,267 adults across 10 studies to measure both trait boredom (habitual boredom over time) and state boredom (boredom in specific moments of practice).
Findings suggest that spiritual boredom stems from two key factors:
- Challenge Level: If a spiritual practice is too easy, it becomes unengaging. If it is too difficult, frustration sets in. A homily that lacks depth or inspiration may leave listeners disengaged, while one that is too intellectually demanding may be overwhelming.
- Perceived Value: When individuals don’t see personal relevance in a sermon or ritual, they are more likely to lose interest. If a homily feels disconnected from real-life concerns, parishioners may struggle to remain attentive.
Catholic Sermons: The Most Boring Spiritual Practice?
Among the five practices studied, Catholic sermons ranked highest for boredom, with an average trait boredom score of 3.56 out of 5. In contrast, pilgrimage—a physically and spiritually immersive experience—ranked lowest at 1.35.
State boredom was generally lower than trait boredom, indicating that while people remember past spiritual boredom vividly, their immediate experience might not always be as disengaging as they recall. Regardless, the study suggests that boredom is a key factor in declining motivation for religious participation.
Addressing the Issue: Keeping Spiritual Engagement Alive
For priests and religious leaders, these findings offer an important insight: even the most sacred practices can become routine and uninspiring. Homilies and religious messages should be tailored to their audiences, ensuring they resonate with both new and experienced listeners.
Lead author Thomas Goetz of the University of Vienna suggests that religious communities can combat boredom by personalizing spiritual practices and emphasizing their relevance. Open dialogue between clergy and congregants can help identify when people feel under-challenged or disconnected.
A Call to Reflection
In today’s world, where people seek meaning in both religious and secular spirituality, addressing spiritual boredom is crucial. If faith leaders acknowledge boredom as a natural response rather than a spiritual failure, they can reshape religious experiences to foster deeper engagement.
So, the next time you find your mind drifting during a sermon, consider what your boredom is telling you. It may not be a failure of faith, but rather an invitation to seek a more meaningful connection with your spiritual practice.
- Elizabeth Slocombe is an occasional writer for Flashes of Insight.
- Flashes of Insight is an international publication. The editorial policy is that spelling reflects the country of origin.