Religious deidentification has become an increasingly common phenomenon in contemporary European societies. Rather than a simple loss of belief, it involves a complex process of identity transformation, reinterpretation of meaning, and reorganization of personal and relational life. Importantly, moving away from religion does not imply a complete disappearance of its psychological influence. Instead, elements of previously internalized religious meaning systems may persist and continue to shape emotional, moral, and relational functioning. This symposium brings together four complementary studies that approach religious deidentification within a processual, multi-perspective framework. The presentations examine (1) the emotional trajectory of deidentification, (2) sources of meaning reconstructed after leaving religion, (3) the relational and intergenerational dynamics of deidentification within families, and (4) the development of a new measure capturing religious residue. Together, these contributions move beyond a dichotomous understanding of “religious vs. non-religious” and propose a model of continuity and transformation that highlights the psychological complexity of life after religion.
After religion: Identity, meaning, and religious residue in the process of deidentification