“Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World” is a book by Tara Isabella Burton that explores the rise of various secular, spiritual, and alternative belief systems and practices in contemporary society.

Take a deep dive into the changing values and needs of people, and therefore employees from a unique perspective.

As we consider our society post-religious, what is filling that void? How are other forms of belief, ways of living and strong values shaping people? And how could that affect requirements in terms of employer brand, HR policies, and workplace initiatives to better align with employees’ personal beliefs and values?

This is a fascinating read and not the usual for a business reading list! The book does not speak specifically about the workplace, but it doesn’t take a lot to see the implications for it.

The book delves into the ways in which people are seeking meaning, community, and transcendent experiences outside of traditional organised religions.  Burton examines a range of phenomena, including the popularity of wellness and self-help movements, the growth of mindfulness and meditation practices, the rise of witchcraft and paganism, and the role of technology in shaping new forms of spirituality.

Whilst she (very convincingly) argues that these diverse movements and practices can be seen as a response to the decline of traditional religious institutions, you may be forgiven for asking as HR professionals, why are we reading the book?

“Strange Rites” ultimately explores the ways in which people are crafting their own spiritual and moral frameworks in a world that is becoming increasingly secular and fragmented – describing a search for meaning and belonging in a rapidly changing world.  It doesn’t take much of a leap for the HR professional to see concepts like values, motivation, organisational culture jump out from the pages.  How do our beliefs (religious or not) affect our experience of inclusion and belonging in the workplace?

What caught our attention the most was that the book acts as a modern day Rosetta Stone:  Burton’s analysis of the cultural trends and shifts in the last 2 decades explores the terminology and concepts from various belief systems, introducing us to language new and old that makes it easier for us to engage in meaningful conversations across a diverse and inclusive workplace.

By exploring the various secular and spiritual movements discussed in the book, we can gain insight into the changing values and needs of employees, and importantly – what’s driving those changes. This understanding can inform your HR policies, benefits packages, and workplace initiatives to better align with employees’ personal beliefs and values.

Take for example mindfulness or meditation – these are inherently spiritual practices but do we recognise them as such?  We may feel that we’ve cleansed them of any religious overtones and adapted them for the workplace, but the core practice of mindfulness maybe still be unpalatable to some, and Burton deftly explains why.  HR professionals can use the information in the book to develop policies that support and accommodate these practices in the workplace (or not), creating a more balanced and positive work environment.

As a final point, this book has left a surprising mark on the readers at Totem Towers, and we highly recommend it. We were a little surprised by how little we knew and Burton’s sensitive and respectable approach to modern day values and belief systems is as stunning as it is refreshing.

As a HR professional it will remind and enable you to continually promote the importance of cultural sensitivity and awareness.  Keeping you informed about contemporary cultural and societal trends, which if used correctly will better inform your HR strategies and practices whilst serving the changing needs of your workforce.