Easter special: I believe...

Every year church-going statistics for the mainstream denominations fall further, and predictions abound that the "melancholy, long, withdrawing roar" of "the Sea of Faith" first prophesied by Matthew Arnold in "Dover Beach" in 1867 is finally complete.

Yet there is another, quieter story to be told - of the many people who are seeking spiritual enlightenment, not in designated houses of God but in their heads and hearts, working with the denominational baggage of their childhood, but also picking without prejudice through the various holy books and traditions to find a bespoke credo, tailor-made to their needs.

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Will Young and Noel Edmonds are among those who have recently outed themselves as "religious", in the broadest of senses. Dermot O'Leary has revealed he says his prayers each night and goes to Mass but dismisses much of the official teaching of the Roman Catholic church of his upbringing. Rock star Nick Cave writes lyrics suffused by Old Testament imagery and spiritual hunger, and the director Rebecca Miller, daughter of the religious arch-sceptic Arthur Miller, described herself at the launch of her new film The Ballad of Jack and Rose as spiritual but "in a theological limbo because I haven't found a dogma I feel I can belong to".

We are witnessing not the death of religion but rather the privatisation of faith. The institutional churches, with their catechisms and rule books, their faults and hypocrisies, may no longer hold such widespread appeal as once they did, but the search for a greater purpose and pattern to life than what can be bought in shops or proved under a laboratory microscope continues unabated. As it always has. Providing an answer to that yearning for there to be something more, something other, is fundamental to the human condition and is arguably why organised religion grew up in the first place.

Once faith was characterised in our secular and scientific age as something for the elderly when they began to worry about the approach of death. The heads bowed before the altars were all grey. But today, inside and outside the denominations, there is a new generation of younger souls on a private spiritual pilgrimage. They are unafraid to break the taboo that has existed since the 1960s and own up to being interested in religion as something more than a sociological dinosaur. And they are unafraid too of the stereotype that says being openly religious is simply uncool.

'Prayer is very powerful. You can alter your destiny'

Ruby Hammer, of Ruby and Millie cosmetics, Muslim

I was raised a Muslim, but now I meditate and have a guru, which comes from a Hindu background. I believe prayer is very powerful - a creative visualisation - you can alter your destiny.

I can pray in a Muslim way because that's the way I was taught, but there are other ways. It is not just about your religion, but a spiritual thing that acknowledges a higher power. I practise every day. It's about opening up and feeling the link with what is up there, saying please help me, show me.

I go topless on a beach, I married a Catholic man in church, but I never eat pork and when I visit my father's grave, I follow the Muslim rituals. I believe in "live and let live", and in treating other people as you would want to be treated, and to me these are humanity rules.

If you do it in the name of your religion, great - you're trying to be a nicer person. Some people don't have anything to hold on to and it's like being rudderless.

'Everything that happens is a potential lesson learnt'

Howard Jones, musician, Buddhist

I've been practising Buddhism for 13 years since Jeff Banks [the fashion designer] introduced me to it.

When I first chanted it was like remembering something from deep within me. Buddhists believe that every person has this state called 'Buddhahood' inside, which can be described as a state of compassion, courage and wisdom. My beliefs encourage me to view everything that happens to me as a potential to learn something valuable.

Before I practised Buddhism I used to blame other people, the Government or my wife for things that were going wrong in my life. Now I take responsibility on myself: I have to change myself in order to move my life forward in a positive way.

'My faith has been tested and I came through'

Annabel Karmel, children's cookery writer, Jewish

I am not Orthodox but I have always believed in a God who created the world, and that we will be judged one day. Religion to me is a way of life, of helping other people and being good to your family. Traditional values are a big part of being Jewish.

When my baby daughter, Natasha, died, I was ready to die too. Tragedy shakes you into thinking, is there a God up there? I prayed when Natasha was in hospital and God didn't help me, but he helped me to come through it.

If Natasha hadn't died I could never have written my books, and they have helped people. My faith was tested and I came through believing.

'After School Meal Planner', Ebury, £14.99

'I want my children to learn right from wrong'

Daniel Caines, athlete, Seventh Day Adventist

We believe in keeping the Sabbath, and the second coming, and we don't eat certain foods. That's it in a nutshell, but it goes deeper of course.

I didn't used to compete on Saturdays - the Sabbath - but I do now because I feel God's given me a gift to use. My belief is even more important now I have children because I want them to learn right from wrong. You have to live right: "As a man thinketh... so is he."

As I say to my little man, if you surround yourself by things that aren't of an upright and good nature then you will become those things. The whole process of my faith allows me to concentrate more and be calm. I draw strength from my faith. You have to, it's a hard world.

'I believe I can do anything because of my strong values'

Saira Khan, 'Apprentice' contestant, Muslim

I'm not covered up, I have the occasional drink, I don't pray five times a day, but I get my values from my faith. It's about my everyday actions towards others - tolerance and kindness and honesty.

I am from a council estate in the West Midlands, from parents of immigrant background who came here not speaking English, yet I believe I can do anything because my faith gives me such strong values.

The Muslim community is not just one community: it's Arab, it's African, it's European. You are at home everywhere. But religion has to progress with society: aproblem I have with Islam is it's not doing that.

'P.U.S.H. For Success', Vermilion, £9.99

'We're all connected to each other, and to God'

Janie Dee, actress, Anglican

My primary belief is that life is a gift. I've grown up with a Church of England-type faith and I have worshipped at my local church in Notting Hill as long as I've lived there, but I don't mind going to other denominations.

I believe God is in everyone and He's the force of love and goodness. That is what I try to tune into every morning and every night with prayer, to say thank you for my life, which I am very aware is blessed.

I believe that Jesus was an amazingly good and special person. He said he was the Son of God and I believe that, but I think he was saying that we are all sons and daughters of God, and he's given us all the ability to be like him. He helped us realise that we're all connected to each other and to God.

'You have to contribute to an advancing civilisation'

Omid Djalili, comedian, Baha'i

One of the major messages of the Baha'i faith is religious unity.

You practise your faith in a very personal way, but with two purposes: to understand yourself and to contribute to an ever-advancing civilisation. This means you strive for excellence, which really appeals to me - I try to be the funniest comedian I can possibly be. Everything you do has a bearing - the Baha'i writings indicate that when you die you'll move to another plane of existence but that your identity will stay intact.

Baha'u'llah left us an enormous amount of writings, which we read from each morning and evening, as well as saying prayers. Well, I sometimes go for weeks without, but then I realise how beneficial it feels.

'I know of no evidence for the existence of God'

Lewis Wolpert, developmental biologist, atheist

I grew up in a Jewish family but I gave it all up at 16 when I prayed to God for something I really wanted and it didn't happen. I have been an atheist ever since.

I believe in proof and I know of no evidence for the existence of God, but I am in no way hostile to religion provided it does not interfere in the lives of others or come into conflict with science.

In the past, religion explained things people couldn't understand - ageing, illness, thunderstorms. You see that with accidents: for years after an airplane crash, relatives want to know why it crashed. They can't bear the uncertainty.

'Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast', Faber, £14.99

'Compassion and peace are what matter above all'

Benjamin Zephaniah, poet and activist, Rastafarian

Religion has caused so much trouble in the world that it's given God a bad name, but it's so important for people to have some sort of spirituality in their lives.

I met Rastafarianism when I was 11 and identified with it - it stamped a black identity on Christianity. I used to go to church, but came to think it was about my personal relationship with God. I have a form of prayer but it's closer to meditation. God created the universe: is he really worried about swearing or what we do in bed? This is what religion has done.

For me the most important aspect is compassion. I am vegan. Peace is another word. There is no "way" to peace: it is a doing word. We should be peacekeepers all the time.