US Population Turning Away From Organized Religion in Record Numbers

[sinkingfeeling]

http://truth-out.org/news/item/29416-us-population-turning-away-from-organized-religion-in-record-numbers

There are more religiously unaffiliated people in the U.S. today than ever before. Starting in the 1980s, a variety of polls using different methodologies have come to the same conclusion: people who do not identify with religious labels are on the rise, perhaps even doubling in that time frame.

Some call them “nones”: agnostics, atheists, deists, secular humanists, general humanists, and people who just don’t care to identify with any religious group. It’s not exactly correct to call them nonbelievers, because some still have faith and spirituality in some sense or another. A 2012 Pew study noted that 30 percent of these people believe in "God or universal spirit" and around 20 percent even pray every day. But according to the latest research, Americans checking the “none of the above” box will make up an increasingly important force in the country. Other groups, like born-again evangelicals, have grown more percentage-wise, but the nones have them beat in absolute numbers.

Last year, for the very first time, Protestants lost their majority status in the Institute’s annual report, making up only 47 percent of those surveyed. The religiously unaffiliated, who come in at 22 percent, boast numbers on par with major religious groups like American Catholics. All told, the unaffiliated is the second-largest group in the country. It was also the most common group chosen by residents in 13 states, with the largest share (a third or more) in Washington, Oregon and New Hampshire. In Ohio and Virginia, this group was tied for first place. The unaffiliated don’t find too many like-minded folks down in Mississippi, however, where they make up only 10 percent of the population.

The study also found that there are 15 states where the unaffiliated constitute the second-largest group.

[randome]

1. " Some call them 'nones' ". I call them people.

All the labels can't go away soon enough for me.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Aspire to inspire.[/center][/font][hr]

[spanone]

2. good.

[riversedge]

3. K and R

[yourout]

4. I would love to see a chart that broke down affiliation by amount of education(college).

[Arugula Latte]

49. I saw something recently that showed that people with the most education

(graduate degrees) were the least religious -- not surprising at all. But it wasn't a perfect, clean slope -- i.e. the more education, the less religious didn't correspond exactly. There were peaks and dips in there. It's interesting.

[muriel_volestrangler]

64. From the 2012 PRRI survey:

http://publicreligion.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/AVS-2012-Pre-election-Report-for-Web.pdf

The educational differences between these unaffiliated subgroups are large. Atheists and agnostics are significantly better educated than Americans overall. Close to half (45%) of atheists and agnostics have at least 4-year college degree, and more than 1-in-5 (22%) have a post-graduate degree. The educational profile of secular Americans does not differ significantly from the general public: 16% have a 4-year college degree, and 11% have a post-graduate degree. Unattached believers, by contrast, have much lower levels of educational attainment. While 10% have a 4-year college degree and 7% have a post-graduate degree, a majority (55%) of unattached believers have a high school education or less, compared to 42% of the general population.

2012 Pew survey:



http://www.pewforum.org/2012/10/09/nones-on-the-rise/

http://religions.pewforum.org/portraits (click on 'demographics', then select 'unaffiliated' under 'portrait of'; 'education distribution' is 3 from the bottom, and you can click on 'compare traditions' to compare the figures with others)

2008 Pew survey:

http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/table-education-by-tradition.pdf
[div style="font-size:1.07em; font-family:monospace; white-space:pre;"]
Less than High School Some College
High School Grad College Graduate Post-graduate N

Total Population 14 36 23 16 11 35,298
Unaffiliated 13 34 24 16 13 5,009
Atheist 8 28 23 21 21 509
Agnostic 5 22 29 23 20 825
Secular Unaffiliated 10 35 24 17 13 1,995
Religious Unaffiliated 21 40 22 11 6 1,680

[longship]

5. Meanwhile, the GOP becomes increasingly theocratic.

I hope that they drive even more people from religiosity. Because in today's world religion is increasingly poisonous. The main reason is that they increasingly want political power.

And everybody knows that religion and politics are a toxic mix. Also, religion and government, religion and science, religion and rationality, etc. Basically religion mixed with anything is toxic because religion itself is toxic.

[Sheepshank]

50. As soon as they figure this out the Reps will re-brand themselves.

Last edited Wed Mar 4, 2015, 04:11 PM - Edit history (1)

It's no concidence that the Religious are relying on the Conservative to validate them.


Here is an intersting thought....if no political party catered to religion, would there be 35% of the population left that are Republican? Seriously, if the Republican stand of villifying the poor and removing all safety nets for the needy, is that very christian-like at all?

[longship]

59. Well, you've got a good question there.

I confess that I don't even have a speculation on that, beyond the fact of not thinking that could realistically happen.

I think the GOP knows that the religious right and the theocrats are their base. That is why they say things that are so barking mad.

[Cha]

63. Yeah, fakin' it .. like everything else they do.

Aloha, longship

[adigal]

6. I have been teaching in public schools for 23 years

and the number of kids who have no religious background or training today, compared with even 10 or 12 years ago, is noticeable. They no longer even know Adam and Eve, Noah, Ash Wednesday, Lent, really anything. Just a handful of kids know. And I teach 12th graders, so they should have at least gotten some cultural references.

And these are smart, good kids, too. It's just not a part of their lives.

[mountain grammy]

16. I like what you're seeing in your students and, while I want

this to be true, I wonder if the more religious kids are home schooled or attending private religious academies.

[asjr]

45. That is exactly what bothers me. In my small town most children

are sent to religious schools or are home schooled. Some of the home schooled are taught by parents who sometimes have not had a high school education. When I bring that up I am told it is none of my business. That group seem to think someone like me is going straight to hell. I feel they are trading their children for a ticket to heaven. Or so they think. Isn't this how the Third Reich was started?

[adigal]

54. Well, if they plan to be halfway literate adults, they need to recognize Biblical allusions

or they will just be dolts when it comes to many things.

[douggg]

56. "cultural references"

I read a long time ago that the two most quoted literary references were the Bible and Shakespeare.

[adigal]

62. Yup...and if they don't know any Biblical allusions, they are behind in many ways nt

[iandhr]

7. It's even larger if you count the people who affiliate with a religion but are non practicing.

I would check a box that says Jewish but I go to synagogue only the the high holy days and don't keep kosher. (To many tasty things I would miss out on)


There are also the two times a year Christians.

[atreides1]

8. CEO Christians

Christmas and Easter Only!!!

[reflection]

10. Oh that's just great. I'm stealing that.

Hope you don't mind.

[PotatoChip]

52. Or those who don't attend at all.

Unless absolutely necessary, as in such occasions as weddings and funerals.

[KG]

9. militant nones unite!

let's not get together and not attempt to talk nobody into believing in nothing!

[erronis]

24. I'm liking that.

Wisht I could come up with a snappy phrase. Maybe -

Religion is what gives us a moral foundation. (NOT!)

[rationalcalgarian]

27. Yeah! Where do I not sign up?! n/t

[jeff47]

11. But The Guardian just told me atheists are all sad because religion is flourishing!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/123036869

[Enthusiast]

34. Dumbest fucking article I've read in a while.

[Arugula Latte]

53. We're not only sad, we're angry!

All of us are militant, angry, worked-up people on the verge of keeling over in apoplexy 24/7 ...

according to many believers.

[LeftinOH]

12. Fundamentalist nutjobs are driving lots of people away...

...and it's too bad. There's nothing wrong with learning about the basic religious that have driven Western culture. It's our heritage, too. And I'm not referring to the hysterical "this s a Christian nation" rhetoric.

[maggies farm]

25. Ah....

But soon enough the column will start shifting and the numbers rejecting western civilization grows as religion has.

People just cannot figure that the changing of the ages are disruptive and for good reason. Tomorrow doesn't include the western civilization, but they will usher in the new and improved 6th extinction.

Smart people are questioning both.

[Stonepounder]

30. I agree with you.

Christianity (as well as most other major religions) is a religion of love and tolerance. "Love thy neighbor", "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone", the parable of the good Samaritan, the parable of the loaves and fishes, and so on. Even the Old Testament, with all its fire and brimstone, told folk to not harvest the corners of their fields, not harvest all their grapes or olives, but to leave some for the poor who could come and harvest the left-overs - the 'gleaners'.

We have so much hate and 'thou shalt' today and woe be unto you if you don't toe the line with the fundies. What happened to 'all you need is love'?

[Enthusiast]

38. Yeah, if only Christianity was practiced the way Jesus espoused with the emphasis on charity,

love, kindness and non-violence. Today we see the exact opposite.

[phil89]

57. A religion based on

human sacrifice to avoid damnation is not a religion of love. The very idea that people would take part in such a religion is sickening.

[RandySF]

13. I think this last recession did a lot of damage.

I know a lot of fervent prayers went unanswered as people tried to save their homes and/or jobs.

[sendero]

21. the "Prosperity Prophets"...

.... could not deliver on their promises. There was literally a subculture of Christian faith that preached something along the lines of "if you give the the church god will make you prosperous".

And guess what, He didn't.

[justhanginon]

28. He made Joel Osteen and others

of his ilk extremely prosperous. Seems like I recall seeing a pic of him outside his palatial mansion sitting in his bright red Ferrari. I wonder if he sent thank you cards to the donors. How stupid can people be? I guess that is a rhetorical question as we have pretty much seen the answer.

[TBF]

65. Osteen lives in River Oaks - the swankiest part of Houston

with the oil executives/heirs(heiresses). At Lakewood Church, Joel Osteen proclaims,"It's God's will for you to live in prosperity instead of poverty." The pastor of the Houston megachurch and wife Victoria certainly practice what they preach.
The couple has moved to a $10.5 million mansion in River Oaks (2010).

[Spitfire of ATJ]

31. They actually claim "if you plant a seed you will reap a harvest"....

I heard one claim your donation will come back to you ten fold.

Try to call bullshit on it and some people will act as if you just spit on Spencer Tracy as Father Flanagan.

[Enthusiast]

39. +1

[sendero]

43. LOL

.... well reality winnows the pack of these people, eventually.

And folks who think Jesus wants them to drive a BMW are just missing the point totally anyway.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

58. Carlin used to talk about people's prayers....

Look how far ahead of the curve the AUDIENCE is as opposed to the guests on this old clip from the 90s.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

33. That, too...

... the only church I can remember where the minister constantly harped about the need to tithe (10% of annual earnings to the church) was a Reformed church with a Robert Schuler worshipping man behind the pulpit. Of course there were some fights between members and the minister, but I digress ...

[kwassa]

14. This article is deceptive, because "unaffiliated" is not a single group ...

yet they are being compared to religious groups being broken into much more specifically identified.

"Turning away" also sounds like too active of a movement.

In a much more passive way, perhaps they have simply stopped going to church. Going to church requires action, not going requires nothing.

[sinkingfeeling]

18. Huh? By definition 'unaffiliated' is an adjective describing a single thing,

just as 'religious' is an adjective describing a single thing.

un·af·fil·i·at·ed
/ˌənəˈfilēˌādəd/

adjective: unaffiliated

not officially attached to or connected with an organization or group.


re·li·gious
/rəˈlijəs/

adjective

relating to or believing in a religion.

[kwassa]

22. Not the way it is used in the article

Some call them “nones”: agnostics, atheists, deists, secular humanists, general humanists, and people who just don’t care to identify with any religious group. It’s not exactly correct to call them nonbelievers, because some still have faith and spirituality in some sense or another. A 2012 Pew study noted that 30 percent of these people believe in "God or universal spirit" and around 20 percent even pray every day. But according to the latest research, Americans checking the “none of the above” box will make up an increasingly important force in the country.

This is a collection of people that may have very little in common with one another, with widely varied views about religion and spirituality, or lack thereof. For them to have any kind of force, like the author is suggesting, they would have to have something that unifies their viewpoint. This collection of people are defined only by what they don't believe in, not what they do believe in. There is no such unity.

[sinkingfeeling]

23. Like there's unity in religious groups?

[kwassa]

36. My point exactly.

The article is comparing the percentage of one non-unified group, the unaffiliated, against the separate percentages of different religious groups.

Pretty bogus.

Also, there is nothing new in this trend. The numbers have been dropping in churches for the past 60 years. This is not even news.

[jeff47]

37. Yes, "protestant" is such a narrow group.

[mopinko]

15. we have all seen the little man behind the curtain.

between the pedophiles and the madelaine laundries, et al, i think the great deception has come apart at the seams.

[fasttense]

35. The Great Deception - I like that

From the 1st invention of gods, religion has been used to market obedience. It is one of the best marketing tools ever invented. Look how it manipulates people into hate, hysteria, abuse, torture and on and on. It has been used to make mothers mutilate and abuse their own children. It has been used to encourage murder and mass suicide. It is one hell of a marketing tool.

[Enthusiast]

40. +1

If it was genuine we would recognize it.

[mountain grammy]

17. I think this is when the fundamentalists really get busy

as they are now in America. If religion appears to be dying, it is more important than ever to "establish" a state religion. Oh, the Constitution prohibits it you say? Well, somebody better tell 5 corruprt justices of our Supreme Court that fact.

[Skidmore]

19. Thank your for that informative link.

I had not seen that article before and welcome that news. Recalling the personal difficulties I went through to get back to this nation, I have been increasingly alarmed at the cracks made in the wall between church and state. Even more frightening is the politicization of the courts because I don't feel that there is much of a safeguard. If people become disgusted enough and can get ahead of the money, we can change legislators and eventually change laws. The SCOTUS is not so easily turned.

This area of political influence is a source of great stress to me because institutionalization of bigotry is something I fear for many reasons.

[Cryptoad]

20. people are figuring out ,,,

you don't have to have a church to have a religion.

[randome]

44. And you don't need to have a religion to have principles, either.

But one step at a time, I guess.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]

[Arugula Latte]

48. The more people who step away from church attendance,

the more religion will drop -- eventually. For example, many non-church goers might hang on to their religion for the rest of their lives, but the ties that shackle will be far weakened in their kids, and their kids will grow up to be "nones."

[Jackpine Radical]

26. Not me. I never belonged to an organized religion.

I'm a Unitarian.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

29. For some, tuning in to a TV preacher on Sunday is the same as going to church....

Those are the ones that have the really scary ideas.

Especially the fans of Jack Van Impe.

<shuddereth>

[spooky3]

32. The true figure is probably higher, because there is still societal

Disapproval of declaring oneself in that group, whereas being "devout" is generally respected.

[Enthusiast]

41. I believe you are correct.

[heaven05]

42. can't really blame them

[Iliyah]

46. Well, damn

just look at all the spewing is coming from, so called "Christians".

Hatred, lies, and trying to take total control of your life.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

47. Not according to my Facebook feed...

[Arugula Latte]

51. Ouch.

Yeah, that can be quite depressing.

[vkkv]

55. The PROBLEM is - FUNDIES TALK REALLY LOUD and drown out any sanity that gets media attention.

Think about this, if the Bible was just "the Bible - word of God" we wouldn't have so many interpretations and different versions now would we? There would be just ONE Bible -not hundreds of interpretations in English alone.

Apparently a lot of people want in on the action = $$$

[yortsed snacilbuper]

60. Amen brother!

[raven mad]

61. I like religion.

I find it every time I walk outside with the northern lights blazing. Or when camping and a wolverine comes close to sniff and get a photo op - of course, I'm in a tree by then!

Organized religion is nothing but control by the few over the many.

[heaven05]

66. +1000

[romanic]

67. I've definitely noticed this.

There have been several churches in my neck of the woods that either consolidated with another church (this is what happened to my childhood Catholic church)or closed down due to shrinking congregations (or a shift in population around the church). Sometimes the older church-goers die off and/or the church itself is no longer "profitable". Regardless I think more and more people just aren't into organized religion because some of the rituals are archaic or just don't mean much beyond symbolism. *shrug*