Fastest growing "religion" in US? SURPRISE!

[Atman]

We're often told some ridiculous figure like 98.8% of America is Christian or "religious" in some fashion. Of course, we're often told lots of lies by the administration, especially the one currently courting the fundie vote. Here is an interesting tidbit that suggests otherwise...

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Rise Of Secularism To Be Examined

June 15, 2005
By FRANCES GRANDY TAYLOR, Courant Staff Writer

Research suggests that if secularism were a religious denomination, it would be one of the largest and fastest-growing in the United States today. The number of people who say they have no religious affiliation has grown since the early 1990s to nearly 14 percent of the population. This trend has surprised researchers, given the political and social impact that religious values have had in America in recent years.

A new program at Trinity College, the Institute for the Study of Secularism and Culture, will begin in July to delve into the struggle between religious and secular values in society. It is believed to be the first academic institute devoted to the study of the history and development of secular values.

<snip>

Kosmin led the American Religious Identification Survey, a 2001 study that mapped details of religious diversity in the United States, based on polling of more than 50,000 people. That study also showed that people with no religious affiliation doubled from 7 percent to 14 percent over a decade - most particularly among the young and males.

<snip>

"People with no religion would be among the biggest denominations in the United States - its roughly about the same number of people who say they are Baptist or Catholic - it's a big slice of the religious pie," Silk said, noting that Jews, by comparison, account for only about 2 percent of the population.

Full Story at Hartford Courant

[vi5]

1. Except for the fact that often times secularism....

..indicates some sense of apathy. I'd venture to guess that about 75-80% of my friends could be described as secular. They don't go to church, they don't have an active religion in their life, and they don't belong to one denomination. But yet they probably aren't atheists either. It more than likely just comes from apathy and not wanting to spend the time to either get involved with a religion or attend regularly.

This isn't bad, but from a political perspective it is because it also translates to a political apathy as well.

[Atman]

3. You're jumping to some conclusions this study is examining

I understand what you're saying, but the point of the article is that they are studying the whys and wherefores. I don't necessarily agree that religious apathy translates to political apathy. In fact, "apathy" isn't mentioned here, nor is the being an "atheist." Secular Humanism is not necessarily the same as being an atheist...although I admit, in my case it does.

[vi5]

6. Oh, I know.....

I was more talking on a side subject (the politics of it) not included in the article.

You're right secular humanism doesn't mean atheism. That's my point with the apathy thing. I'm an atheist. I'm an atheist because I've taken the time to learn about and study and think strongly about different religions and beliefs, and science, and feel very strongly that none of it means anything to me and that I don't believe in it. Whereas my friends who don't go to church either, would likely never in a million years refer to themselves as atheists. Not due to a love of religion or spirituatlity, just because they wouldn't want to commit to such a strong stance any more than they would want to commit to being a full on catholic or muslim or fundamentalist or whatnot who attends services every week and agrees to live by a set of rules.

These same people would also never commit to being a dem or a repub or a conservative or a liberal.

[Atman]

13. Points well taken

I'm an atheist because I've taken the time to learn about and study and think strongly about different religions and beliefs, and science, and feel very strongly that none of it means anything to me and that I don't believe in it. Whereas my friends who don't go to church either, would likely never in a million years refer to themselves as atheists.

Exactly.

I've tried religion. Even after leaving the Church, we joined a new congregation after our first child was born, 19 years ago. We had tea with the minister, tried to learn more, find out what perhaps we missed the first few times. It only cemented my beliefs further. Organized religion is poppycock. It does take a very strong belief, especially in this day and age, to "out" yourself as a full-on atheist.

[suziedemocrat]

10. Religion is optional - we have to have politicians.

I don't think you can compare religious apathy to religious apathy. I don't go to church - but I'm pretty involved politically. I have religious friends who don't follow politics.

Basically - the reason I don't go to church is because I haven't found one that I really like. I have gone to services - but I don't feel I get much out of them. Then, I found these books (Journey of Souls and Destiny of Souls by Michael Newton) which were so mind blowing and offered so much more than any religion, I don't think I'll ever go to church now. And, you don't NEED religion to survive. However, if we don't pay attention to politics - we will still be affected by politicians, we just won't choose the ones who affect us.

[Atman]

14. One of my favorite books..."Buddhism Without Beliefs"

I still call myself an atheist. This book explains why Buddhism is not, and was never intended to be, a "religion." Simply a way of living a healthy life mindful of your place in the world.

Buddhism Without Beliefs @ Amazon

[vi5]

15. My statement was just a vague theory...

Obviously there are plenty of secular humanists who are not politically apathetic just as there are plenty of highly religious people who are probably politically apathetic as well.

But I know people have a tendency to assume someone who is not religious or is a secular humanist are automatically liberal leaning. But my feeling is that this is not the case since many times not having a religion or not affilliating oneself with a church or denomination or what have you is just as much a matter of laziness as it is a matter of not finding the right church or connection or denomination.

[spooked911]

2. Attention Nick Kristoff! (the NYTimes columnist who likes to write about

how Democrats are dismissive of evangelical Christians)

In any case, this is good news, as far as I am concerned

[ClintonTyree]

4. A larger population of people...

are seeing organized religion for what it is, a sham. Catholics protecting child molesters, fundamentalists (born agains) acting like the Taliban, jerk offs like Robertson and Fallwell raking in billions in God's name and then preaching hate and intolerance. Yeah, there's a lot to be suspicious of in today's organized religious world.

I'd say a majority of Christians ARE good, moral people. It's their leaders that need to take a step back and examine themselves. They're giving religion a bad name.

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. nice to know i'm part of a big group

n/t

[ixion]

7. Secular Humanists: it's the religion, stupid

so many (most of) the people I'm close friends with are not affiliated with any particular church in the common sense. They are spiritual people who practice a way of, in essence, the Golden Rule.

"Be excellent to each other," in the common vernacular. ;-)

[Dudley_DUright]

8. Silly me

I thought that liberal education was all about teaching secular "values", like the value of critical thinking and reasoned argument. :crazy:

A new program at Trinity College, the Institute for the Study of Secularism and Culture, will begin in July to delve into the struggle between religious and secular values in society. It is believed to be the first academic institute devoted to the study of the history and development of secular values.

[sam sarrha]

9. info i found was that about 38% to 41% attend church, frequently or infreq

I have PTSD from childhood abuse in the FreeHollinessPenticostal cult.

I have become a Buddhist, which isn't a religion, but beautifully explains why the world and the people in it are all F'd up. it explains the freepers, the apathetic, the cruel and even Bu$h and Bill O'Liely. and provides a method to deal with it and apparently to transcend it..

What was my biggest revelation about Buddhism is that it is what apparently inspired Jesus.. The home of Jesus lies on the Old Silk road at an intersection where it goes north to the Caspian Sea, south to Mecca and west to Cairo. at the time of Jesus birth, Buddhism had been around about 500 years. The teachings of Jesus is essentially Buddhism.. Compassion and equanimity for all. I really never understood the 'Jesus' story until i studied Buddhism.. Jesus as a Logo gets lost in all the stories to prove everyones particular point.. The teachings of Jesus is Sooo Remarkably NOT JEWISH.. where did such a divergent philosophy come from..hummm

The language of Jesus was Aramaic, It was a METAPHORICAL language. Greek is a logical language.. it really isn't possible to translate word for word.. that is how the Jesus Logo Churches brainwash the members.. "the word is the law, you cant interpret the Word of Jesus".. then they go about telling them what it means.....relative to KKKarl Rove types and the NEOCON's who us it a a weapond of massdistruction.

http://www.insider-magazine.com/ChristianMafia

[elehhhhna]

11. Yep, and by "infrequently" they mean weddings, funerals, and those

times Grandma drags them to Christmas Eve Services.

[atommom]

12. I can't help but wonder if some Americans are pulling away from

religious institutions because the wingnuts have gotten so very extreme. More moderate people can't help but see the many contradictions in the religious right movement.

I've always been of a more secular bent myself, and tend to trust my secular humanist friends more than Bible-toting Christians.

[earth mom]

16. People who believe in organized religion have been brainwashed

to a certain degree. It's good to know that not everyone in this country has been taken in by the tactics they use of religious inclusion while promoting fear-total brainwashing tools.

My Dad was an atheist and my Mom was agnostic, though both had been raised in Christian Protestant/Catholic households. My parents told me to feel free to explore any religion I wanted to and so as a kid, I went to church with the two Lutheran girls that lived across the street. It didn't take long before I was totally turned off by the rigidity of the church and the service, the realization that the bible was written too long ago to be true and last but not least the hypocrisy of my two so called "Christian" friends. I haven't gone to church since and have instead nurtured a non religious but spiritual outlook of the world which has nothing to do with God or Jesus and more to do with "The Golden Rule".