Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Growing number of Americans have no religious identity

Growing number of Americans have no religious identity

Last updated on: October 10, 2012 at 12:03 am by CNA Daily News

Growing number of Americans have no religious identity 2012-10-10T00:03:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Washington D.C., Oct 9, 2012 / 06:03 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A new survey shows that more Americans than ever are religiously unaffiliated, and as a group they are not seeking religion.

Just under 20 percent of U.S. adults are now unaffiliated, an increase from 15 percent in 2007, says a new survey from the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life. Among those aged 18-29, 32 percent have no religious affiliation.

The research center nicknamed this population “nones.”

Although the Catholic population remains statistically unchanged at 22 percent, a one percent decrease from 2007, Pew credits this steadiness in part to immigration from Latin America.

The decline is mainly among both evangelical and mainline white Protestants. For the first time in U.S. history, its Protestant population has dropped below 50 percent.

Pew included in the “nones” atheists and agnostics, who respectively make up about 2.4 percent and 3.3. percent of the population.

About 74 percent of “nones” were raised with a religious affiliation. Most religiously unaffiliated Americans said they are not looking for a religion that would be right for them, while only ten percent said they are.

“In terms of their religious beliefs and practices, the unaffiliated are a diverse group, and far from uniformly secular,” the research center said.

Thirty percent said their belief in God or a universal spirit is “absolutely certain,” while 38 percent said they are less certain. Only 27 percent said they do not believe. Twenty-one percent said they pray daily and another 20 percent said they pray weekly or monthly.

Eighteen percent think of themselves as a religious person, while 37 percent say they are spiritual but not religious. Forty-nine percent of “nones” said they seldom or never attend religious services, an increase of 11 percent from 2007.

Analysis also found that those polled are no more inclined towards New Age beliefs than the general public.

The survey shows a decline in religious affiliation among both college graduates and those without college degrees.

Pew said that generational replacement is an important factor in the increase in the religiously unaffiliated. Only five percent of the World War II generation is unaffiliated while nine percent of the Silent Generation are. However, Baby Boomers and members of Generation X have become less likely to affiliate with a religion.

The “nones” have mixed views of religion.

Around 70 percent of respondents said churches and religious organizations are too concerned with money and power, too involved with politics, and focus too much on rules. Only half said that churches protect and strengthen morality.

However, over 75 percent said churches bring people together, strengthen the community, and play an important role in helping the poor and the needy.

The “nones” tend to take positions in favor of abortion and “gay marriage,” with 72 percent saying abortion should be legal in all or most cases and 73 percent favoring redefining marriage.

They are predominantly Democrat, with 75 percent favoring President Obama in 2008. The religiously unaffiliated make up 24 percent of Democratic or Democratic-leaning registered voters, more than any Christian subgroup in the party.

The rise of “nones” in U.S. society may have consequences for the November election.

In March Mark M. Gray, director of Catholic polls for Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate,” suggested that President Obama’s reelection strategy may be willing to sacrifice winning the majority of Catholic voters in order to strengthen support among non-Christian and non-religious voters.

Previous Post

October 9, 2012

Pope accepts resignation of Chilean bishop accused of sexual abuse

Next Post

October 10, 2012 First religious freedom caucuses launch in nine states

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: King Josiah found the Book of the Law hidden in the temple during repairs.

Select your answer to see how you score.

TRUE FALSE