number of unchurched doubles over the last decade
The LA Times reports that the proportion of those saying they had no religious affiliation rose to 16% over the past decade, although theologians say they've noticed an increase in spirituality.
Only Catholics (24%) and Baptists (17%) outnumber "non-identifiers," or "nones," said "The Decline of Religious Identity in the United States", a report just issued by the Institute for Jewish & Community Research in San Francisco.
A nationwide survey based on telephone interviews with more than 10,000 randomly selected people said that about one in six answered "none" or "no religion" or described themselves as secular, humanist, ethical-culturalist, agnostic or atheist.
Their ranks will continue to grow, and they'll soon outnumber Baptists, according to Gary A. Tobin, president of the institute and coauthor of the study.
"They may believe in God, but the question is: Why don't they want to be associated with some religious denomination? It's probably time for organized religion to take a look at itself," he adds.
Others found it surprising that the number of "nones" was not higher.
Americans younger than 35 are least likely, and those over 65 mostly likely to identify with a religion. 24% of westerners, but only 14% of the rest of the country except New England's 21%, don't identify. Men are less likely to identify with religious denominations than women, 20% to 13%.
Those raised without a religion are much more likely to have children who have no religion.
And children reared in mixed-religion families are more likely not to choose any religion. "When you ask the child to choose a religion, in essence, you're asking the child to choose a parent," Tobin said. "Rather than choose a religion of a parent, they'll say I am not going to choose either."
Other recent surveys, for example by the Pew Foundation, have gotten the same results. One by the Barna Research Group, which examines trends related to beliefs, values and attitudes, found that atheists and agnostics total 11%.
But although formal religious affiliation is declining, theologians say they have noticed an increase in a sense of spirituality in recent years.
Eddie Gibbs, professor of church growth at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, said the challenge for organized religion is to overcome "a growing disquiet with institutionalized religion" among people under 35 while appealing to their spiritual searches.
Only Catholics (24%) and Baptists (17%) outnumber "non-identifiers," or "nones," said "The Decline of Religious Identity in the United States", a report just issued by the Institute for Jewish & Community Research in San Francisco.
A nationwide survey based on telephone interviews with more than 10,000 randomly selected people said that about one in six answered "none" or "no religion" or described themselves as secular, humanist, ethical-culturalist, agnostic or atheist.
Their ranks will continue to grow, and they'll soon outnumber Baptists, according to Gary A. Tobin, president of the institute and coauthor of the study.
"They may believe in God, but the question is: Why don't they want to be associated with some religious denomination? It's probably time for organized religion to take a look at itself," he adds.
Others found it surprising that the number of "nones" was not higher.
Americans younger than 35 are least likely, and those over 65 mostly likely to identify with a religion. 24% of westerners, but only 14% of the rest of the country except New England's 21%, don't identify. Men are less likely to identify with religious denominations than women, 20% to 13%.
Those raised without a religion are much more likely to have children who have no religion.
And children reared in mixed-religion families are more likely not to choose any religion. "When you ask the child to choose a religion, in essence, you're asking the child to choose a parent," Tobin said. "Rather than choose a religion of a parent, they'll say I am not going to choose either."
Other recent surveys, for example by the Pew Foundation, have gotten the same results. One by the Barna Research Group, which examines trends related to beliefs, values and attitudes, found that atheists and agnostics total 11%.
But although formal religious affiliation is declining, theologians say they have noticed an increase in a sense of spirituality in recent years.
Eddie Gibbs, professor of church growth at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, said the challenge for organized religion is to overcome "a growing disquiet with institutionalized religion" among people under 35 while appealing to their spiritual searches.
posted by john
this link (where the comments are as well)
on 1:12 AM
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