Posted by splumer A Pew survey released yesterday http://www.pewforu...s-on-the-rise.aspx finds that the number of people who identify themselves as religiously unaffiliated is now 20%, the highest it has ever been and a sharp rise from 15% just five years earlier. Of course, this does not mean they are atheists or agnostics, whose numbers have shown a more modest rise from 3.7% in 2007 to 5.9% now. Most of the ‘nones’ say they are ‘spiritual’ in some way but interestingly about 88% of them say they are not looking for a church to join. As usual, the young are leading the way, with 32% of those in the 18-29 age group saying they are unaffiliated. Across the board, in almost all categories, the survey shows a steady decline in religious affiliation and participation in religious activities.

Why so many religiously unaffiliated? Atheism has become more widely recognized, and has a bustling online presence, but as splumer pointed out most of the unaffiliated are not atheists. They're just not interested in religion.

Has anyone looked at the theories for why this may be so? The article suggests that it's a backlash against the coupling of religion and conservative politics alienates those who favor (or accept) gay rights, abortion, etc.
Looks to me like this pie chart supports that theory:


I have to wonder though, if it's just a political backlash, why aren't the unaffiliated seeking out liberal churches like the Unitarians or Episcopalians?

My friend, the reason is because religion is evil and there is obviously no middle ground.

Or those of us who lean left, aren't religiously motivated? Even when I was a believer, religion never influenced my political beliefs at all. Maybe thats why?

Posted by Hotwired Heart the coupling of religion and conservative politics alienates those who favor (or accept) gay rights, abortion, etc.

Just like the coupling of religion and conservative politics would make Jesus walk into FOX studios and smash the cameras.

Posted by MonkeyPunchBaby My friend, the reason is because religion is evil evil is defined anew by each religion and there is obviously no middle ground.

Fixed, for a friend

Or those of us who lean left, aren't religiously motivated? Even when I was a believer, religion never influenced my political beliefs at all. Maybe thats why?

Yeah I think that left-leaners are probably more diverse in terms of religion, ethnicity, beliefs, lifestyles. So the bloc of religiously motivated progressives is probably small (the UU folks I know have usually been very politically active and quite progressive).

Posted by Hotwired Heart Why so many religiously unaffiliated? Atheism has become more widely recognized, and has a bustling online presence, but as splumer pointed out most of the unaffiliated are not atheists. They're just not interested in religion. Has anyone looked at the theories for why this may be so? The article suggests that it's a backlash against the coupling of religion and conservative politics alienates those who favor (or accept) gay rights, abortion, etc. Looks to me like this pie chart supports that theory: http://www.pewforu...d/nones-exec-5.png I have to wonder though, if it's just a political backlash, why aren't the unaffiliated seeking out liberal churches like the Unitarians or Episcopalians?

Get out of here with your well-reasoned and insightful posts! We came here for pointless bickering over minutiae and anecdotal arguments!

But seriously, I wonder if included in the "Religiously unaffiliated" are those Christians who claim they are not "religious" but in fact are evangelical? In other words, they don't identify with a particular denomination, but are definitely strong Protestant Christians. Also included in that might be those who are distrustful of hierarchical organizations like churches but still identify as Christian.

There might also be an element of people not wanting politics in their religion at all, regardless of whether it's left or right. Non-overlapping magisteria, you might say.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled bullshit.

Posted by splumer In other words, they don't identify with a particular denomination, but are definitely strong Protestant Christians.

You rang?

Posted by splumer We now return you to your regularly scheduled bullshit.

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Posted by splumer Get out of here with your well-reasoned and insightful posts! We came here for pointless bickering over minutiae and anecdotal arguments!

lol thanks...

But seriously, I wonder if included in the "Religiously unaffiliated" are those Christians who claim they are not "religious" but in fact are evangelical? In other words, they don't identify with a particular denomination, but are definitely strong Protestant Christians. Also included in that might be those who are distrustful of hierarchical organizations like churches but still identify as Christian.

So of the 68% who believe in god/universal spirit, 18% of whom said they were religious... you're thinking that some evangelicals said they're not religious? I could see that. 'Spiritual not religious' was a one of the alternatives to 'are you religious,' and Christians who don't like whatever about mainstream Christianity may have gone with it.

But for that population... wouldn't they be looking for a church that wasn't hierarchically organized/opposed to ______/etc and that they felt comfortable in?

I think the fact that so few of the unaffiliated (10%) are seeking a church really speaks to the declining influence of and need for religion in the U.S. (my optimism is just unquenchable).

Posted by Hotwired Heart So of the 68% who believe in god/universal spirit, 18% of whom said they were religious... you're thinking that some evangelicals said they're not religious? I could see that. 'Spiritual not religious' was a one of the alternatives to 'are you religious,' and Christians who don't like whatever about mainstream Christianity may have gone with it. ...

I didn't word that so well. What I meant was, I know lots of folks, and have encountered others online, who say they aren't "religious" but are actually evangelical Christians. They don't even say they are spiritual. It's a deceptive way to get people to listen to your message.

I think the bigger issue is communication. We are throwing words like religious around and it means something different to each of us. Personally, I don't think that just because a person might be willing to believe in something they can not see(god or whatever word you want to assign to it) that does not make them "religious". Just as I think that a person who staunchly believes there is no form of faith/god/whatever can still be "religious" by my personal meaning of the word.
Bottom line, and this goes equally for both sides of the debate...
If you believe what you believe and are comfortable in your beliefs, no matter what it may be... Why do you need to try to convince everyone that you're right and they are wrong/stupid/etc? It seems like a self-validation and ego stroking issue, not a spiritual or scientific one.
On this site of all places, I'm amazed that people have such a problem grasping the idea of "be happy with yourself and your thoughts and who cares what others think?"
Get over yourselves, all of you. You're wasting your lives bickering over an issue that will never be resolved. Life's too precious, trust me.

I feel that the unaffiliated are largely disinterested in the philosophical or political idea of religion, and just don't want to have a position.

A big problem for me, with discussing religion atheists and peoples of faith is: since the only real unified position of atheism is a denial of belief you can't retort to someones beliefs by saying much aside from that you just believe they are wrong, or whatever article of significance they proposed is insignificant. It's is very easy for an atheist to come off as combative.

Posted by Pliers I feel that the unaffiliated are largely disinterested in the philosophical or political idea of religion, and just don't want to have a position. A big problem for me, with discussing religion atheists and peoples of faith is: since the only real unified position of atheism is a denial of belief you can't retort to someones beliefs by saying much aside from that you just believe they are wrong, or whatever article of significance they proposed is insignificant. It's is very easy for an atheist to come off as combative.

oh no no... i AM a combative atheist.

Posted by Pliers It's is very easy for an atheist to come off as combative.

No it isn't!

Serious answer: yeah, so?

Posted by Pliers you just believe they are wrong, or whatever article of significance they proposed is insignificant. It's is very easy for an atheist to come off as combative.

It's very easy for a person to interpret such simple and straightforward ideas as combative, if their brain functions in the realm of magical thinking and accepts mythology and fantasy as a basis for rational thought.

Posted by MutantMandias It's very easy for a person to interpret such simple and straightforward ideas as combative, if their brain functions in the realm of magical thinking and accepts mythology and fantasy as a basis for rational thought.

^^Or when you post outwardly combative and insulting remarks every time you talk about them?

Posted by McNulty ^^Or when you post outwardly combative and insulting remarks every time you talk about them?

I think you need to be more concerned with the inward combative voices that you must be dealing with, since the source of the vitriol you seem to be experiencing happens somewhere after it leaves my keyboard and before you reply.

Posted by MutantMandias I think you need to be more concerned with the inward combative voices that you must be dealing with, since the source of the vitriol you seem to be experiencing happens somewhere after it leaves my keyboard and before you reply.

In your last post did not you directly attack religious people by calling them stupid?

Most would classify that as combative

Posted by McNulty In your last post did not you directly attack religious people by calling them stupid?

No, I didn't. I said that people who believe in things that have no relation to reality have trouble understanding things based in reality.

Posted by McNulty Most would classify that as combative

I think the word you are looking for is self-evident.

Posted by MutantMandias No, I didn't. I said that people who believe in things that have no relation to reality have trouble understanding things based in reality. I think the word you are looking for is self-evident.

Dude, get the fuck out of here with your bullshit semantics. You said religious people lack the brain function to comprehend simple ideas. That is a pretty insulting remark.

It is clear though that because you perceive yourself as intellectually superior I could tell you the sky is blue and you would argue it. So much time spent focused on hating something you don't believe in and showing intolerance. You are as bad as any religious radical.

Posted by MutantMandias It's very easy for a person to interpret such simple and straightforward ideas as combative, if their brain functions in the realm of magical thinking and accepts mythology and fantasy as a basis for rational thought.

HEY!
snakes can talk, man... That shit's real.

Posted by McNulty Dude, get the fuck out of here with your bullshit semantics. You said religious people lack the brain function to comprehend simple ideas. That is a pretty insulting remark. It is clear though that because you perceive yourself as intellectually superior I could tell you the sky is blue and you would argue it. So much time spent focused on hating something you don't believe in and showing intolerance. You are as bad as any religious radical.

You spend so much time arguing with yourself. You must never get bored.