PBS To Air Three-Part Documentary Series on the Religiously Unaffiliated

[rug]

PBS’ Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly partnered up with the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life to bring us that survey everyone was talking about today.

They are going to be airing a three-part mini-series on the “The Rise of the Religiously Unaffiliated” and a preview is now available online. Lots of faces in the clip should be familiar to readers of this site!

The first segment, None of the Above: Who Are They, will begin airing on public television stations nationwide on October 12, 2012. It provides an overview of who these religiously unaffiliated people are and what they believe. The story will be reported by R&E Host Bob Abernethy and produced by Marcia Henning.

The second segment, None of the Above: Political Implications, which begins airing on October 19, 2012, focuses on how the growing number of religiously unaffiliated citizens could affect elections and the role of religion in politics. The segment will be reported by R&E Managing Editor Kim Lawton and produced by Patti Jette Hanley.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/10/09/pbs-to-air-three-part-documentary-series-on-the-religiously-unaffiliated/

Preview at link.

[MineralMan]

1. That's good. With a reported 20% of Americans

not stating a religious affiliation, it's a subject that deserves some further attention. I'll be interested in how PBS handles the subject.

[rug]

2. Giving it a full three part documentary is a statement.

[MineralMan]

4. Yes, it's a statement that something that

includes one fifth of Americans needs attention paid to it.

It's a start, at least. Religious affiliations are decreasing worldwide, pretty much, and it's a story worth covering. I'm hoping they ask people why they're unaffiliated and when that happened. The atheists don't even need to be covered. They've been around all along. But, the new unaffiliated group that is growing definitely needs to be understood better.

I'd like to see a breakdown based on denominational lines, or at least between former Protestants and Catholics. Is there a difference? Why? Also what are the numbers by age groups or generations?

I'll be interested in this series, as well as other studies on the matter.

[rug]

6. Yes, how and why affiliations change is extremely interesting. I hope they go into it.

[cbayer]

3. Looks great. Hope I am in a place where I can see it. Thanks for the heads up.

[rug]

5. One of these days you're going to have to stop being Robinson Crusoe.

[cbayer]

7. Why? BTW, I fancy myself more of Jack Sparrow.

[rug]

8. Smooth sailing!

Jack Sparrow (to Weatherby Swann): I think we've all arrived at a very special place. Spiritually, ecumenically, grammatically.