Rise of the atheists: U.S. Protestants lose majority status as church attendance falls

[cleanhippie]

NEW YORK — For the first time in its history, the United States does not have a Protestant majority, according to a new study. One reason: The number of Americans with no religious affiliation is on the rise.

The percentage of Protestant adults in the U.S. has reached a low of 48 per cent, the first time that Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life has reported with certainty that the number has fallen below 50 per cent. The drop has long been anticipated and comes at a time when no Protestants are on the U.S. Supreme Court and the Republicans have their first presidential ticket with no Protestant nominees.

Among the reasons for the change a spike in the number of American adults who say they have no religion. The Pew study, released Tuesday, found that about 20 per cent of Americans say they have no religious affiliation, an increase from 15 per cent in the last five years.

Scholars have long debated whether people who say they no longer belong to a religious group should be considered secular. While the category as defined by Pew researchers includes atheists, it also encompasses majorities of people who say they believe in God, and a notable minority who pray daily or consider themselves “spiritual” but not “religious.”

Still, Pew found overall that most of the unaffiliated aren’t actively seeking another religious home, indicating that their ties with organized religion are permanently broken.

http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/10/09/protestants-no-longer-majority-in-u-s-report-says/

Yes, yes, yes, its another story based on the latest Pew poll. The point? THIS is what people are talking about. It's kind of a big deal.

[rug]

1. Don't forget to watch PBS Friday.

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

[cleanhippie]

2. Cool. Thanks for the heads-up.

I'll have to wait until it comes online, as we turned off the cable last Spring.

[rug]

3. I almost did that but then Honey Boo Boo started.

On edit: PBS is broadcast over the air as a regular channel besides cable. Check your local listings.

[trotsky]

4. And this is a great thing for Democrats.

The trend also has political implications. American voters who describe themselves as having no religion vote overwhelmingly for Democrats. Pew found Americans with no religion support abortion rights and gay marriage at a much higher-rate than the U.S. public at large.

[cleanhippie]

5. While at the same time, we are derided by liberal believers.

Just look at the last few ThatsMyOpinion posts. Hatred, intolerance, and bigotry.

[trotsky]

6. He's been echoing right-wing fundamentalist memes.

Namely, that atheists cannot be moral or ethical without a religious ethical framework to follow. Saying this kind of thing about any other group would bring universal condemnation from DUers and probably a PPR tombstone. Yet once again we find that it's OK to spread hatred and intolerance toward atheists.

[2ndAmForComputers]

7. Let's not forget approvingly linking articles by RW Reaganite bigoted Bernie Maddof pals.