Growth of the Nonreligious (Most Recent Pew Poll)

[cbayer]

http://www.pewforum.org/growth-of-the-nonreligious-many-say-trend-is-bad-for-american-society.aspx

Many Say Trend is Bad for American Society

ANALYSIS July 2, 2013

About half of Americans say the growing number of “people who are not religious” is bad for American society. But a similar share say either that this trend is good or that it does not make much difference, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center.

In recent years, Pew Research surveys have found evidence of a gradual decline in religious commitment in the U.S. public as a whole. For example, there has been a modest uptick over the past decade in the share of U.S. adults who say they seldom or never attend religious services. The number of Americans who do not identify with any religion also has grown in recent years; indeed, about one-fifth of the public overall – and a third of adults under age 30 – are religiously unaffiliated as of 2012. Fully a third of U.S. adults say they do not consider themselves a “religious person.” And two-thirds of Americans – affiliated and unaffiliated alike – say religion is losing its influence in Americans’ lives.

The new, nationwide survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life asked Americans whether having “more people who are not religious” is a good thing, a bad thing, or doesn’t matter for American society. Many more say it is bad than good (48% versus 11%). But about four-in-ten (39%) say it does not make much difference. Even among adults who do not identify with any religion, only about a quarter (24%) say the trend is good, while nearly as many say it is bad (19%); a majority (55%) of the unaffiliated say it does not make much difference for society.



These findings are from a nationwide survey of 4,006 adults conducted March 21-April 8, 2013. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.1 percentage points.

more at link

[MotherPetrie]

1. "Religious" hypocrites have just about driven this country into the ground, trying to

out-pious each other.

Bring on the nonreligious!!!!

[cbayer]

3. I agree. I would say they are the primary cause of the growth of the nones

and the non-religious.

Hence, the finding that they are most disturbed by it should not be surprising at all.

[Small Accumulates]

2. Most interesting is that 65% of those 18-29 find it neutral/good

I'll be curious to see if the response of the younger adult population changes as they age, or whether this generation is the harbinger of a sea change in attitudes about religion.

[cbayer]

4. There seems to be a consistent trend in the numbers with increasing age.

It looks like more young, unaffiliated people may be seeking other kinds of "congregations". But time will tell.

[LostOne4Ever]

5. Its a good thing

The more diversity the better!

It will only lead to more understanding and tolerance. More than anything I want to see "nones" grow enough that non-religious and irreligious people from anywhere across the entire country can run for public office openly and it not effect them negatively.

I guess what I am wanting is acceptance. Not to be just tolerated, but to be accepted as being as much a part of this country as any believer.

[cbayer]

6. I agree with you and I think it's coming.

At any rate, the rising number of nones is a good sign. Also the trends about atheism among young people.