About 30% of American adults are now religiously unaffiliated, Pew Research study finds

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The coronavirus pandemic pushed Americans out of the pews and into their homes. But for much longer, U.S. adults have increasingly made the conscious decision to leave or forgo organized religion, and the trend is showing no signs of slowing down.

About three in ten American adults now self-identify as religiously unaffiliated, a new study from the Pew Research Center found, reinforcing the notion that Americans are becoming more secular in the 21st century.

They are referred to as religious "nones" — people who self-describe as atheists, agnostics, or "nothing in particular" when asked about their religious identity. And their numbers have been growing for some time: In 2007, only about 16% of Americans identified as religious nones, but that percentage has almost doubled since, the Pew study released Tuesday found.

Over a quarter of Americans said the coronavirus pandemic has made their personal faith grow stronger, according to another Pew Research Center study. But COVID-19 wasn't enough to reverse the trend of Americans leaving organized religion.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/about-30percent-of-american-adults-are-now-religiously-unaffiliated-pew-research-study-finds/ar-AARP2Xw

[Claire Oh Nette]

1. Organized religion is a business

THere's really not a lot of difference between the local church and my local golf club.

Members sustain it with offerings/greens fees. To grow the church/club, members invite and recruit new members. Pretty sure I can talk to god on the 12th fairway just as easily as I can in a man-made church.

That today's "Christains" refuse to feed and clothe the poor, turn away the stranger and the refugee, and don't give a good god damn about healing the sick or providing for the least of these.

They worship Jesus as John Wayne, not Jesus in their buy-bulls.

[Hortensis]

2. Sounds good except that part of it is a major shift to deconstructed or

otherwise unorganized spiritual beliefs, ,much more often than not without competent and ethical spiritual guidance and unable to provide it for themselves. Especially among young people, who overall will do okay and wake up to the scoundrels and wackjobs eager to embrace them, but maybe not so good for those natural victims prone to irrationality, woo-woo, and conspiracism.

For many, the comfort and structure of spiritual/religious beliefs is a basic need. If there's a benefit to rejecting organized religions, which traditionally tried to teach members to be good people according to their tenets, it's that many are actually leaving the politicalization and even radicalization of some churches, even if they can't leave their own needs behind as well.

Whatever the spiritual and health benefits of vegan, climate responsible muffins made aquafaba and with chamomile infusion, though, they will not include the instruction many so desperately need in moral issues. Even if baked when the stars are in recommended alignment and awaited in perfect lotus. And the alternative some choose of simple withdrawal and refusal to face confusing civic responsibilities isn't better.

[jimfields33]

3. I just wonder if it's making the country better?