One-Fifth of Americans Have No Religious Affiliation
Source: PoliticalWire
May 10, 2018 at 9:21 am EDT By Taegan Goddard
A new ABC News poll finds the number of adults expressing no religious affiliation has risen from 12% in 2003 to 21% of all adults in 2017. That includes 3% who say theyre atheists, 3% agnostic and 15% who say they have no religion.
The largest shifts during this 15-year period include 16-point increases among young adults (age 18 to 29) and political liberals.
###
Read more: https://politicalwire.com/2018/05/10/one-fifth-of-americans-have-no-religious-affiliation/
SWBTATTReg
(21,856 posts)continue to increase higher than 21%. One reason is the idiotic support of this current administration in rolling back aid to the poor, deporting those here legally or illegally, and the obvious very pro-business slant of this admin., rolling back regulations, fighting min. wage laws, and so forth.
Yet the evangelicals still support this P***Y grabbing non-president, and all of his disgusting traits.
The 2nd reason is that religion hasn't answered a lot of people's questions or come to their aid when needed.
My opinion only.
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,483 posts)I would guess that 21% number is far higher if people were open and honest. Many simply identify with what's traditional in their families, and some identify to stay in good with family, peers, or even some employers. However, we would never see those people in a church on any regular basis and are more likely to be playing golf on Sunday. Just look at how Blue Laws have disappeared in the last 50 years.
.........
Moostache
(9,895 posts)Not buying...
People still have an irrational aversion to the term "atheist" because of social acceptance of religion and the artificial and unerned or warranted respect it is granted.
I find absolutely nothing intrinsically worthy about believing in fairy tales of dead men rising, or miracles, or flying horses, or anything else in the fantastical world of pre-historical Palestine and the region - be it Judaism, Christianity, or Islam.
I similarly find nothing intrinsically wicked about being of no faith, agnostic or atheist. To me, these are labels without a worthy distinction beyond trying to sound like something religious people find less offensive than "Atheist"-label.
It is a simple proposition to me. In pondering the vastness of space and time and the universe and the tiny nature of the stage on which humanity plays out its temporal and insignificant lifespan, I find no need, reason or possibility for an omnipotent, omniscient being that is obsessively worried about the sexual proclivities and eating habits of just one species among millions on small rock orbiting a nondescript star in the outer arms of one galaxy among billions.
If believing makes you comfortable, or helps you sleep or find 'meaning'....more power to you, kindly you do you and keep it way from me or my children and we have no beef....but that is too often not enough for the believer. It is not enough for them to be acknowledged and asked to leave others alone...they must insert themselves and their inanities into the lives of others. That is flat out wrong and needs to end.
MurrayDelph
(5,278 posts)The difference is that agnostics don't know whether there is a god, atheists know there isn't. I won't go as far as calling atheism a religion, but if you feel the need to proselytize and/or raise money to spread the anti-word, then it's a duck.
Having been brought up Jewish, I have come to believe there is no God, but there if was true evidence, I might change my mind.
Otherwise, it often looks as though the "fundamentalist" atheists are trying to use us the way fundamentalist "Christians" use the term "Judeo-Christian": to bolster their numbers to try to add credibility to their argument. And that's what this Judeo ain't buying.
progree
(10,864 posts)Last edited Thu May 10, 2018, 10:33 AM - Edit history (1)
The most common definitions of atheist / atheism don't include any qualifier about certainty.
Then there are definitions of "strong atheists" and "weak atheists" and more ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism
atheism.about.com's definitions of atheism
http://atheism.about.com/od/definitionofatheism/a/definition.htm
I call myself an atheist, because I believe in atheism (no gods, no supernatural...) with about 90% certainty. I'm not 100% sure. Likewise, most people who call themselves atheists do not say they are completely sure, according to a poll conducted by Free Inquiry.
Many Christians believe in Christianity (belief in God, in the divinity of Jesus and so on -- there is no "maybe" or "possibly" in the definitions of Christianity), but many Christians aren't 100% sure of all or any of the tenets of Christianity. We don't call Christians "arrogant" (just for being Christians) and Christians don't divide into 2 camps - "Christ-eists" for ones who are 100% sure, and "Chrisnostics" for those who aren't 100% sure. And they don't have the "Christ-eists" calling the "Christnostics" wishy-washy fence sitters. And they don't have the "Chrisnostics" calling the "Christ-eists" arrogant and stupid (for claiming to know the unknowable).
I don't know why atheists got tarred and feathered with the notion that they are arrogantly 100% sure. Whereas in every other belief, there is no assumption that the believers are completely, absolutely, and totally 100% sure. I think it is strange that non-believers in God who aren't absolutely certain there is no god (as most aren't) feel the need to find some other name (like "agnostic" ).
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,282 posts)... and wanted to convince others.
But, I know "100%" Catholics, Muslims, Baptists, Lutherans, too. I just try to avoid religious discussions with any of them.
Myself, I waver between "lapsed Episcopal" and "agnostic", and there's no need to convince anyone that I'm right.
No matter, because we'll all be one with the big turtle in the end.
progree
(10,864 posts)... and wanted to convince others.
But, I know "100%" Catholics, Muslims, Baptists, Lutherans, too. I just try to avoid religious discussions with any of them.
I agree on all of the above, and me too on avoiding religious discussions with them.
Lots of self-declared atheists, I think most, and that would include me, have no need to convince others. You won't see me in the Religion group or the Atheists and Agnostics group trying to convince anyone that my particular brand of belief (in non-belief, paradoxically), is "right". After all, I'm not 100% sure of my "belief" anyway (and most self-labelled atheists aren't sure either per the Free Inquiry poll).
And the fallacious assumption that if you share a category name you're a prototypical representative.
Most (D) consider themselves "true (D)". Most Xians consider themselves "true Xians." Now matter how fringy and outlying they are.
Of course, polysemy is a damned useful word: It just means a given word has more than one definition. Common as dust mites, but most people assume that when they use a word it has a rich set of meanings, but when the foe uses the same word it only has the meaning that puts the foe in the worst possible light.
Which is, of course, a different fallacy.
Fallac worship is all too common.
SergeStorms
(18,880 posts)are two sides of the same coin? You somehow believe organized atheists are just as much of a threat to you as fundamentalists?
I prefer the term 'secular humanist' to the word 'atheist' because the latter was coined by christians in an attempt to define us. I refuse to be defined by them. There are no organized secular humanists, or atheists for that matter, but there should be. 20% of the population would be a huge lobbying group, and I believe it's needed to combat the creeping fundamentalist wet dream of a christian theocracy in the U.S.
There is a magazine and organization (actually there are more than one, but I'll only touch upon this one) named The Skeptical Enquirer. They're based in Amherst, NY and - as well as the magazine - have lectures and conventions nationwide. It's a magnificent magazine, and group of people from all over the world, and it's mission statement is to combat the childish myths of the christian 'god' and free people from it's guilt-ridden grip. We believe that christianty is deleterious to human development and happiness. That's as close to an "organization" as non-believers get.
However, to say that the two sides of the coin are the same is to ignore the iron grip religion has on much of the world's population. Take a look at the Middle East. Religion has torn that region of the world apart since religion was invented. Imagine no religion (someone should write a song like that in the region. I believe they'd be far better off living together without the built-in hate of organized religion. Non-believers and fundamentalists are nowhere near equal in their power to control the world's dialogue, and fate.
flibbitygiblets
(7,220 posts)Can anyone else say the same about non-atheists? Of course not.
The only thing I've ever seen from atheists is the "Freedom From Religion" commercials, with which I agree 100%. Have your beliefs if that's what gets you though, but keep it out of my schools, courthouses, money, and anything else my taxes pay for.
And if it's no too much to ask, if your religion is tax exempt, then keep the fuck out of public politics.
SergeStorms
(18,880 posts)I especially like the last sentence. In my opinion all religions should be taxed. They use the same government services as secular organizations, they should pay the same taxes. When the government recognized Scientology as a "religion", they jumped the shark.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)This should not be controversial.
KY_EnviroGuy
(14,483 posts)The religious right also embraces free market principles. If churches were taxed like other business properties, that would weed a lot of them out (like business competition) and some might have to merge to stay open. Hit 'em hard in their hypocrisy.
That could open up a whole new line of M&A work for Citi, Golden Sacks and others......
One of many reasons I agree this practice is unconstitutional is because they are exclusionary; that is, most churches are prejudiced against certain sectors of the populace in one form or another.
lindysalsagal
(20,433 posts)JesterCS
(1,827 posts)Atheist commonly used as "non believer" putting people into a group or category based on their lack of believe in a god...definitely was coined by religion
brooklynite
(93,834 posts)THEISM refers to belief. GNOSTICISM refers to knowledge.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)knowledge. Most Athiests aren't claiming to know for certain that there is no god. "Agnostic" means "without knowledge of god" but most Agnostics take that to mean that they have no knowledge one way or the other.
Many people are both. They neither believe nor have knowledge, but few have the need to proselytize about their position. I don't know where you are getting the impression that the lack of belief is some kind of "fundamentalist" movement. As it has been said before "Atheism is a belief like not collecting stamps is a hobby". Simply disbelieving doesn't make one part of a "movement".
OnlinePoker
(5,702 posts)She believes there is a god but has no religious affiliation.
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,773 posts)Drahthaardogs
(6,843 posts)At least in theory, although there could be some overlap.
No religion could mean anything from no organized religion to anti religion.
DetlefK
(16,423 posts)I am an agnostic: I have come to the philosophical conclusion that it is impossible to prove that God exists or doesn't exist. So why bother with something as intangible and irrelevant as "God"?
I have a tendency towards atheism: Even though I don't know for sure, I think it's far more likely that he doesn't exist than that he does exist, because the religious descriptions of God are full of contradictions and unresolved questions.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)But the Evilgelicals are helping to turn that around. They are staining religion.
ebbie15644
(1,208 posts)rzemanfl
(29,540 posts)Nonetheless I was raised to answer the question "protestant" to avoid hassles. I stopped doing that many decades ago. I suspect the true number is larger than 21%.
Codeine
(25,586 posts)because probably 80% of the people I know are atheistic. The idea that only 3% of Americans are atheists is difficult for me to accept.
DavidDvorkin
(19,404 posts)That's how I always read such numbers.
Igel
(35,191 posts)One I've known for 20 years, one for 2 years, and one for 7 years.
I've met hundreds of people. Some, no doubt, are tacitly atheist. But I've met more people willing to say they're Wiccans than people that say they're atheists.
Most claim some form of Xianity. Whatever that word means.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Last edited Fri May 11, 2018, 04:11 PM - Edit history (1)
I was raised very Catholic, but from about the age of 5 I stopped believing it. It became hard to even believe that anybody else could believe that stuff. I still feel that way.
LittleGirl
(8,261 posts)and then I left the church about 10 years ago when the catholic church finally admitted to molesting and raping boys and girls. That was it for me. And it wasn't the actual deed that did it for me, it was the coverup. I'm not a little girl anymore. I'm a grown ass woman married to a Christian who reads his bible silently every morning. He still loves me even though I've left religion, faith and whatnot at the door of our marriage a decade ago. I don't make fun of his belief or faith and he doesn't make fun of me either.
marlakay
(11,370 posts)I felt like I was missing the spiritual part of my life and last few years started doing mindfulness, meditation, and reading some Buddhist books but I dont go to church.
I dont believe there is a God who decides who gets to live or die, who has a good day or not.
But I find peace in nature and in slowing myself down to stop thoughts if only for a few min.
LittleGirl
(8,261 posts)my life is a little hectic right now. Maybe when it slows down...I'll do that. (I'm moving to Europe as soon as the house sells and we have an open house tomorrow).
Thank you for your reply.
marlakay
(11,370 posts)While taking a shower or bath let your thoughts go and follow your breath, I am breathing in, I am breathing out and when the millions of thoughts come you let them float over and keep breathing deeply.
It should help with the stress of the move. I just moved in Sept, good luck!
And if you can do it for only only min it will help.
Jealous your going to Europe, I would love to be far from this mess!
relogic
(155 posts)Its difficult maintaining allegiance to a god or worldview that encourages one to ignore divisiveness, cruelty and fantasy. Those of us who have chosen to abandoned the widespread lies that religionists have used in this country (the new era of trumpism) a mighty reminder of the ignorant tendencies that infect a population led down the path of such delusion.
titaniumsalute
(4,742 posts)I mostly play in medium sized to small churches, lots of Lutheran/Episcopalian/Methodist for whatever reason. I can tell you that the Sunday crowds are SMALL overall. I played for a service last Sunday that had about 8 people in attendance.
JesterCS
(1,827 posts)But rarely do 25 show up.
Javaman
(62,435 posts)meaning: believe whatever you wish, just don't bother me with it.
LittleGirl
(8,261 posts)Cold War Spook
(1,279 posts)those without a religion whether or not they believed in God? Just because you don't have a religion does not mean you don't believe in God.
keithbvadu2
(36,360 posts)79% includes millions of 'Christians' who follow sexual predator Trump who ridicules Holy Communion and does not need God's forgiveness.
With such an example of 'acceptable' faith, is it a surprise that young folks do not see religion as a genuine belief system of morals?
With all the 'mulligans' Donald needs (and gets), ____________ (you can finish it).
Raine
(30,540 posts)I was raised a Lutheran but I haven't been to church for decades except for weddings and funerals. At this point in my life I'm an agnostic but hesitant to tell people because I don't want to get flack about it.
DetlefK
(16,423 posts)With atheists you can at least have a discussion about God. They care about this topic and have opinions and arguments.
But what about people who care so little about God that they don't even bother thinking about him?
kwassa
(23,340 posts)TexasBushwhacker
(20,043 posts)People are getting sick of people who claim to be Christians who behave so unlike Christ.
As for the young people turning away from religion, I think a lot of them just cannot accept religions continued homophobia. Most have at least one gay friend or coworker and know that they are just as good and moral as anyone else.
democratisphere
(17,235 posts)the number was much higher.
HopeAgain
(4,407 posts)I think many people want to hold on to spirituality and spiritual experiences without the dogma and politics of formal religions.
rogue emissary
(3,147 posts)Depending on how you count agnostics. Anywhere from 18% to 21% according to this poll aren't religion and may not believe in God. Of course, we barely have one House Representative that some times claims she no longer practice religion, but won't identify as an Atheist.