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Showing Original Post only (View all)Why Americans Are Losing Their Religion at a Startling Rate [View all]
Here are some of the factors contributing to the massive decline in religiosity in America.New research from Allen Downey, a computer scientist at Olin College of Engineering in Massachusetts, shows a startling correlation between the rise of the Internet and the decline of religious affiliation in the United States.
According to MIT Technology Review, back in 1990 only eight percent of the U.S. population did not have a religious affiliation. Twenty years later in 2010 that number was up to 18 percent. That is a jump of 25 million people. Americans seem to be losing their religion, and from Downeys research we may have an answer.
The data Downey looked at is from the General Social Survey, which according to MIT Technology Review is a widely respected sociological survey carried out by the University of Chicago. Since 1972, the survey has been measuring the populations demographics and attitudes.
The approach to looking at the survey material was to see how socioeconomic status, education, religious upbringing and other factors correlated with the drop in religious affiliation. This is a good time to talk about the difference between correlation and causation. The data from the survey shows a relationship between these factors and decreased religious affiliation, but not direct causation.
According to MIT Technology Review, back in 1990 only eight percent of the U.S. population did not have a religious affiliation. Twenty years later in 2010 that number was up to 18 percent. That is a jump of 25 million people. Americans seem to be losing their religion, and from Downeys research we may have an answer.
The data Downey looked at is from the General Social Survey, which according to MIT Technology Review is a widely respected sociological survey carried out by the University of Chicago. Since 1972, the survey has been measuring the populations demographics and attitudes.
The approach to looking at the survey material was to see how socioeconomic status, education, religious upbringing and other factors correlated with the drop in religious affiliation. This is a good time to talk about the difference between correlation and causation. The data from the survey shows a relationship between these factors and decreased religious affiliation, but not direct causation.
http://www.alternet.org/belief/why-americans-are-losing-their-religion-startling-rate
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That is our family also. The rw has declared war on the people and all of religion is blamed. Of
jwirr
Apr 2014
#13
It's not just the rightwing bigots. People are figuring out it's all based on preposterous myths.
Arugula Latte
Apr 2014
#63
Internet lets us share that the evangelicals do not practice what they preach as an antichrist.
DhhD
Apr 2014
#57
Religion relies almost exclusively on the indoctrination of children to survive...
MellowDem
Apr 2014
#17
Definitely, and most have indoctrination centers under the pretext of being schools. n/t
RKP5637
Apr 2014
#44
I like to think of it as The Emperor's New Clothes Syndrome on a mass scale.
Arugula Latte
Apr 2014
#65
i am always suspicious of this phrasing. why is this happening, lets look at it
mopinko
Apr 2014
#22
During the Viet Nam era almost every Religious organization signed on against the war
randr
Apr 2014
#26
Right, they should be making decisions based on a collection of stories from
Arugula Latte
Apr 2014
#64
Factual Information. Isolation within the group and been the key to holding........
Bonhomme Richard
Apr 2014
#41
They can't sit still without technology that long. Plus, Americans don't want to be called sinful.
WinkyDink
Apr 2014
#48
I'd have to see detailed survey data, but it'd be easy to draw an incorrect conclusion here
OmahaBlueDog
Apr 2014
#59
It is hard to indoctrinate people who are swallowing a firehose of information every day. nt
bemildred
Apr 2014
#67
Maybe it's because people are finally realizing that religion is a bunch of crap.
Vashta Nerada
Apr 2014
#71
Yeah, same here. He never said anything to me, no skywriting, no messages at all.
Manifestor_of_Light
Apr 2014
#91
There is a common sense answer for that. Because the rapture is coming soon and the anti-Christ
Douglas Carpenter
Apr 2014
#92