Americans Reject Religion in Record Numbers, Study Shows

[Zorro]

The number of Americans who say they have no religious affiliation has reached an all-time high, according to a massive running study.

Data from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) shows that 28 percent of Americans identify as “religiously unaffiliated,” up from 16 percent in 2006. A significant fall-off in religious affiliation among younger people has fueled the rise.

PRRI said that its study, which uses data going back to 2006 and has been conducted annually by the institute since 2013, shows that 38 percent of those aged 18 to 29 said in 2024 that they have no religion, up from 32 percent in 2013. Among those aged 30 to 49, 34 percent were religiously unaffiliated, compared to 23 percent in 2013. The findings were first reported by Axios.

PRRI based its study on a random sample of 40,000 adults across the U.S., conducted by Ipsos—a far more meaningful sample than the polls that are used to predict elections.

The growing tide of irreligion appears to affect all denominations, the study found, and is occurring at a scale and speed that sets it apart from previous generational shifts in belief.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/americans-reject-religion-in-record-numbers-study-shows/

[sop]

1. Too many hateful and divisive false prophets running their scams in the name of "christianity."

[Lovie777]

2. As for Christianity.................

here in the USA, a lot of evangelists are just pure evil. They are not in line with JC at all.

[BComplex]

3. Religion has become the right arm of the right wing movement. Who in the hell could believe

in their god? The right wing nut jobs are the ones building all these mega churches.

[viva la]

4. This is the important stat for future: Among those aged 30 to 49, 34 percent were religiously unaffiliated, compared to

Among those aged 30 to 49, 34 percent were religiously unaffiliated, compared to 23 percent in 2013.

That's the parenting age, and the time more people return to church so they can raise their kids in religion. That's what I did-- quit it all at 18, returned to (very mainstream) church at 31 to get the kids baptized (to placate my parents), stayed with that church for 12 years because it was free entertainment and community for families, then when the kids wanted to quit, I eagerly agreed.

Anyway, if more than a third of parenting-age people are declining religion, maybe the next generation will have fewer, um, credulous people.

not that my own experience was bad. I and my children are natural skeptics who could appreciate the easy benefits of a church, like music and potluck dinners and rituals, and just ignore the dogma. I actually think mainstream churches can give kids an understanding of what a normal church would be like-- no tithing, no thundering, no forced chastity vows, no absolute trust demanded for the preacher. So if when they're grown, they encounter Jerry Falwell, they'll know this is not God's prophet no matter what he says.

My father used to call this "cafeteria Christianity," which I think is a good thing actually! You take what you like and leave the rest.

But so many people have had toxic experiences with abusive churches, and they don't ever want their kids to do that, and that's good thing, and would account for the large percentage here.

[intheflow]

7. The problem is, they aren't religiously affiliated.

Which only means they don’t go to an organized church. They are still free to read the Bible or Reverend Billy-Bob’s Tru Faith MAGA Blog to define their beliefs. It’s not reporting an increase in atheism.

[ZDU]

5. i'm so sick of religion

[TBF]

6. Unfortunately platforms like Facebook

are at least keeping it alive in a cultural way.

When I was young there were plenty of people still going to church, but we didn't have this pervasive "thoughts and prayers" culture. It is very performative in nature. Even folks who don't go to church regularly will chime in with their thoughts and prayers, in lieu of doing anything helpful. Add that to the fact that many are so broke that actually belonging to a church with their "recommended" level of giving is out of reach for people who are having to stretch their dollars further.

So, I think it's really hard to determine how many folks are believers or not. I do hope people are finally starting to question, particularly in the case of the predatory mega churches.

[Ritabert]

8. Given the example set by so-called Christians it's no surprise

[Vogon_Glory]

11. Unlike the right-wingers who follow Donald John and other politicos,

many Americans find their brand of (so-called) Christianity repulsive. Tying themselves to the Golden Calf in the White House may thril many reactionary clerics and social activists, but a god chunk of the country finds their politicians loathsome and their brand a turn-off.

I’m a church-goer myself, I may not know my Bible front to back, but I’ve read enough Scripture to know that the practices of the White House and their accomplices at the state and federal levels go against the teachings of both the Old and New Testaments..

[Ritabert]

12. Good for you

[Icanthinkformyself]

9. Every religion,

no matter where, when or who, has subsets that all claim to be the one, true word of a sky daddy or family of sky daddies. What none of the sects will admit is that they are all saying the same thing. If adherents followed the tenets of their religions there would be no hate, no war, no strife, no poverty, no homelessness. Oh, what a wonderful world it would be. They all have one thing in common. They were founded by non-terrestrial entities. You just have to ask and read between the lines of the books they worship. Their 'gods' are never from Earth. It's just space up above us teaming with life.

[Pluvious]

10. Interesting trend, I bet it's weighted heavily towards the younger demographic

A meme I just saw...

Link to tweet

[mdbl]

13. They obviously didn't interview any Pastafarians.