"The Rise of Non-Religious Americans is Occurring All Over the Country"

[Kangaroo Feathers]

I don't disagree with any of that, though I have some reservations about the timing. None-ism (the phenomenon, not the name) has been around in other parts of the West since maybe the 70s. The US is only now catching up. Compare eg Canada with about 25% nones.
I was raised Pisco (my mother regarded it as part of good manners) though except for a half-year burst of fervor in early adolescence it never was a fit. But the rise of the nones is as much a generational change as anything else.

There are different pressures in different places, but I'm pretty confident my theory is generally sound. It also explains the decline of live theatre and county fair type things.

 

[wellwisher]

Yes, but not because I want it to.

We are entering an age where non-religious people are gaining number at a high.rate as @Skwim has pointed out with his data. It may continue this way for another 10 years or so I suspect. But then it will plateau out, and begin to trend back down, as religious influence will gain numbers and with that, yes more influence and power.

Now I know what your thinking. That this is something I would want as a religious person, but that is not true. I do no wish to live under a theocracy. Even as a Christian I cannot live up to the standards of purity that a theocracy would no doubt put in place.

One key variable is the internet and social media. Social media is training people to be shallow. Everyone is now self absorbed, looking for "likes". There is also daily content exposure to misinformation, due to anonymity and political and marketing agenda.

This exposure is contrary to religion, which teaches one to seek the truth and develop inner worth; character, instead of playing the role of a character in a fictional play for likes or clicks.

 

[PruePhillip]

I knew the non-religious had grown in numbers, but to see it happening just about everywhere — and at such high rates — is a testament to how far religion has fallen. And given how many self-inflicted wounds we’re seeing with organized religion these days, with the Catholic Church’s sex scandals, and evangelical megachurch sex scandals, and the Southern Baptist Convention’s sex scandals, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ sex scandals, it’s not like we’ve seen the end of the rise for non-religiosity.

Far from hitting a plateau, the growth will continue for a long time to come."
source​

So, what does this portend for the USA? Is it a trend that will eventually seriously hurt the Christian religion in America? Will it blow over? Will it eventually stop and change directions?

Where do you see Christianity 25 years down the road.

In looking at Catholic and Anglican attendance figures since 1900 it is evident that the current
sex abuse issues have had little impact on the steady decline. In fact, looking at the graphs
I can't even see the sexual abuse issue in the declining lines.
What does all this portend? Read my profile below.

 

[PruePhillip]

Reason has to win sometime in the future.

The new age of reason. Read my profile below too.
These figures seem to shift in lock-step with the decline of religion.

In their 2000 survey on 2064 students in 8th through 11th grade, the American Association of
University Women (AAUW) reported: 81% or eight out of 10 students experience sexual harassment
in school. 83% of girls have been sexually harassed. 78% of boys have been sexually harassed.

Sexual harassment in education in the United States - Wikipedia

 

[Neutral Name]

I believe in God. So, I believe that people know God deep in their hearts whether they realize it consciously or not. If Christians don't come back to what Jesus taught, their religion will die. People realize in their hearts the difference between good and not good (evil?). The current Christian churches are not good in many ways. Not only are there sexual sins, pedophiles, adultery, etc. but there is hardheartedness, a lack of the love that Jesus taught. Many "Christians" today are often not Christians. They have totally turned away from what Jesus taught. This is causing people to realize that the churches are not of God.. They know the difference either consciously or subconsciously. The love of God is not present. God's love is what people understand deep in their hearts. So, if there is no love, it is not of God.

 

[blü 2]

There are different pressures in different places, but I'm pretty confident my theory is generally sound. It also explains the decline of live theatre and county fair type things.

I think we're generally in the same ballpark of ideas; it's just the weighting and the timing to attach to each. It may well be there's no correct answer anyway.

 

[Windwalker]

Reason has to win sometime in the future.

I would prefer to see spirit and reason both winning together, rather than one winning out over another. Both lose at that point. "A house divided cannot stand".

 

[Dell]

.

"For more than a decade now, the Cooperative Congressional Election Study (CCES) has conducted frequent surveys to determine political attitudes and demographic shifts for Americans. There’s always a huge sample size and the data is fantastic. Naturally, Professor Ryan P. Burge of Eastern Illinois University sifted through it to see how religious beliefs have changed over time.

He explained three of those changes in a post, and they’re fascinating for those of us who want to see a nation that’s less dependent on organized religion.

First, he looked at changes in religious affiliation over the past decade. We know the popularity of organized religion has declined over time, but the numbers for most denominations has been relatively stable over the years. There were drops and gains for various groups but it’s not like any group is perpetually heading downhill.

The “No Religion” line, however, seems to go up and up and up…

That’s interesting! That’s also not all that new. Several surveys have shown “Nones” on the rise, if not the largest single “religious” group in the country.

Then Burge looked at what’s happening state by state since the CCES data lets him break it down like that. When it comes to which religious groups have seen the greatest rise within each state between 2008 and 2018, he found that the “Nones” are running the board.

We had the largest growth everywhere except South Dakota, Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska, and Washington, D.C. (the last two aren’t on the map).

I blame the one atheist who left each state and changed all the percentages. (Cue rimshot.)

Impressive!

BUT WAIT! There’s more. If you look for the actual numbers for each state in 2008 and 2018, what you find, nearly across the board, is a huge leap forward for non-religious people. Often in places you wouldn’t expect.

Meaning, in just about every state, the rise of the Nones was massive.

[The Nones] grew 22.9% in Hawaii, 19.5% in Wisconsin, 18.6% in West Virginia, and 17.4% in Rhode Island. Not exactly progressive strongholds in the United States. However, overall growth was widespread. In fact, the nones enjoyed double digit gains in 24 states. The only state in which the nones declined was South Dakota (-0.3%). The slowest growth states were Arkansas (4%), Kansas (4.5%), and Florida (5.3%).
​

That’s ridiculous growth in places like Hawaii and Wisconsin and West Virginia. We’re talking a major cultural shift over the past decade.

I knew the non-religious had grown in numbers, but to see it happening just about everywhere — and at such high rates — is a testament to how far religion has fallen. And given how many self-inflicted wounds we’re seeing with organized religion these days, with the Catholic Church’s sex scandals, and evangelical megachurch sex scandals, and the Southern Baptist Convention’s sex scandals, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ sex scandals, it’s not like we’ve seen the end of the rise for non-religiosity.

Far from hitting a plateau, the growth will continue for a long time to come."
source​

So, what does this portend for the USA? Is it a trend that will eventually seriously hurt the Christian religion in America? Will it blow over? Will it eventually stop and change directions?

Where do you see Christianity 25 years down the road.


View attachment 30808

Ever wonder what becomes of property of a closed church? I saw one Independent Baptist church close from total member loss and the best I could tell the property was assumed by one man basically the last self proclaimed pastor of the church....

 

[Shad]

So you expect an eventual return of the power and influence that religion once had within society?

If the current system starts to collapse religion tends to be a go to ideology to fill the void.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

Ever wonder what becomes of property of a closed church? I saw one Independent Baptist church close from total member loss and the best I could tell the property was assumed by one man basically the last self proclaimed pastor of the church....

Usually the church is owned by a larger organisation that can sell it if the church becomes unviable. Churches with low memberships get sold all the time.

 

[Skwim]

Ever wonder what becomes of property of a closed church? I saw one Independent Baptist church close from total member loss and the best I could tell the property was assumed by one man basically the last self proclaimed pastor of the church....

In a nearby town an old Methodist church was repurposed as a community theater.

.

 

[Father Heathen]

One key variable is the internet and social media. Social media is training people to be shallow. Everyone is now self absorbed, looking for "likes". There is also daily content exposure to misinformation, due to anonymity and political and marketing agenda.

This exposure is contrary to religion, which teaches one to seek the truth and develop inner worth; character, instead of playing the role of a character in a fictional play for likes or clicks.

I'm pretty sure it has far more to do with increased levels of education, information becoming widespread and easier to access, wider cultural/social exposure and interaction, and scientific literacy.

Blaming religions' decline on social media attention seekers is cute though.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

I believe in God. So, I believe that people know God deep in their hearts whether they realize it consciously or not. If Christians don't come back to what Jesus taught, their religion will die. People realize in their hearts the difference between good and not good (evil?). The current Christian churches are not good in many ways. Not only are there sexual sins, pedophiles, adultery, etc. but there is hardheartedness, a lack of the love that Jesus taught. Many "Christians" today are often not Christians. They have totally turned away from what Jesus taught. This is causing people to realize that the churches are not of God.. They know the difference either consciously or subconsciously. The love of God is not present. God's love is what people understand deep in their hearts. So, if there is no love, it is not of God.

As a Christian I was once, I learn that as a professional soldier. Our military priest blessed us and our weapons in the Name of the Christian God, so we could kill the Enemy.
I never looked back and it took me 30 years to get back to God. But not any of the gods of organized religion. I have to do it myself.

 

[sooda]

There are different pressures in different places, but I'm pretty confident my theory is generally sound. It also explains the decline of live theatre and county fair type things.

We have a lot of live theatre here in Atlanta,,, and all over America really.. both amateur and professional. We also still have state fairs.

 

[sooda]

In a town near me an old Methodist church was the basis of a community theater.

.

Even small towns often have some dedicated community theater.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

We have a lot of live theatre here in Atlanta,,, and all over America really.. both amateur and professional. We also still have state fairs.

That's great. Are they the events they used to be, or are they in a general state of decline?

 

[sooda]

M

That's great. Are they the events they used to be, or are they in a general state of decline?

Most colleges also have live theater. I would say strong.

 

[Revoltingest]

Ever wonder what becomes of property of a closed church? I saw one Independent Baptist church close from total member loss and the best I could tell the property was assumed by one man basically the last self proclaimed pastor of the church....

I once managed an apartment building which used to be a church.
So there's one use for closed ones...sold to us greedy capitalist pigs.
Odd thing....a prospective tenant believed it would be sinful or
sacrilegious or something to live in it.

 

[David T]

.

"For more than a decade now, the Cooperative Congressional Election Study (CCES) has conducted frequent surveys to determine political attitudes and demographic shifts for Americans. There’s always a huge sample size and the data is fantastic. Naturally, Professor Ryan P. Burge of Eastern Illinois University sifted through it to see how religious beliefs have changed over time.

He explained three of those changes in a post, and they’re fascinating for those of us who want to see a nation that’s less dependent on organized religion.

First, he looked at changes in religious affiliation over the past decade. We know the popularity of organized religion has declined over time, but the numbers for most denominations has been relatively stable over the years. There were drops and gains for various groups but it’s not like any group is perpetually heading downhill.

The “No Religion” line, however, seems to go up and up and up…

That’s interesting! That’s also not all that new. Several surveys have shown “Nones” on the rise, if not the largest single “religious” group in the country.

Then Burge looked at what’s happening state by state since the CCES data lets him break it down like that. When it comes to which religious groups have seen the greatest rise within each state between 2008 and 2018, he found that the “Nones” are running the board.

We had the largest growth everywhere except South Dakota, Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska, and Washington, D.C. (the last two aren’t on the map).

I blame the one atheist who left each state and changed all the percentages. (Cue rimshot.)

Impressive!

BUT WAIT! There’s more. If you look for the actual numbers for each state in 2008 and 2018, what you find, nearly across the board, is a huge leap forward for non-religious people. Often in places you wouldn’t expect.

Meaning, in just about every state, the rise of the Nones was massive.

[The Nones] grew 22.9% in Hawaii, 19.5% in Wisconsin, 18.6% in West Virginia, and 17.4% in Rhode Island. Not exactly progressive strongholds in the United States. However, overall growth was widespread. In fact, the nones enjoyed double digit gains in 24 states. The only state in which the nones declined was South Dakota (-0.3%). The slowest growth states were Arkansas (4%), Kansas (4.5%), and Florida (5.3%).
​

That’s ridiculous growth in places like Hawaii and Wisconsin and West Virginia. We’re talking a major cultural shift over the past decade.

I knew the non-religious had grown in numbers, but to see it happening just about everywhere — and at such high rates — is a testament to how far religion has fallen. And given how many self-inflicted wounds we’re seeing with organized religion these days, with the Catholic Church’s sex scandals, and evangelical megachurch sex scandals, and the Southern Baptist Convention’s sex scandals, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ sex scandals, it’s not like we’ve seen the end of the rise for non-religiosity.

Far from hitting a plateau, the growth will continue for a long time to come."
source​

So, what does this portend for the USA? Is it a trend that will eventually seriously hurt the Christian religion in America? Will it blow over? Will it eventually stop and change directions?

Where do you see Christianity 25 years down the road.


View attachment 30808

Well we the consumers have deemed lack of talent in religion and have run off to new novelties, new gods and goddeses even. Pop music love it!!! That marvel studio doing amazing work can hardly wait! Who has time for church any longer we have internet!

 

[The Reverend Bob]

What makes you think they are atheists? The fastest growing religious group according to Pew is "spiritual not religious". That's not good news to me because that group tends to be a little too new agey for my taste.

https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/11/10/16630178/study-spiritual-but-not-religious