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So, we nonbelievers are now tied for top spot in reported religious affiliation. And how many of those who claim a "religion" really don't believe either but fear it is unseemly to say "none"? I know I was one for many years.

[friendlyatheist.patheos.com]

DotLewis 7 Mar 25
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11 comments

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2

sorry but "nones" are not all, or even mostly, nonbelievers. they just claim no religious affiliation.

g

That sounds more believable. having driven through some of the Southern states there seems to be a church on every street

@Moravian only one on each street? i am shocked πŸ™‚)

g

@genessa short streets πŸ˜‰

@Moravian unique addresses!

g

@genessa πŸ˜‰

0

I am sure there are many.

3

There is even an anonymous group for clergy who no longer believe.

Knowing people that were inside ICAR clergy, i can second that. A lot stay because social prestige, fear of reaction (as ICAR tries to socially isolate ex-clergy) etc.

@Pedrohbds I heard one speaking on the radio, and he has stayed because it was all he knew how to do. It is all he had ever done. What a strange position to be in.

3

I am an ultra non-believer, I think religion has done terrible things to mankind. For me no church, no prayer, no ghost, no shaman, no miracles, no second thoughts, no heaven, no christ, no god, no buddha, and now I am a "religious" person? What have I done to deserve this!! ?

No, now you are a "no religion" person.

0

I think one of the draws of groups like Sunday Assembly is bringing in people that were atheists but going to churches for the "community experience". Sunday Assembly's are getting much more popular and as more churchgoers realize what they do I suspect houses of worship will find their attendance dropping even more.

2

This just in, not collecting stamps is now tied for the number one hobby.

2

I think many people who claim a religion are actually claiming a culture, not necessarily the religious beliefs that go along with that.
Kind of like the large number of Jews who don't keep the Sabbath or eat kosher... But they still participate in the rituals, perhaps out of habit or because they find them comforting...are the large numbers of Christians who don't really know what the Bible says because they never bothered reading it

2

I'd like to see that Evangelical line take a nose dive. They represent the majority of the religiously insufferable.

3

Many people really are "nones." They have a fit if you say you are atheist but when you ask them what they believe you might find crazy hand gestures as they search for words and they say "well, I believe in something." This comes from not knowing and also not wanting to admit that they do not know. Where did we come from? We all had parents but other than that we simply do not know.

Some may also be people who believe, but do not practice or even attend services.

@Piratefish Even those who rarely or never attend church, when asked their religion are likely to name the religion they consider themselves to be connected to. For quite a few years, if asked, for example for medical record, what religion, I was likely to respond, "Uh, IDK, I guess christian or baptist" because these are denominations I had been involved with in the past. On the other hand, there was a time when I knew I didn't believe yet replied the same when queried. .

@DotLewis There was a period of time before I was atheistic when I would answer "none", because I hadn't been to church in years, or even thought about religion for that matter. I have also responded to polls saying that I was Lutheran many years after realizing that I was atheistic.

0

Actually who is tied (with evangelicals and Catholics) are "nones" which consists of nonbelievers and unaffiliated believers.

Wouldn't the unaffiliated believers be included in "other faith" category? Seems that would cover people who "believe" but don't consider themselves a specific denomination.

@DotLewis Here's an excerpt from Pew's description (they coined the term I believe, and they track it in surveys):

"A growing share of Americans are religiously unaffiliated. We recently asked a representative sample of more than 1,300 of these β€œnones” why they choose not to identify with a religion. Out of several options included in the survey, the most common reason they give is that they question a lot of religious teachings."

I have always seen it presented as people who don't participate in any organized religion. Atheists are actually a fairly small part of that group.

I assume "other faiths" would just be a catch-all for adherents to the smallest organized religions.

2

I've always preferred to do whatever was considered "unseemly".
Like, since birth.
My mother said I was "born defiant". I think that may have been the
truest thing she EVER said to me.
πŸ˜‰

@motrubl4u My step dad told me that my problem was that I annalized everything way too much.

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