Religious ‘Nones’ in America: Who They Are and What They Believe
28% of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated, describing themselves as atheists, agnostics or “nothing in particular” when asked about their religion.
Non-Religion & Secularism
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Modeling the Future of Religion in America
Since the 1990s, large numbers of Americans have left Christianity to join the growing ranks of U.S. adults who describe their religious identity as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular.” If recent trends in religious switching continue, Christians could make up less than half of the U.S. population within a few decades.
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Christians, religiously unaffiliated differ on whether most things in society can be divided into good, evil
Highly religious Americans are much more likely to see society in those terms, while nonreligious people tend to see more ambiguity.
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About Three-in-Ten U.S. Adults Are Now Religiously Unaffiliated
Self-identified Christians make up 63% of the U.S. population in 2021, down from 75% a decade ago.
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Unlike other U.S. religious groups, most atheists and agnostics oppose the death penalty
Roughly two-thirds of atheists (65%) and six-in-ten agnostics (57%) either “strongly” or “somewhat” oppose the death penalty.
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Among religious ‘nones,’ atheists and agnostics know the most about religion
Atheists and agnostics know more about religion than most other religious groups, while those with no particular religion are among the least knowledgeable.
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5 facts about religion in Canada
A declining share of Canadians identify as Christians. Most Canadians say religion’s influence in public life is waning in their country.
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‘New Age’ beliefs common among both religious and nonreligious Americans
Many U.S. Christians – as well as the religiously unaffiliated – hold “New Age” beliefs, which include belief in reincarnation and astrology.
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From the Solidly Secular to Sunday Stalwarts, a look at our new religious typology
Most American adults identify with a religion, describing themselves as Protestants, Catholics or Jews, to name just a few examples. But a new Pew Research Center analysis looks at beliefs and behaviors that cut across many religious identities, producing a new and revealing classification, or typology, of religion in America that sorts U.S. adults into seven cohesive groups.
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Black Millennials are more religious than other Millennials
Black Millennials are more likely than nonblack Millennials, for example, to say they pray at least daily and attend religious services at least weekly.
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Key findings about Americans’ belief in God
The overwhelming majority of Americans, including a majority of the religiously unaffiliated, say they believe in God or a higher power. Read six key takeaways from a report on Americans’ belief in God.
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