Pew Survey - Why The Nones are Nones

[Cheerful Charlie]

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/08/24/why-americas-nones-left-religion-behind/

An interesting little survey asking Nones why they abandoned the organized they were brought up in.

49% don't believe, 20% dislike organized religion, 18% religiously unsure/undecided, 10% inactive believer, 6unclear/no answer >1% other.

 

[RavenSky]

So 49% of the "nones" are atheists?

 

[Cheerful Charlie]

So 49% of the "nones" are atheists?

It seems either atheist, agnostic or "nothing in particular"

It could be that those who do not want to be called atheist or agnostic adopt the "nothing in particular" label due to stigma attached to Atheist.

 

[Atheos]

I don't know anything about pewresearch.com but with a name like that I would expect them to be religion-biased. Seems like it would be difficult for them to avoid tainting the results unless they made sure they used a double blind survey method.

 

[Cheerful Charlie]

I don't know anything about pewresearch.com but with a name like that I would expect them to be religion-biased. Seems like it would be difficult for them to avoid tainting the results unless they made sure they used a double blind survey method.

Pew is actually pretty good and worth keeping up with from time to time. A lot of surveys have noted the rise of the Nones, but this is one of the few surveys that tries to dig a little deeper. It is limited, but one takes what one can get. Pew has done a lot of good work looking into politics and how religion affects voters for example.

Pew is an interesting outfit, and if you are not familiar with it, give it a try. I think you will find it worth your while.

 

[Malintent]

So 49% of the "nones" are atheists?

It seems either atheist, agnostic or "nothing in particular"

It could be that those who do not want to be called atheist or agnostic adopt the "nothing in particular" label due to stigma attached to Atheist.

I was talking to someone about religion, and when he used the word "atheist", he whispered it.

I make a point of letting these types of people know that they don't need to be afraid of the word. I get them to admit they are atheists (if they are - and are just afraid of the word, as so many people are). It makes them very happy to be assured their thoughts are not evil or hateful, just because they reject the childhood stories they were told and possibly think less of believers as they grow up into individuals.

 

[Atheos]

It seems either atheist, agnostic or "nothing in particular"

It could be that those who do not want to be called atheist or agnostic adopt the "nothing in particular" label due to stigma attached to Atheist.

I was talking to someone about religion, and when he used the word "atheist", he whispered it.

I make a point of letting these types of people know that they don't need to be afraid of the word. I get them to admit they are atheists (if they are - and are just afraid of the word, as so many people are). It makes them very happy to be assured their thoughts are not evil or hateful, just because they reject the childhood stories they were told and possibly think less of believers as they grow up into individuals.

It's part of the indoctrination. Look at the category of people the Buybull lumps "unbelievers" into:

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Might as well be a murderer as to be a person who doesn't believe this fairy tale.

 

[T.G.G. Moogly]

I was talking to someone about religion, and when he used the word "atheist", he whispered it.

I make a point of letting these types of people know that they don't need to be afraid of the word. I get them to admit they are atheists (if they are - and are just afraid of the word, as so many people are). It makes them very happy to be assured their thoughts are not evil or hateful, just because they reject the childhood stories they were told and possibly think less of believers as they grow up into individuals.

It's part of the indoctrination. Look at the category of people the Buybull lumps "unbelievers" into:

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Might as well be a murderer as to be a person who doesn't believe this fairy tale.

Right. It takes a strong person to be openly atheist in a society that is close minded, prejudiced and fearful. In a way that's good.

My neighbor, at war with his neighbor, was crying about how the guy doesn't even go to church. So I told him nonchalantly that I'm atheist and know that stuff isn't real. No big deal anymore.