At least 22 percent of adults ages 18 to 29 in the United States currently have no connection with any religion. That's a full 7 percent higher than the entire adult population average, and a figure that continues to confirm the groundswell of an unbelieving young generation that many ministry leaders have talked about for years.
According to researchers at Trinity College, if the current trend continues among the next generation, "Nones"—those who don't identify with any religion—could account for one in five Americans in 20 years. Currently, the faith-free sector includes 19 percent of all men and 12 percent of women.
"Trends clearly favor this," says lead researcher Barry Kosmin of the increase. However, after conducting three massive surveys over the last 18 years and observing the changing landscape of American spirituality, Kosmin also adds a hopeful note: "There could be a Great Awakening or immigration may bring in more Catholic believers."
Nones, according to Kosmin's new report American Nones: The Profile of the No Religion Population, aren't necessarily atheist. More than half (51 percent) still believe in God or a higher power; they simply don't consider themselves part of any religious group. In fact, despite all the media attention in recent months surrounding the supposed "rise of atheists" in the country, Kosmin's data says the overall percentage of atheist Nones hasn't changed in years.
"It's not as though dozens of people at the Methodist Church read (atheist Richard) Dawkins and suddenly decided God doesn't exist," Kosmin says. "There are so many misconceptions about who the Nones are. They're not New Age searchers or spiritual or even hardened atheists. They're a stew of agnostics, deists and rationalists. … Nones are not a fringe group anymore and are now part of Middle America. They're present in every socio-demographic group."
Which is exactly why the church must reach out to them. [usatoday.com, 9/23/09]
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