The [Pew] study, titled "Nones" on the Rise, indicates that 1 in 5 Americans now identifies as "religiously unaffiliated," a group that includes those who say they have no particular religion, as well as atheists and agnostics.Perhaps more instructive is a close look at the age breakdown: If you're under 30, there's a 1-in-3 chance that religion plays little or no role in your life, according to the survey."This finding and the growth of this group has very real political consequences and political implications," says Greg Smith, a senior researcher at the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life and a co-author of the study. "It's heavily Democratic," he says.
Why are so many under 30s turning away from religion? I side with this explanation:
"There is considerable evidence suggesting that the 'nones' have actually been caused by politics," says Campbell, co-author of American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us. "Many people have pulled away from the religious label due to the mingling of religion and conservative politics."
Conservatives, by making their religion political (or actually subordinating their religion to their politics, I would say), have turned off a whole generation of people from religion (and politics, too). This all started in the U.S. in the 80s, so it's no surprise that kids born then and grew up in this evil mix of religion and politics can't stand it as young adults.
By Scott Neuman
October 9, 2012 | NPR
URL: http://n.pr/UPOpOE
