The Atlantic: American Religion: Complicated, Not Dead

[LiberalElite]

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/05/american-religion-complicated-not-dead/392891/?google_editors_picks=true

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Every American has a religion story. There are those who were raised devout, only to lapse toward lazy Sundays and sporadic church attendance later in life; those who found a different God in adulthood, perhaps after getting married or going through a conversion of the heart; and those who define themselves by their faith, their congregations a source of casseroles and companionship in times of celebration and grief.

Every American has a religion story, which is why it’s a little strange to think of America as an increasingly secular nation. That would be one way to read the Pew Research Center’s new Religious Landscape Study, a massive survey of more than 35,000 American adults. Over the last seven years, it found, the share of Americans who aren’t part of any religion has grown significantly, rising from 16 to nearly 23 percent of the population. A small portion of this group are atheists and agnostics—3 and 4 percent, respectively. More commonly, though, they are detached from organized religion altogether. When asked what religion they identify with, they answer simply: “Nothing in particular.” All in all, roughly one in ten Americans say religion is “not at all important” to them.
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My religion story? I've told it a couple of times here but in 10 words or less: Raised RC, left it in high school. Now a "none."

[Moostache]

1. I defer to Carlin...

I too was raised in the Catholic Church...until I attained the age of reason.

The social aspects of religion are the one thing that keeps them all from disappearing forever...it also will keep them with humanity for the forseeable future, but THAT is ok, as long as the dogmatic fundamentalists are put back into their box and kept there.

The abuse of "believers" by the power brokers of the churches, the unholy hucksters on the revival trail and the piece of shit politicians that prey on their fears for personal gain is what disgusts me about organized religions.

There are two things that are commonly referred to pejoratively: organized CRIME and organized RELIGION. It is my experience that its hard to really tell them apart.

[Tikki]

2. I have no 'religion story' and yet I am an American.

There are others out here just like me.

Tikki