In Alabama, the religiously 'unaffiliated' now surpasses this major religious group

[rug]

By Carol McPhail | [e-mail]
on October 13, 2014 at 7:46 AM, updated October 13, 2014 at 7:48 AM

MOBILE, Alabama - The percentage of Alabamians not affiliated with a specific religion surpasses the percentage of white mainline Protestants, ranking it third among "religious" groups, according to new research.

The American Values Atlas, compiled by the Public Religion Research Institute and released in late September, found that 14 percent of Alabamians describe themselves as "unaffiliated" when asked about their religious tradition. The "unaffiliated" category ranks third behind white evangelical Protestants (36 percent) and black Protestants (18 percent).

White mainline Protestants made up 13 percent of respondents, the survey said, ranking it fourth. The mainline Protestant category includes such denominations as the United Methodist Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the American Baptist Churches U.S.A., the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Episcopal Church, the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church.

The evangelical Protestant category, meanwhile, includes the largest single denomination in Alabama, the Southern Baptist church.

http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2014/10/the_religiously_unaffiliated_a.html

[cbayer]

1. That is quite striking and I think it portends some

real seismic shifts.

The religious right has burned a lot of bridges and many people are sick of them.