E Pluribus, Nullus

[cbayer]

http://publicreligion.religionnews.com/2013/01/30/e-pluribus-nullus/

Juhem Navarro-Rivera | Jan 30, 2013

On January 26, the leaders of several secular organizations met to capitalize on the growing number of religiously unaffiliated Americans, commonly known as “Nones.” However, although they currently represent nearly 1-in-5 Americans, harnessing this fast-growing but diverse demographic may pose a challenge for America’s secular leadership.

According to PRRI’s 2012 Pre-Election American Values Survey, the religiously unaffiliated consist of three distinct groups: atheists and agnostics, seculars, and unattached believers. Those who identify as atheists or agnostics account for more than one-third (36%) of all religiously unaffiliated Americans and are highly educated and more likely to be white males. Nearly 4-in-10 (39%) of the unaffiliated are “seculars,” who do not consider themselves to be religious, but also do not identify as atheist or agnostic. Seculars are also more likely to be white males but their education levels are lower; only 27% have a 4-year college degree, compared to 45% of atheists and agnostics. Finally, nearly one-quarter (23%) are unattached believers and identify as religious even though they do not identify with any particular religion and are more likely to be women and members of ethnic and racial minorities compared to atheists and agnostics, and seculars.

These three groups also differ on their belief in God. The majority of atheists and agnostics do not believe in God while a plurality of seculars have a more deistic point of view, believing that God is an impersonal force. In contrast, nearly 7-in-10 (69%) unattached believers believe that God is a person.

That said, political unity would appear to be a much more attainable goal. PRRI’s analysis of the “none vote” between 1980 and 2008 found a trend of religiously unaffiliated voters preferring Democratic candidates and drifting away from Republican candidates. This trend continued in 2012 when 7-in-10 religiously unaffiliated voters preferred Barack Obama compared to about one-quarter (26%) who voted for Mitt Romney.


more at link

[Angry Dragon]

1. What do you believe??

[cbayer]

2. I believe that it makes no difference at all to me personally whether there is a god or not.

I also believe that each individual is entitled to believe whatever they want and that they should be respected as individuals, unless their beliefs infringe on the rights of or otherwise harm others.

I believe that religious people and groups do a lot of good things and that, when they do, they should be supported.

I believe that non-believers are discriminated against and am supportive of groups and organizations that are fighting for them and for the 1st amendment.

I believe that anti-theists and anti-atheists are divisive and prevent us from achieving shared goals. I think they are carrying water for the republican party, whether they mean to or not.

Why do you ask?

[Angry Dragon]

3. I can support those views except perhaps the last one

It is always good to know someone ..........


I have to think about the last one

[trotsky]

4. It really comes down to how one would define "anti-".

Some would say that any atheist who expresses a negative opinion of religion or its unnecessary entanglement with politics is an "anti-theist."

If we want to accuse any Democrat who has a different opinion on one of the planks of the party platform of being a Republican operative, like cbayer evidently wants to do with some folks, that seems to me to be a much more divisive course of action.

[Phillip McCleod]

5. i have seen this breakdown elsewhere

perhaps the most interesting bit to me is that the atheist/agnostic segment of the 'nones' is pretty much the only 'religious group' in the u.s. that is growing. as the nones increase in number, the atheist/agnostics among the nones increase in number, and the number of believers of every religion either stays the same or goes down.

that, plus that at about 5% of the u.s. pop., atheist/agnostics outnumber both secular and nonsecular jews and muslims put together times 2. to me that's hopeful because it means every day there's fewer americans who are likely to hate me (not that all believers hate all nones but the feeling of isolation does pile up.. thank human ingenuity for the internet.)