Increasing number of Americans identify as religious ‘nones’
Maybe the conservative ideals go along with Christianity, but there shouldn’t be any sort of connection.” he Bible felt heavy in his hands as sophomore In another study conducted by the Pew Research Hunter Davis read aloud the day’s scripture Center in 2012, slightly more than half of the public lesson. As he mouthed the words, he began reported that churches should stay out of politics. questioning the validity of what was before him. It Some, such as Lovejoy, feel uneasy when Christianity was in this moment, at St. Anne’s Catholic School in is mixed with government. West Palm Beach, Fla. that the teenager took a big “I think religion is way too involved in politics. step away from religion. Our country was founded upon the idea that there is “I went to a Catholic school for two years. I read a separation of church and state. America was foundthe Bible, and I remember thinking that it just wasn’t ed in an attempt to escape religious persecution,” something that convinced me that there is a god,” she said. “There shouldn’t be prayer in school and reDavis said. “It was incredibly strict. There is everyligion has no place in the court rooms. We need that thing that has to be done, or you won’t go to heaven. separation. No religion should have influence over If I didn’t follow those rules, I wasn’t going to be acour government.” cepted. I decided if I wasn’t But 30 percent of Americans begoing to be accepted, I might lieve there has been too little expresI went to a Catholic as well be an atheist.” sion of religious faith and prayer from Though only 3 percent political leaders. Even Davis believes school for two years. of Americans identify themreligion isn’t overly involved in poliI read the Bible, and selves as atheists, a recent tics. poll showed that Davis isn’t “Christians believe in the same I remember thinking alone in his doubts. Accordthings as atheists when it comes to that it wasn’t ing to a 2013 Pew Research government. Buddhists, Jews, Mussomething that Center study, one fifth of U.S. lims — we all want the same things,” citizens are now religiously Davis said. convinced me that unaffiliated. Politics may not be the only reason there is a god. “People have turned away for “loss of religion.” from religion because they The increase in the number of Hunter Davis are starting to see the neg“nones” is complex, according to the sophomore ativity of it,” Jennifer LoveRev. Kemuel Pruitt, pastor at French joy, founder and president Broad Baptist Church. of WNC Humanists, said. “I honestly think more and “There are a few things going on. Some would say more it has to do with the fact that there are more that it is a growing secularization of society — that things in science that can explain things. People don’t religion is becoming less important as a society grows need to believe in the magical or the imaginary to and develops,” he said. “Sometimes religion takes on make sense of the world that they live in. They can less significance. As society becomes more wealthy find that in science.” and more educated, that can be a trend. There are a Of the 46 million Americans who self-identified lot of influences.” as “nones” when describing their religious affiliation, Statistics regarding religious affiliation in America an overwhelming percentage said they were dissatismay also be misleading. According to a new survey fied with religious organizations because they are conducted jointly by the Pew Research Center’s Fo“too concerned with money and power, too focused rum on Religion & Public Life and the PBS television on rules and too involved in politics.” program Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, of the 46 mil “Most people think if you are a Christian, you lion “nones,” 68 percent actually believe in God. hate gays or you are conservative. This is completely “It may be in part and not dissimilar to people false, but that is just what people think about. They identifying themselves as independents politically. A think about people who are religious or Christian lot of younger people are having a harder time with as very uptight, but that is just what they have been brand labels,” Pruitt said. “For many years there have told. They don’t actually know what they are like or been lots of people who were loosely affiliated with what they really think. It’s because of politics,” senior a particular brand of religion. Sometimes that puts Maddy Reed said. “Politics give religion a bad conyou in a box. When you say, ‘I am a Baptist,’ people notation. Just because you are conservative, doesn’t identify certain things they have heard or think about mean you are Christian. You are Christian because Baptists in general. Rather than be put into a box, of your beliefs. The two don’t actually link together. people are losing the labels.”
by | Lauren Stepp
T
“
”
photos by | Lauren Stepp
12 | feature | wingspan | november 2013
feature | 13