Discussion on the stabilization or decrease of religious unaffiliation trend in America, with a higher concentration of strongly committed believers in churches. Less committed individuals moving away from religious affiliation.
The rise of 'nones' may have stabilized due to marginally religious individuals moving away from religious affiliation.
Dedicated believers are now sustaining religious communities as secularism loses momentum.
Deep dives
Decline in the 'None' Affiliation Group
Recent analysis by Professor Ryan Berg suggests that the growth of those identifying as having no religious affiliation, also known as 'nones', may have stabilized or decreased. Data from Pew indicates that the percentage of Americans identifying as 'nones' in 2023 has returned to the 2020 levels, standing at 28%. Berg attributes the previous rise in 'nones' to marginally religious individuals shifting to no affiliation, with the remaining group being predominantly deeply committed believers.
Shift Towards Deeply Committed Believers
The analysis points towards a trend where only the most devout believers are likely to remain affiliated with religious institutions, signaling a shift away from secularism. This shift suggests that individuals who were only marginally attached to religious affiliations have moved away, leaving behind a core group of dedicated believers. The transition implies that secularism may be losing momentum, with steadfast believers being the primary demographic sustaining religious communities.
1.
Exploring the Trends of Religious Affiliation in America