Decline of religion

[AFTT47]

Religious self-identification surveys since the mid 1990s have consistently shown a downturn in Americans who self-identify as Christians along with a corresponding increase with those in the "None" category. Not all the Nones are atheists, of course. Quite a few of them would call themselves "spiritual but not religious". They are rejecting organized religion - and of course the churches attached to the religion.

Because they’re rejecting organized religion doesn’t make them non-religious, or even less religious. But I do understand the ‘spiritual but not religious’ identifier. When people think of religion, they tend to mean formalized worship services, adherence to doctrine/dogma, education along lines that comport with what church authorities deem appropriate, and so on. When they give up those things, but continue to believe in the god(s) of their choice, they’re still religious, whatever tag they want to put on it.

Boru

Sure, but religion plays little or no role in how these people interact with society. They are secular insofar as how they vote, how they treat other people and such. They're pretty much keeping whatever religious views they have to themselves and thus do no harm. I'll take that any day.