Back in 1980, according to a General Social Survey by the National Opinion Research Center, 5 to 8 percent of Americans described their religion as “unaffiliated.” Now it appears the number has jumped up to 16 percent, and those who describe themselves as “unaffiliated” actually make up the fourth-largest religious group in America. \nOf all the findings within a recent report titled “U.S. Religious Landscape Survey,” the growth of Americans believing in “nothing in particular” will probably be the most discussed.\nThe report indicates that more than a quarter of adult Americans have left their childhood faith to join another religion or no religion at all.\nInterestingly enough, it seems the fastest-growing Christian sects have been non-denominational Protestants, often evangelical, and often associated with mega-churches. \nJust from some of the early debates within our editorial board it is clear that religion is a sensitive issue. The more religious seem shocked to see the group “unaffiliated,” which they read as agnostic or atheist, growing so fast. More secular folks seem uncomfortable about the growth in evangelical movements, in part because of the role they play in politics.\nIt is easy, but wrong, to think of the competition between one’s own beliefs and others’ whenever the word “religion” is mentioned. The process of deciding one’s spiritual beliefs is complicated and fraught with complications. For that reason, it is a decision that should be entrusted to the individual above all else. The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey shows this is exactly what is happening. \nThe fact that more people are switching faiths simply means people are playing a more active role in choosing their beliefs; this will likely lead to more personal satisfaction. Even if some choose to opt out of religion altogether, we should be OK with that.\nEmbracing the idea that all personal spiritual beliefs should flourish in our society is what we should strive for. Those who focus such importance on the spread of their own spiritual beliefs often do not realize how intolerant their views really are. This goes for atheists and the highly religious alike.
DISSENT: \n Studies like this further the misconception that every facet of the American religious community – particularly within the Christian community – is a corrupt, competitive corporation, battling not for God’s will but rather fighting for more money in the collection plate. Luis Lugo, director of the organization that released this study, threw around this sort of rhetoric, as he calls the “American religious economy” a “marketplace – very dynamic, very competitive.” After reading this, one could argue that this “competition” among different faiths is good because it keeps religious organizations on top of their game so their members won’t leave. But religion is not a game. It should be the hope of every Christian, for example, that all people will someday “(g)ive praise to our God.” And while we should not repeat the history of persecuting non-believers, we cannot celebrate the fact that people are leaving this faith.\n – Cheryl Thomas
