Nearly thirty million Americans "Do not subscribe to any religious identification" according to a new comprehensive survey...

new study indicates significant shifts in the nation's religious composition, with mainstream faith groups stagnating, and the numbers of those who profess no religion on the rise.

   The American Religious Identification Survey 2001 was carried out under the auspices of the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and is considered a follow-up study of a 1990 census. The poll utilized a sample of over 50,000 randomly selected respondents, and was described as "the most comprehensive portrait of religious identification in the U.S. today." It revealed, for instance, that while the numbers of Roman Catholics increased since 1990 from 46 million to nearly 50.8 million, their percentage of the population fell nearly two points. Protestants and other non-Catholic groups remain the majority, but their proportion slipped sharply from 60% to 52%. And those identifying with a non-Christian religion jumped from 5.8 million to 7.7 million, but reflected only 3.7% of the population.

   The survey and news reports about the study, though, noted that one of the most significant findings involved growth in that segment of the adult population "identifying with no religion." In 1990, 14.3 million or roughly 8% identified with this category. The new ARIS count now shows that the non-believer population has grown to 29.4 million, roughly 14.1% of the American community. The ARIS team notes that the 1990 figure "may be downwardly biased due to a slight change in the working of the key survey question in 2001. In seeking a more accurate measure of identification, the clause 'if any' was added this year to the question, 'What religion do you identify with?' "

   ARIS was conducted by Barry A.Kosmin, Egon Mayer and Ariela Keysar with a foundation grant.

   ¶    The study introduction quotes an observation by anthropologist of religion Diana L. Eck ("A New Religious America: How a 'Christian County' Has Become the World's Most Religiously Diverse Nation," Harper - San Francisco, 2001) who observed, "We the people of the United States now form the most profusely religious nation on earth."    "Often lost amidst the mesmerizing tapestry of faith groups that comprise the American population," notes ARIS, "is also a vast and growing population of those without faith. They adhere to no creed nor choose to affiliate with any religious community. These are the seculars, the unchurched, the people who profess no faith in any religion."

   In addition, "the present survey has detected a wide and possibly growing swath of secularism among Americans. The magnitude and role of this large secular segment of the American population is frequently ignored by scholars and politicians alike..."

   ¶    Jews and Hispanics were among the ethnic groups surveyed by ARIS. Fifty-seven percent of those identified as Hispanic also indicated their religion as Roman Catholic, with 22% listing their faith as one of the Protestant denominations. "Other religious identification" stood at 5%, and 12% of Hispanics "indicated that they have no religion."

   There are about 5.3 million Jews in America, with only 2.83 million saying that they are believers in the Jewish faith. A full 1.08 million were "adherents of no religion," and 1.36 million identified as Jews embraced a faith other than Judaism.

   ¶    More Americans do not identify with any particular religion. In 1990, for instance, 90% of adults considered themselves part of a faith-based group; that figure has now dropped to 81%. Those considering themselves to be Christians stood at 86% in 1990, but now only 77% do.

"One of the most significant findings involved growth in that segment of the adult population "identifying with no religion."

   Interestingly, it is "non-mainstream" denominations which seem to be gathering more followers, although they constitute less than 1% of the population. Many profess emphasis on "end times" apocalyptic belief, and/or a strong fundamentalist Christian message. The Foursquare Gospel sect has grown from 28,000 in 1990 to 70,000 member. Based on responses, Scientology presently has 55,000 (up from 45,000 a decade ago); Unitarian/Universalists stand at 629,000; and Ethical Culturalists at 4,000.

   By far, the most prodigious growth in the religion cohort has taken place in groups identified by terms such as "Wiccan," which grew from 8,000 in the 1990 census to 134,000 in the current ARIS survey. The former did not include a number of "new religions" or other groups which are incorporated into the latest count. Another 140,000 are estimated to be "Pagan," while 22,000 identify with Santeria and 116,000 with the label "Spiritualist."

   This portion of the survey confirms observations about the breakdown of institutional denominations -- the so-called "mainline" churches -- amidst a growing belief bazaar where creeds and faith-based groups compete for customers. Religious "consumers" are experimenting with different philosophies. All of this, the survey notes, was predicted by the theories of sociologists like Thomas Luckmann who "anticipated the emergence of an increasingly de-institutionalized form of religious identification ... The modern sacred cosmos legitimates the retreat of the individual into a private sphere and sanctifies his (or her) subjective autonomy."

   What about those who eschew religious belief? Terminology seems to play a major role in how non-believers distinguish themselves within their own demographic category. The 1990 survey included three descriptions (without definitions), "Agnostic," "Humanist" and "No Religion." A decade ago, that described an estimated 14,331,000 people, or roughly 8.2% of the population.

"Often lost amidst the mesmerizing tapestry of faith groups tht comprise the American population is also a vast and growing population of those without faith. They adhere to no creed nor choose to affiliate with any religious community. These are the seculars, the unchurched, the people who profess no faith in any religion..."

   According to the ARIS 2001 survey, the total "No Religion Specified" category has grown to 29,481,000, roughly 14.1% of the population. That figure could be low, since 5.4% of potential respondents refused to discuss their preference, if any, for faith. Within the "No Religion Groups," the latest survey measured the three categories from the 1990 census, with new descriptions for "Atheist" and "Secular." In the latter category, 902,000 or roughly 0.4% identify openly as Atheists to the telephone survey. Slightly larger is the "Agnostic" category, an estimated 991,000 individuals representing 0.5%.

   Humanists came in at an estimated 49,000, with only 53,000 under the category of "Secular." Contrary to perceptions in many non-believer circles, "Atheist" seems to be the label of choice more often within our segment of the population than "Humanist" or "Secular." "Agnostic" is slightly ahead, with most simply referring to themselves as having "No Religion."

   Those Americans of "No Religion," the "unchurched," exceed the numbers of adherents in all but the two top Christian sects (Catholics and Baptists). Even the number of those identified as "Atheist" is larger than denominations such as Seventh-day Adventist, Assemblies of God, Eastern Orthodox, United Church of Christ and the Church of God.

   ¶    Nineteen percent of respondents reported a person of "No Religion" in their household. This compared with 59% for Catholics, 69% for the Baptists, 45% for the broader category of Protestant.

"The present survey has detected a wide and possibly growing swath of secularism among Americans. The magnitude and role of this large secular segment of the American population is frequently ignored by scholars and politicians alike..."

   ¶    Religious belief/disbelief were broken down further by the ARIS census. Women, for instance, were more likely than men to describe their personal outlook as religious, as were older Americans in general. Black Americans were least likely to describe themselves as secular, while Asian Americans were most likely to do so.

   It has long been argued by some critics that religious belief is very much a function of time and geography; those raised in predominantly Muslim countries, for instance, would embrace that faith, while those growing up in a Christian, or, say, Roman Catholic nation or family would accept those religious doctrines.

   There is growing evidence, though, that America is truly becoming a belief bazaar, with people essentially picking and choosing among competing denominational viewpoint. The ARIS study found "More than thirty-three million American adults, about 16% of the total U.S. adult population report that they have changed their religious preference or identification." The phrase "a generation of seekers" is applied to those who are middle-aged baby boomers. The survey also notes, "switching has involved not only the shift of people's spiritual loyalties from one religion to another -- which could reflect some kind of spiritual seeking -- but also, and perhaps more importantly, a dropping out of religion altogether..."

   One of the biggest growth sectors due to this "switching" is found among the 29 million-plus Americans who profess "No Religion." A total of 6,622,494 persons are thought to have "switched in" from other categories (all of them religious), producing a 23% increase. Only about 5% of the "No Religion" category monitored in 1990 "found religion," abandoning disbelief for some creed. Religious groups also benefited from this "switching in" phenomenon, especially the Seventh-day Adventists, Buddhists and Presbyterians. The Methodists category found a startling 25% "switching out," and similar percentages were found for other mainstream denominations including the Presbyterians and the Episcopalians.

"According to the ARIS 2001 ssurvey, the total No Religion Specified category has grown to 29,481,000, roughly 14.1% of the population ... Contrary to perceptions in many non-believer circles, 'Atheist' seems to be the label of choice more often within our segment of the population than 'Humanist' or 'Secular.' 'Agnostic' is slightly ahead, with most simply referring to themselves as having 'No Religion.' "

   ¶    Confirming other surveys, ARIS continued to reveal that Evangelical, fundamentalist sects are growing along with the ranks of "Non-Denominational Christians."

   An estimated 11- million=plus Americans (54%) are married according to the U.S. Census, with about 58 million listed as "Single, never married" or 27%. Approximately 4.79 million are "separated," another 21-million-plus Divorced, and about 13.8 million Widowed. ARIS found slightly larger numbers of married people (59%), with only 20% as "Single, never married." Five percent reported "Single, living with partner), or roughly 11 million Americans.

   ¶    In the "No Religion" category measuring lifestyles of the 29-million or so members of this cohort, 33% were single, 22% single and co-habiting, 19% married, and 9% divorced. Six percent were widowed. Only Buddhists (47%) and Muslim/Islam believers (37%) exceeded the numbers in the singles category. But the "No Religion" group showed low rates of divorce compared to religious counterparts. Pentecostal Christians had the highest divorce rates at 14%, followed by Episcopalian/Anglicans at 12%, Baptists at 12%, and the Assemblies of God at 10%. Non-believers had comparable divorce rates along with Methodists, Roman Catholics, "Christians," Church of Christ members and others. ARIS noted, "the no religion group was far more likely to be either single, never married or single, living with a partner than any other group." Evangelical Christians and Assemblies of God followers were more likely to marry (73% and 74%), thus possibly contributing to the high divorce rates.

   Any plan to politicize and mobilize America's "No Religion" cohort must take into account the fact that this group has one of the highest percentage of "independent" political identity. Seventeen percent of this group lists Republican as a political affiliation, with 30% Democrats, and 43% independent. "Other/none" accounts for another 10%.

"Even so, the ranks of those who reject religious doctrines and movements is thriving in the United States ... This is a diverse and politically independent group, of course, that will likely never march under any one banner, label or organization -- as it should be. Much of this cohort, though, may have some common issues regarding civil rights for Atheists and others of no religion, the separation of church and state, and civil liberties in general. Larger than many denomination and for the most part un-organized, it is a potential sleeping giant waiting to flex its political and cultural influence."

   Only one religious group, Assemblies of God, had a majority of members (59%) identifying with one political party, namely, the GOP. The 43% "No Religion" affiliation with independents -- plus the 10% "Other/none" -- was far ahead of all religious denominations with the exception of Buddhists, who boasted 48% independent, and 12% "Other/none."

   "Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and those with no religion continue have a greater preference for the Democratic party over the Republican -- much as they did in 1990," notes the new ARIS census. "Evangelical or Born Again Christians and Mormons are the most apt to identify as Republicans. Buddhists and those with no religion are most likely to be political independents..."

   ¶    And what about the states? The survey found that historical residue of the Bible Belt in the South are still evident as is an "irreligious West."

   "Those with 'no religion' constitute the largest group in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Wyoming," notes the study. "In contrast, the percentage of adults who adhere to 'no religion' is below 10 percent in North and South Dakota, the Carolinas, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.

   In addition to noting the religious pluralism of the United States -- a caution to those who insist the country is a "Christian nation" -- ARIS recognized the "wide and possibly growing swath of secularism among Americans." It also began the hunt for specific numbers and categories within the "No Religious Groups," for the first time giving Atheists and those identified with the label "Secular" their own sub-category, along with the 1990 labels Humanist, Agnostic and No Religion. Under this count, 902,000 Americans might use the "A-word" to describe themselves, with slightly more (991,000) proclaiming themselves as Agnostics, and 49,000 identifying with the Humanist Label. Another 53,000 use "Secular," but by far the preference is for "No Religion," a robust 27-million-plus. There are probably numerous "closet Atheists" lurking in those other labels, using these terms of political or social camouflage.

   Even so, the ranks of those who reject religious doctrines and movements is thriving in the United States. We are not only a pluralistic society in terms of religious belief, we are also diverse in that we have a sizable and growing community of "No Religion" composed of about 14.1% of Americans -- 29,481,000 people. This is a diverse and politically independent group, of course, that will likely never march under any one banner, label or organization -- as it should be. Much of this cohort, though, may have some common issues regarding civil rights for Atheists and others of no religion, the separation of church and state, and civil liberties in general. Larger than many denominations, and for the most part un-organized, it is a potential sleeping giant waiting to flex its political and cultural influence.

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