In 1972, the number of Americans who described themselves as religiously unaffiliated was 5%. In 2018, it was almost 24%. Why has the number of people answering "none of the above" to the question of their religious affiliation jumped so dramatically in recent years, and what effect will the growth of these so-called "nones" have on society in general?
My guest explores these questions in his book The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going. His name is Ryan Burge and he's both a pastor and a professor of political science. In our conversation today, Ryan shares the data on which religions have risen and fallen, and explains why mainline Protestantism has taken a huge dive and why the number of people who have disaffiliated altogether from religion has grown to rival the number of evangelicals and Catholics in this country. We talk about the role that politics has played in these shifts, and the fact that while people once chose their politics based on their religion, they now choose their religion based on their politics. Ryan unpacks the demographic profile of the average none, breaking it down into the category's three subgroups: atheists, agnostics, and those who label themselves as "nothing in particular." We end our conversation with what the future growth of the nones may look like, the possible societal effects of an overall decline in religiosity, and whether younger generations may swing back to being more religious.
Resources Related to the Podcast
Master Microtransitions to Improve the Happiness, Success, and Flow of Your Life
Would You Have Been a Patriot or a Loyalist?
How to Read a Tree
Stop Being a Complainer
Become a Morning Workout Person
Cormac McCarthy, The Road, and Carrying the Fire
How Emerson Can Help You Become a Stoic Nonconformist
The Rise and Fall of the Golden Age of Action Heroes
How to Survive Any Worst Case Scenario
Magician's Secrets for Becoming More Commanding, Convincing, And Charismatic
The Myths and Truths Around Suicide
The Essential Guide to Getting Promoted
The Heroic Exploits of WWII’s Pacific Paratroopers
Answers to the FAQ of Modern Etiquette
The Art and Science of Getting Unstuck
The Essential Guide to Visiting and Camping in the National Parks
Thoreau on Making a Living
Optimize Your Testosterone
Leadership Lessons From Military Mentors
Become a Focused Monotasker
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free