Mar 22, 2015

Ragbag Headliners

7.5 Million Americans Lost Their Religion Since 2012

 A new survey shows in stark relief that what some are calling the Great Decline of religion in America continues: Since 2012, the U.S. has about 7.5 million more Americans who are no longer active in religion.

Last week, the 2014 General Social Survey was released. The GSS is the gold standard for sociological surveys. Funded by the National Science Foundation, this multimillion-dollar study gives us the most accurate data on American society — including religion.

(An important point to remember as you see the data: Each percentage point increase represents a growth of 2.5 million adults. So a 3-point rise in secularity, for example, means that about 7.5 million people left religion since 2012.)

1. More Americans prefer “no religion.”

When asked their religious preference, nearly 1 in 4 Americans now says “none.” Up until the 1990s, the percentage who were in this group known as “nones” hovered in the single digits.  The 2014 GSS showed that nones are 23 percent of the population, up 3 points from 2012.

How large is this group? There are nearly as many Americans who claim no religion as there are Catholics (24 percent). If this growth continues, in a few years the largest “religion” in the U.S. may be no religion at all.

2. Americans aren’t going to church like they used to.

The number of Americans who never darken a church door is also at a new high. Over a third of Americans (35 percent) never attend a worship service (other than weddings and other ceremonies). This is a 5-point increase from just a few years earlier.

3. More Americans say they never pray.

Is this just a departure from organized religion? Even with people no longer identifying with religion or attending worship services, they still pray. But the percentage who never pray is also up, from 14 percent to 17 percent. –Source: Christian Headlines


Most Americans Completely Believe The Christmas Story Of Jesus' Birth

The Christmas story of Jesus Christ's birth isn't just a myth to most Americans ...
Almost three-quarters of adults in the U.S. actually believe that Jesus Christ was born to a virgin mother, according to a recent  Pew Research Center survey.

A majority of Americans also believe that three wise men "guided by a star" brought Jesus gifts, that "the account of an angel of the Lord appearing to shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus reflects an event that actually occurred," and that Jesus was placed in a manger.

Sixty-five percent of adults believe that all four events actually occurred. Ninety-four percent or more of evangelical Protestants believe in all four components, as well as "strong majorities" of Catholics and Mainline Protestants. Even among those who are unaffiliated, 30 percent or more believe in every aspect of the story.

Only 14 percent of Americans think that the Christmas story is completely false. Some even said that they don't think Jesus ever lived.

Women and those who have not completed college are also more likely to believe the story. –Source: The New Civil Rights Movement

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