religiously unaffiliated / religious “none”
What to know
The term religious “none” is often used to describe someone who reports no affiliation or membership to a religious tradition on a poll or survey. The term arises from studies in which participants self-report their religious identity. Those who mark the “none” or “none of the above” box are dubbed religious “nones.” The term is subsequently used in reporting about shifting religious demographics. Those who mark the religious “none” box come from a diversity of experiences that are not necessarily hostile toward organized religion and may even welcome interfaith engagement. Religious “nones” might identify with labels such as atheist, agnostic, “nothing in particular,” spiritual but not religious, or multiple religious belonger (if they are not able to indicate more than one religious tradition on a poll).
In 2022, the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) reported that 27 percent of Americans are religiously unaffiliated, an increase since 2006 (16 percent) and again in 2018 (26 percent), with a slight dip in 2020 (23 percent). PRRI also suggests that the increase in this population has to do with the large-scale departure from evangelical Christianity since 2006. Gallup reports that this overall rise in religious “nones,” which is consistent across research institutes and studies, might reflect changes in cultural sentiments about religion that result in people being more comfortable reporting lack of religious affiliation.
Religious “nones” commonly cite that they leave or do not follow religious traditions for reasons including: questioning the religious teachings of the traditions, opposing the positions that religious institutions take on social and political issues, disliking religious organizations, not believing in God, considering religion irrelevant, and disliking religious leaders. Various subgroups within the religious “none” category emphasize some of these reasons over others (e.g., atheists tend to emphasize not believing in God over agnostics and those who self-identify as “nothing in particular”). Many religious “nones” who have left a religious tradition report that they retain some of its beliefs and practices even after leaving their houses of worship. Some “nones” may search for meaning within other traditions and engage in deconstructing their former religious traditions.
Some religious “nones” engage in religious and spiritual practices outside of official affiliation with organized religion and might claim the label of spiritual but not religious. Those who are spiritual but not religious might engage in religious and spiritual practices specific to them as individuals and/or as members of communities that organize for a variety of purposes (including political and social action and mutual aid). In 2017, Pew Research reported that 27 percent of Americans see themselves as spiritual but not religious. The increase in this self-identification is consistent across racial/ethnic groups, genders, classes, ages, and political parties. Thirty-seven percent of those who self-identified as spiritual but not religious were religiously unaffiliated (atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular”), while the majority did in fact identify with a religious tradition.
It’s important to recognize that religious “none” is a statistical category that groups together a wide range of ideologies, viewpoints, and practices, and the group cannot be treated as a monolith. Coverage should also be cautious of generalizations about individuals and communities within the group, such as that all religious “nones” do not hold ethical and moral beliefs (when in fact, many religious “nones” leave organized religion due to ethical and moral concerns). Some reporting about religious “nones” frames the conversation with concerns about dropping church attendance and civic life, which can be read as posing religious “nones” as problems to social and political institutions. Presenting diverse perspectives from religious “nones” who articulate ethical and spiritual beliefs outside of organized religion might help avoid perpetuating stereotypes.
Additional resources
- A Closer look at America’s rapidly growing religious “nones” (Pew Research Center)
- Why America’s “nones” left religion behind (Pew Research Center)
- The “nones” are growing — and growing more diverse (Religion News Service)
- The Religious Landscape is Undergoing Massive Change. It Could Decide the 2024 Election. (Politico)
- Exodus: Why Americans are Leaving Religion — and Why They’re Unlikely to Come Back (PRRI)
- The Spiritual but not religious (Pew Research Center)
- Millennials’ Religiosity Amidst the Rise of the Nones (Gallup)
- About Three-in-Ten U.S. Adults Are Now Religiously Unaffiliated (Pew Research Center)
Summary
The term religious “none” is often used to describe someone who reports no affiliation or membership to a religious tradition on a poll or survey. Religious “nones” might identify with labels such as atheist, agnostic, “nothing in particular,” or spiritual but not religious. It’s important to recognize that religious “none” is a statistical category that groups together a wide range of ideologies, viewpoints, and practices, and the group cannot be treated as a monolith. Coverage should also be cautious of generalizations about individuals and communities within the group, such as that all religious “nones” do not hold ethical and moral beliefs (when in fact, many religious “nones” leave organized religion due to ethical and moral concerns). Presenting diverse perspectives from religious “nones” who articulate ethical and spiritual beliefs outside of organized religion might help avoid perpetuating stereotypes.