{"id":69466,"date":"2024-01-24T09:50:02","date_gmt":"2024-01-24T14:50:02","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-04-23T23:59:09","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T03:59:09","slug":"religious-nones-in-america-who-they-are-and-what-they-believe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/religious-nones-in-america-who-they-are-and-what-they-believe\/","title":{"rendered":"Religious \u2018Nones\u2019 in America: Who They Are and What They Believe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-640-wide\"><img decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/01\/PF_23.01.24_nonreligion_featured-jpg.webp?w=640\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-40535\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<div style=\"border-width:1px;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);--block-gap: inherit\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible has-background has-ui-beige-very-light-background-color has-border-color has-ui-beige-dark-border-color\" id=\"how-we-did-this\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/collapsible&quot;}\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;collapsibleId&quot;:&quot;how-we-did-this&quot;,&quot;isOpen&quot;:false}\" data-wp-class--is-open=\"context.isOpen\" data-wp-init--scroll-into-view=\"callbacks.onInitScrollIntoView\"><div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__title\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\"><div>How we did this<\/div><button class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__icon\"><span data-wp-bind--hidden=\"context.isOpen\"><i class=\"icon icon-library__light icon__circle-plus\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/light.svg#circle-plus\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span><span data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!context.isOpen\" hidden><i class=\"icon icon-library__light icon__circle-minus\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/light.svg#circle-minus\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__content\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pew Research Center conducted this analysis to provide a detailed portrait of religiously unaffiliated adults in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Much of this profile comes from a survey we conducted July 31-Aug. 6, 2023, among 11,201 respondents who are members of the Center\u2019s American Trends Panel (ATP). The survey included interviews with a total of 3,317 religious \u201cnones\u201d \u2013 658 atheists, 678 agnostics and 1,981 respondents who describe their religion as \u201cnothing in particular.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ATP is an online survey panel that is recruited through national random sampling of residential addresses, which gives nearly all U.S. adults a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, political party, education, religious affiliation and other categories. For more, refer to the <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/methods\/u-s-survey-research\/american-trends-panel\/\">ATP\u2019s methodology<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/religious-nones-methodology\/\">methodology for the report<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to the July 31-Aug. 6, 2023, survey, this analysis also draws on other ATP surveys conducted in recent years, as well as on the Center\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/methods\/fact-sheet\/national-public-opinion-reference-survey-npors\/\">National Public Opinion Reference Surveys (NPORS)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are the <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/12\/PR_2024.01.religious-nones_TOPLINE.pdf\">survey questions being published for the first time as part of this report<\/a>. Other questions discussed in this report were published previously.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, about <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/methods\/fact-sheet\/national-public-opinion-reference-survey-npors\/\">28% of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated<\/a>, describing themselves as atheists, agnostics or \u201cnothing in particular\u201d when asked about their religion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-310-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-80618\" href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/religious-nones-in-america-who-they-are-and-what-they-believe\/pr_2024-01-24_religious_nones_00-01-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f5f5f5\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f5f5f5;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-01.png?resize=480,782 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-01.png?resize=620,1010 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"505\" width=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-01.png?w=310\" alt=\"Chart shows 28% of U.S. adults are now religiously unaffiliated\" class=\"wp-image-80618 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Pew Research Center, we get lots of questions about this group, often called the \u201cnones.\u201d What do \u201cnones\u201d believe? Are they opposed to religion? What are their views about science? Is their growth good or bad for society, and why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our survey data shows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Most \u201cnones\u201d believe in God or another higher power. But very few go to religious services regularly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Most say religion does some harm, but many also think it does some good. They are not uniformly <em>anti<\/em>-religious.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Most \u201cnones\u201d reject the idea that science can explain everything. But they express more positive views of science than religiously affiliated Americans do.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2022\/10\/27\/45-of-americans-say-u-s-should-be-a-christian-nation\/\">Surveys<\/a> have <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2012\/07\/26\/section-2-religion-and-politics\/#influence-on-american-life\">consistently shown<\/a> that many Americans view religion\u2019s declining influence in society as a bad thing. \u201cNones\u201d tend to vote less often, do less volunteer work in their communities and follow public affairs at lower rates than religiously affiliated people do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the latest data shows that on a variety of measures, lower rates of civic engagement are concentrated among \u201cnones\u201d whose religion is \u201cnothing in particular.\u201d Atheists and agnostics tend to participate in civic life at rates matching or exceeding religiously affiliated people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2024\/01\/24\/has-the-rise-of-religious-nones-come-to-an-end-in-the-us\/\">Has the rise of religious \u2018nones\u2019 come to an end in the U.S.?<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are eight of the questions we receive most often, along with brief responses. Click the links for more information, including discussion of differences <em>within<\/em> the population of \u201cnones\u201d (for example, how \u201cnones\u201d who are men compare with those who are women) and <em>between<\/em> \u201cnones\u201d and U.S. adults who identify with a religion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;q1-who-are-the-nones-how-are-they-defined&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"q1-who-are-the-nones-how-are-they-defined\">Q1: Who are the \u2018nones\u2019? How are they defined?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-200-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-80623\" href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/religious-nones-in-america-who-they-are-and-what-they-believe\/pr_2024-01-24_religious_nones_00-02-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"dcdade\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #dcdade;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-02.png?resize=400,744 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"372\" width=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-02.png?w=200\" alt=\"Chart shows most \u2018nones\u2019 describe their religion as \u2018nothing in particular\u2019\" class=\"wp-image-80623 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In public opinion surveys, people who answer a question about their religion by saying they are atheist, agnostic or \u201cnothing in particular\u201d are combined into a category called \u201creligiously unaffiliated\u201d \u2013 now widely known as the \u201cnones.\u201d Scholars of religion in the U.S. have been using the term \u201cnones\u201d since at least the 1960s, and its use has grown common in social scientific journals and the media.[1. Some analysts of religious life in the United States have expressed qualms about connotations of the term \u201cnones.\u201d As sociologist Glenn M. Vernon of the University of Utah <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jstor.org\/stable\/pdf\/1384629.pdf?refreqid=fastly-default%3A2f4f6d6b033575fc88b3ae67a89bcffe&amp;ab_segments=&amp;origin=&amp;initiator=&amp;acceptTC=1\">wrote in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion in 1968<\/a>, \u201cIt provides a negative definition, specifying what a phenomenon is not, rather than what it is. Intentionally or not, such a use implies that only those affiliated with a formal group are religious.\u201d Still, \u201cnones\u201d has become a popular label for religiously unaffiliated people. As a result, while we use \u201cnones\u201d and \u201creligiously unaffiliated people\u201d interchangeably in this report, we put \u201cnones\u201d in quotation marks to indicate it is a colloquialism. We also emphasize (as our data shows) that the absence of a religious affiliation does not necessarily indicate an absence of religious beliefs or practices. On the contrary, as our report makes clear, most \u201cnones\u201d say they believe in God or a higher power.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In our latest data, 17% of \u201cnones\u201d identify as atheist, 20% say they are agnostic and 63% choose \u201cnothing in particular.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Atheists and agnostics, on average, have more education than religiously affiliated Americans. By contrast, people who describe their religion as \u201cnothing in particular\u201d tend to have <em>lower<\/em> levels of educational attainment than religiously affiliated U.S. adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/who-are-the-nones-how-are-they-defined\/\">Jump to more information on the demographics of \u201cnones.\u201d<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;q2-why-are-nones-nonreligious&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"q2-why-are-nones-nonreligious\">Q2: Why are \u2018nones\u2019 nonreligious?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-80629\" href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/religious-nones-in-america-who-they-are-and-what-they-believe\/pr_2024-01-24_religious_nones_00-03-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e2e8eb\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e2e8eb;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-03.png?resize=480,433 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-03.png?resize=782,706 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-03.png?resize=840,758 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"379\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-03.png?w=420\" alt=\"Chart shows most \u2018nones\u2019 cite disbelief or skepticism as reasons they are not religious\" class=\"wp-image-80629 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked directly why they are not religious, two-thirds of \u201cnones\u201d say they question a lot of religious teachings or don\u2019t believe in God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many also bring up criticisms of religious institutions or people, including 47% who say that one extremely or very important reason why they are not religious is that they dislike religious organizations. And 30% say bad experiences they\u2019ve had with religious people help explain why they are nonreligious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/why-are-nones-nonreligious\/\">Jump to more information on why \u201cnones\u201d say they are nonreligious.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;q3-are-nones-less-involved-in-civic-life-than-people-who-identify-with-a-religion&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"q3-are-nones-less-involved-in-civic-life-than-people-who-identify-with-a-religion\">Q3: Are \u2018nones\u2019 less involved in civic life than people who identify with a religion?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By a variety of measures, religious \u201cnones\u201d are less civically engaged and socially connected than people who identify with a religion. On average, they are less likely to vote, less likely to have volunteered lately, less satisfied with their local communities and less satisfied with their social lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-640-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-80635\" href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/religious-nones-in-america-who-they-are-and-what-they-believe\/pr_2024-01-24_religious_nones_00-04-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f4f4f4\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f4f4f4;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-04.png?resize=480,230 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-04.png?resize=782,375 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-04.png?resize=960,461 960w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-04.png?resize=1200,576 1200w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-04.png?resize=1280,614 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"307\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-04.png?w=640\" alt=\"Chart shows \u2018nones,\u2019 on average, are less likely than religiously affiliated Americans to volunteer or vote\" class=\"wp-image-80635 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But on some related questions, the differences between \u201cnones\u201d and religiously affiliated people are modest. For example, 27% of \u201cnones\u201d and 30% of religiously affiliated Americans say they have contacted an elected official or attended a government meeting in the past year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moreover, lower levels of civic engagement tend to be found especially among \u201cnones\u201d who describe their religion as \u201cnothing in particular\u201d \u2013 not among atheists and agnostics. For example, atheists and agnostics turned out to vote in 2022 at rates rivaling those seen among religiously affiliated adults. Those who describe their religion as \u201cnothing in particular\u201d were the only subset of \u201cnones\u201d with lower voter turnout than religiously affiliated people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And on some measures, attendance at religious services (not religious affiliation alone) is the key differentiator between people who are most civically involved and those who are not. For instance, religiously affiliated people who attend religious services at least once a month volunteer at much higher rates (41%) than <em>both<\/em> religiously affiliated people who don\u2019t attend services regularly (17%) <em>and<\/em> \u201cnones\u201d (also 17%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In other words, on some measures, it\u2019s not whether a person identifies with a religion (or not) but whether they <em>actively take part<\/em> in a religious community that best predicts their level of civic engagement. In short, the link between religious disaffiliation and civic engagement is complicated.[2. For more on the link between religion, civic engagement and social trust, refer to Smietana, Bob. 2022. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/en\/book\/show\/59802048\">\u201cReorganized Religion: The Reshaping of the American Church and Why it Matters.\u201d<\/a> Also refer to Stewart, Evan. 2023. <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/not-religious-not-voting-the-nones-are-a-powerful-force-in-politics-but-not-yet-a-coalition-207584\">\u201cNot religious, not voting? The \u2018nones\u2019 are a powerful force in politics \u2013 but not yet a coalition.\u201d<\/a> The Conversation; Campbell, David E., Geoffrey C. Layman and John C. Green. 2021. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/books\/secular-surge\/97F16AA6E64D63718D58AF327100BFE2\">\u201cSecular Surge: A New Fault Line in American Politics\u201d<\/a>; Schwadel, Philip. 2020. <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalcommons.unl.edu\/cgi\/viewcontent.cgi?article=1781&amp;context=sociologyfacpub#:~:text=Religious%20Nones%20are%20more%20liberal,become%20Nones%20(Campbell%20et%20al\">\u201cThe Politics of Religious Nones.\u201d<\/a> Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion; Pew Research Center. 2019. <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2019\/01\/31\/religions-relationship-to-happiness-civic-engagement-and-health-around-the-world\/#fn-31143-6\">\u201cReligion\u2019s Relationship to Happiness, Civic Engagement and Health Around the World\u201d<\/a>; Frost, Jacqui and Penny Edgell. 2018. <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/0899764017746251\">\u201cRescuing Nones From the Reference Category: Civic Engagement Among the Nonreligious in America.\u201d<\/a> Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly; Jansen, Jim. 2011. <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/2011\/12\/23\/the-civic-and-community-engagement-of-religiously-active-americans\/\">\u201cThe Civic and Community Engagement of Religiously Active Americans.\u201d<\/a> Pew Research Center; and Putnam, Robert D. and David E. Campbell. 2010. <a href=\"https:\/\/books.google.com\/books\/about\/American_Grace.html?id=n318r17VWCMC\">\u201cAmerican Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us.\u201d<\/a>] <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/are-nones-less-involved-in-civic-life-than-people-who-identify-with-a-religion\/\"><em>Jump to read more about \u201cnones\u201d and their civic engagement.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;q4-are-all-nones-nonbelievers&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"q4-are-all-nones-nonbelievers\">Q4: Are all \u2018nones\u2019 nonbelievers?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No, not all \u201cnones\u201d are nonbelievers. They are far less likely than religiously affiliated Americans to say they believe in God \u201cas described in the Bible,\u201d but most do believe in God or some other higher power. Just 29% reject the notion that there is <em>any<\/em> higher power or spiritual force in the universe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-640-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-80640\" href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/religious-nones-in-america-who-they-are-and-what-they-believe\/pr_2024-01-24_religious_nones_00-05-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"d9e4ea\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #d9e4ea;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-05.png?resize=480,255 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-05.png?resize=782,415 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-05.png?resize=960,510 960w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-05.png?resize=1200,638 1200w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-05.png?resize=1280,680 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"340\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-05.png?w=640\" alt=\"Chart shows most \u2018nones\u2019 believe in God or higher power, but not in biblical God\" class=\"wp-image-80640 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most \u201cnones\u201d say they were raised in a religion, usually Christianity. Yet today, they tend to be disconnected from religious institutions. Not only have they shaken off religious <em>labels<\/em>, they also have largely shaken off involvement in churches, synagogues, mosques and other religious organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, fully 90% of religious \u201cnones\u201d say they seldom or never go to religious services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/are-all-nones-nonbelievers\/\"><em>Jump to more details about the religious beliefs and practices of \u201cnones.\u201d<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;q5-are-nones-spiritual-instead-of-religious&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"q5-are-nones-spiritual-instead-of-religious\">Q5: Are \u2018nones\u2019 spiritual instead of religious?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2023\/12\/07\/measuring-spirituality\/\">Some \u201cnones\u201d are indeed spiritual<\/a>. About half say spirituality is very important in their lives or say they think of themselves as spiritual. Most \u201cnones\u201d believe animals other than humans can have spirits or spiritual energies \u2013 and many say this is true of parts of nature, such as mountains, rivers or trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-80643\" href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/religious-nones-in-america-who-they-are-and-what-they-believe\/pr_2024-01-24_religious_nones_00-06-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e2e6e9\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e2e6e9;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-06.png?resize=480,267 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-06.png?resize=782,436 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-06.png?resize=840,468 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"234\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-06.png?w=420\" alt=\"Chart shows half of \u2018nones\u2019 say they are spiritual or that spirituality is very important to them\" class=\"wp-image-80643 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But these spiritual identities and beliefs are not unique to \u201cnones.\u201d In fact, by many measures, people who identify with a religion tend to be just as spiritual, or even more spiritual, than \u201cnones.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/are-nones-spiritual-instead-of-religious\/\"><em>Jump to more information about spirituality among \u201cnones.\u201d<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;q6-are-nones-hostile-toward-religion&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"q6-are-nones-hostile-toward-religion\">Q6: Are \u2018nones\u2019 hostile toward religion?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-200-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-80647\" href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/religious-nones-in-america-who-they-are-and-what-they-believe\/pr_2024-01-24_religious_nones_00-07-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"dedddf\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #dedddf;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-07.png?resize=400,752 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"376\" width=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-07.png?w=200\" alt=\"Chart shows 43% of \u2018nones\u2019 say religion\ndoes more harm than\ngood in American society\" class=\"wp-image-80647 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some \u201cnones\u201d have a very negative view of religion, but \u201cnones\u201d on the whole express mixed views rather than outright hostility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most say religion causes a variety of problems in society \u2013 like intolerance or superstition. But many \u201cnones\u201d also say that religion helps give people meaning and purpose, and that it can encourage people to treat each other well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overall, 43% of \u201cnones\u201d say religion does more harm than good in society, while 14% say it does more good than harm; 41% say religion does equal amounts of good and harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/are-nones-hostile-toward-religion\/\"><em>Jump ahead to read more on how \u201cnones\u201d view religion.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;q7-how-do-nones-view-science&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"q7-how-do-nones-view-science\">Q7: How do \u2018nones\u2019 view science?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most \u201cnones\u201d say science does more good than harm in American society, and on average \u201cnones\u201d are much more positive about science than are religiously affiliated people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, most \u201cnones\u201d believe there are limits to what science can do. For example, 44% of \u201cnones\u201d say there is a scientific explanation for everything, while 56% say there are some things science can\u2019t possibly explain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-200-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-80651\" href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/religious-nones-in-america-who-they-are-and-what-they-believe\/pr_2024-01-24_religious_nones_00-08-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e1e0e2\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e1e0e2;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-08.png?resize=400,744 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"372\" width=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-08.png?w=200\" alt=\"Chart shows 56% of \u2018nones\u2019 say\nscience does more good\nthan harm in American\nsociety\" class=\"wp-image-80651 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/how-do-nones-view-science\/\">Read more details about how \u201cnones\u201d view science.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 data-is-section=\"true\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;q8-how-do-nones-think-about-morality&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/table-of-contents&quot;}\" class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"q8-how-do-nones-think-about-morality\">Q8: How do \u2018nones\u2019 think about morality?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-420-wide\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-80657\" href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/religious-nones-in-america-who-they-are-and-what-they-believe\/pr_2024-01-24_religious_nones_00-09-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"e3e1e4\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #e3e1e4;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-09.png?resize=480,413 480w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-09.png?resize=782,672 782w, https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-09.png?resize=840,722 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"361\" width=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious_nones_00-09.png?w=420\" alt=\"Chart shows 83% of \u2018nones\u2019 say desire to not hurt people key to deciding right from wrong\" class=\"wp-image-80657 not-transparent\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The vast majority of \u201cnones\u201d say it is possible to be moral and have good values without believing in God. Most religiously affiliated people agree, though by a smaller margin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked how they decide between right and wrong, 83% of \u201cnones\u201d say the desire to avoid hurting other people is a key factor. And 82% of \u201cnones\u201d say logic and reason are extremely or very important when they decide between right and wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/how-do-nones-think-about-morality\/\">Read more on how \u201cnones\u201d think about morality.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Much of the analysis in this report comes from a Pew Research Center survey conducted July 31-Aug. 6, 2023, among 11,201 respondents who are members of the Center\u2019s American Trends Panel (ATP). The survey included interviews with 3,317 religious \u201cnones\u201d (658 atheists, 678 agnostics and 1,981 respondents who describe their religion as \u201cnothing in particular\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to the July 31-Aug. 6, 2023, survey, this analysis also draws on a variety of other <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/our-methods\/u-s-surveys\/the-american-trends-panel\/\">ATP surveys<\/a> conducted in recent years, as well as on the Center\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/methods\/fact-sheet\/national-public-opinion-reference-survey-npors\/\">National Public Opinion Reference Surveys (NPORS)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explore the questions above in more detail:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Who are the \u2018nones\u2019? How are they defined? (<a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/who-are-the-nones-how-are-they-defined\/\">Chapter 1<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Why are \u2018nones\u2019 nonreligious? (<a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/why-are-nones-nonreligious\/\">Chapter 2<\/a>)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are \u2018nones\u2019 less involved in civic life than people who identify with a religion? (<a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/are-nones-less-involved-in-civic-life-than-people-who-identify-with-a-religion\/\">Chapter 3<\/a>)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are all \u2018nones\u2019 nonbelievers? (<a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/are-all-nones-nonbelievers\/\">Chapter 4<\/a>)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are \u2018nones\u2019 spiritual instead of religious? (<a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/are-nones-spiritual-instead-of-religious\/\">Chapter 5<\/a>)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are \u2018nones\u2019 hostile toward religion? (<a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/are-nones-hostile-toward-religion\/\">Chapter 6<\/a>)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How do \u2018nones\u2019 view science? (<a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/how-do-nones-view-science\/\">Chapter 7<\/a>)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How do \u2018nones\u2019 think about morality? (<a href=\"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/how-do-nones-think-about-morality\/\">Chapter 8<\/a>)&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>28% of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated, describing themselves as atheists, agnostics or \u201cnothing in particular\u201d when asked about their religion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":581,"featured_media":80662,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sub_headline":"A closer look at how atheists, agnostics and those who describe their religion as \u2018nothing in particular\u2019 see God, religion, morality, science and more","sub_title":"A closer look at how atheists, agnostics and those who describe their religion as \u2018nothing in particular\u2019 see God, religion, morality, science and 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Are all \u2018nones\u2019 nonbelievers?","slug":"are-all-nones-nonbelievers","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/are-all-nones-nonbelievers\/","is_active":false},{"id":69533,"title":"5. Are \u2018nones\u2019 spiritual instead of religious?","slug":"are-nones-spiritual-instead-of-religious","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/are-nones-spiritual-instead-of-religious\/","is_active":false},{"id":69490,"title":"6. Are \u2018nones\u2019 hostile toward religion?","slug":"are-nones-hostile-toward-religion","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/are-nones-hostile-toward-religion\/","is_active":false},{"id":69480,"title":"7. How do \u2018nones\u2019 view science?","slug":"how-do-nones-view-science","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/how-do-nones-view-science\/","is_active":false},{"id":69513,"title":"8. How do \u2018nones\u2019 think about morality?","slug":"how-do-nones-think-about-morality","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/how-do-nones-think-about-morality\/","is_active":false},{"id":69524,"title":"Acknowledgments","slug":"religious-nones-acknowledgments","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/religious-nones-acknowledgments\/","is_active":false},{"id":69542,"title":"Methodology","slug":"religious-nones-methodology","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/religious-nones-methodology\/","is_active":false}],"report_materials":[{"key":"_d7flzw5fv","type":"topline","attachmentId":40410,"url":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/12\/PR_2024.01.religious-nones_TOPLINE.pdf","label":"","icon":""},{"key":"_a26zhlq83","type":"report","attachmentId":80676,"url":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/01\/PR_2024.01.24_religious-nones_REPORT.pdf","label":"","icon":""},{"type":"dataset","id":2445,"label":"American Trends Panel Wave 132","url":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/dataset\/american-trends-panel-wave-132\/"}],"report_pagination":{"current_post":{"id":69466,"title":"Religious \u2018Nones\u2019 in America: Who They Are and What They Believe","slug":"religious-nones-in-america-who-they-are-and-what-they-believe","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/religious-nones-in-america-who-they-are-and-what-they-believe\/","is_active":true,"page_num":1},"next_post":{"id":69429,"title":"1. Who are the \u2018nones\u2019? How are they defined?","slug":"who-are-the-nones-how-are-they-defined","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/who-are-the-nones-how-are-they-defined\/","is_active":false,"page_num":2},"previous_post":null,"pagination_items":[{"id":69466,"title":"Religious \u2018Nones\u2019 in America: Who They Are and What They Believe","slug":"religious-nones-in-america-who-they-are-and-what-they-believe","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/religious-nones-in-america-who-they-are-and-what-they-believe\/","is_active":true,"page_num":1},{"id":69429,"title":"1. Who are the \u2018nones\u2019? How are they defined?","slug":"who-are-the-nones-how-are-they-defined","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/who-are-the-nones-how-are-they-defined\/","is_active":false,"page_num":2},{"id":69444,"title":"2. 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