According to the 2014 Religious Landscape Study by the Pew Research Center, more than one-fifth of all Americans, and 35% of adults under 30, are religiously unaffiliated. This means that “Nones,” more than 47 million Americans, are the third-largest minority “religious” group. We account for more Americans than Buddhists, Jews, Muslims, and Hindus combined. We are also the fastest growing religious affiliation. In the last five years alone, the “Nones” have increased from just 16% to 23% of all U.S. adults.
These “Nones” have a complex diversity of views. A more in-depth study by the Public Religion Research Institute revealed the religiously unaffiliated includes more than 14 million nontheists, self-described atheists and agnostics, totaling nearly 7% of the U.S. public. It also represents 18 million self-described “seculars” who describe themselves as not religious.
In Connecticut the “Nones” are the second largest “religious” demographic, surpassed only by Catholics. According to the 2014 survey by Pew, 46% of Connecticotians do not express an absolute belief in God,
However, being nonreligious is not always easy in a Christian-dominated society. Most nontheists seek only the respect of their neighbors and their government, and the “Nones” continue to fight to not be marginalized by attempts by religious organizations to codify and legalize religion in government.
The Secular Coalition for Connecticut urges members of the General Assembly and other officials to remember their nontheistic constituents and set a positive example of inclusiveness by:
- Specifically including nontheists and those without religion when talking about or listing different groups of people. When leaders set an example, others listen and follow.
- Stopping the sponsorship and support of legislation and resolutions that are solely based on religious dogma and for religious supporters.
- Inviting nontheist groups to constituent meetings and town halls to ensure balanced representation.