the number of americans with no religion doubled

boracay · #1 02-23-2007, 02:02 AM

'The American Religious Identification Survey in 2001 estimated that 29 million Americans had no religion, double the number from 1990.'

Is this good or bad?

kurto · #2 02-23-2007, 03:15 AM

its very positive

Johnny Drama · #3 02-23-2007, 03:17 AM

what was the increase %wise from 1990 to the latest available data?

example: in 1990, 5% of Americans identified with "no religion", in 2006, _% of Americans say they have "no religion".

vhawk01 · #4 02-23-2007, 03:21 AM

[ QUOTE ]
what was the increase %wise from 1990 to the latest available data?

example: in 1990, 5% of Americans identified with "no religion", in 2006, _% of Americans say they have "no religion".

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I'd guess 8-9%? What is the population growth in the US? 1%?

Duke · #5 02-23-2007, 03:33 AM

Just to round things nicely, it's about 6% to 10%. So it's about a 4% increase.

The question I have is if the "actual" number is higher, or lower? I'm thinking that anyone who puts nothing is really nothing, but some de facto "nothings" will list a religion for various social, familial, and political reasons.

testaaja · #6 02-23-2007, 06:00 AM

I think that the number of people with no religion in finland doubles like every year. I think it's very positive.

MidGe · #7 02-23-2007, 06:50 AM

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it is very positive

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Now we only need policies to follow suit!

kurto · #8 02-23-2007, 11:31 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
it is very positive

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Now we only need policies to follow suit!

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Still a minority. Since the irrational won't be led by the minority....

Brenner Hayes · #9 02-23-2007, 11:39 AM

Two more double-ups (which would get us to about 1/3 of the population) and I think we could hit a tipping point. When one out of three people in any conversation can point out the absurdities of these foolish fairy tales and feel quite secure in doing so because of being in such a sizable minority, the entire house of cards could crumble in no time.

This is a very good thing in my opinion.

djames · #10 02-23-2007, 11:50 AM

It's one thing to state on a harmless population survey that you don't believe in religion, and it's quite another thing to fight for no religion in matters of public policy. I highly doubt that 100% of such voters would fight for that belief. On the flop side, I find it much easier to believe that 100% of religious voters would fight for their beliefs.