National religion survey finds increase in secularity

The percentage of self-identified Christians declines.

By Ryan Bueckendorf

Published April 23, 2009

The U.S., while founded on principles of religious freedom, has been intertwined socially and politically with Christianity for more than two centuries.

But the American Religious Identification Survey has indicated the percentage of Christian Americans has fallen from more than 86 percent in 1990 to 76 percent in 2008, despite a 50 million increase in overall population.

Christian populations fell in older parts of the country such as New England (50 percent to 36 percent) and New York (44 percent to 37 percent), though in relatively newer states such as California and Texas, Christians rose from 29 percent to 37 percent and 23 percent to 32 percent, respectively. In Missouri, the percentage fell from 89 percent to 79 percent.

This drop is not born out of significant growth of any of the other major religions but rather an increase in those who identify with no religion whatsoever: 20 percent of those surveyed did not designate a religious identification.

MU religious studies professor Richard Callahan said there has been a growth of religious diversity in the U.S.

"A decline in the overall percentage of Christians does not necessarily mean a decline in religion," Callahan said.

Barry Kosmin, director of the Institute for the Study of Secularism in Society at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., and co-author of the ARIS study, said he views the results as depicting a decline in homogeneity of religion in America, especially among youth.

Jen Nadler, a sophomore who identifies herself as an atheist, said she believes the reason for this decline is an influx of knowledge about world religions and different cultures.

"I believe when a person sees that all of these religious possibilities have begun to co-exist peacefully in the U.S., they begin to disregard the notion that they must choose one religion as right or wrong all together," Nadler said.

Kosmin said much of the survey's results indicated there is a decreasing level of conformity among American religious affiliation.

"Lack of conformity makes people stream off in all directions," he said.

Kosmin cited less involvement among youth in traditional religious institutions, such as marriage and church groups, as well as an embrace of non-traditional arrangements, such as same-sex marriage.

He said young people today are getting married less and later in life than previous generations.

Sophomore John Murray sees a similar trend. Murray, who identifies himself as Christian, believes the results of the ARIS study indicate that members of younger generations seek more diverse ways to worship.

"Many people are beginning to believe that there are many ways to God," Murray said. "They view Jesus' claim to be the only way as too narrow."

Opinions vary as to what this shift in statistics means for America.

Nadler does not believe the American religious establishment is in jeopardy. She said she hopes American politics can become more focused on ideas and experience of candidates and politicians rather than denomination.

As an atheist, Nadler considers herself to be in the minority, saying many of her friends are openly religious. Also, she said several of her friends are equally open about having no religion.

"It seems a recurring theme of openness to different beliefs, which is different from the area I lived in back home," she said, referring to North County in the St. Louis area.

Murray said he feels the effects of a shift towards secularity are far more apparent on a college campus than elsewhere.

"College is a pivotal time when people either really start accepting their faith, or they completely fall away," Murray said.