On Tuesday, the following report was released from the Pew Research Center:<\/p>\n
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\u201cNones\u201d on the Rise<\/strong><\/p>\n One-in-Five Adults Have No Religious Affiliation<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe number of Americans who do not identify with any religion continues to grow at a rapid pace.\u00a0 One-fifth of the U.S. public \u2013 and a third of adults under 30 \u2013 are religiously unaffiliated today, the highest percentages ever in Pew Research Center polling.\u00a0 In the last five years alone, the unaffiliated have increased from just over 15% to just under 20% of all U.S. adults.\u00a0 Their ranks now include more than 13 million self-described atheists and agnostics (nearly 6% of the U.S. public), as well as nearly 33 million people who say they have no particular religious affiliation (14%).<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n This large and growing group of Americans is less religious than the public at large on many conventional measures, including frequency of attendance at religious services and the degree of importance they attach to religion in their lives.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n However, a new survey by the Pew Research Center\u2019s Forum on Religion & Public Life, conducted jointly with the PBS television program Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, finds that many of the country\u2019s 46 million unaffiliated adults are religious or spiritual in some way.\u00a0 Two-thirds of them say they believe in God (68%).\u00a0 More than half say they often feel a deep connection with nature and the earth (58%), while more than a third classify themselves as \u2018spiritual\u2019 but not \u2018religious\u2019 (37%), and one-in-five (21%) say they pray every day.\u00a0 In addition, most religiously unaffiliated Americans think that churches and other religious institutions benefit society by strengthening community bonds and aiding the poor.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n With few exceptions, though, the unaffiliated say they are not looking for a religion that would be right for them.\u00a0 Overwhelmingly, they think that religious organizations are too concerned with money and power, too focused on rules and too involved in politics.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Without thinking too extensively or deeply, the Intramuralist can easily conjure up a spontaneous \u2018amen.\u2019\u00a0 Religious organizations have<\/em> focused too much on rules and have<\/em> been too involved in politics.\u00a0 Religious organizations haven\u2019t always been good at communicating the grace and forgiveness that accompanies the faith, and…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n … but wait…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Not all \u201creligious organizations\u201d nor \u201creligions\u201d actually contain a doctrine of grace.\u00a0 And regarding this massive involvement \u2013 this too tangled up in politics idea \u2013 not all religions respect a government separated from faith.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fascinatingly, therefore, is the study of religion.\u00a0 Only through objective study do we see that in Islam, for example, there exists no separation of church and state; that\u2019s why many remain legitimately concerned about the rise of Islamic governance, as witnessed by the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.\u00a0 Yet as we contrast the truths of Christianity, I see a call to respect both government and the faith.\u00a0 I also see massive, unparalleled amounts of grace called to be applied… given to us… exhorted to give to one another.\u00a0 Then arises a seemingly huge \u201ca-Ha!\u201d \u2013 observing that it\u2019s typically some of the \u201creligious\u201d who are more unattractive than the actual \u201creligion.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yet as I allow myself to think both more extensively and deeply about the Pew report, I find my \u201camen\u201d quickly subsiding, unfortunately ceding to an instead, sobering sadness.\u00a0 One in five.\u00a0 That could be one person in our households.\u00a0 Two or three in our extended family.\u00a0 Five in our small business.\u00a0 The people that we meet on the street each day.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So I continue with objective analysis.\u00a0 It is then that I become uncomfortable with a promotion of government that in its embracing of constitutional adherence believes any mention of faith is inappropriate.\u00a0 In other words, I wonder if our government\u2019s often strict separation \u2013 as increasingly evidenced in the judicial branch \u2013 has swung the pendulum of moderation so far the other way that now not only is there separation between church and state, but we are to give no mention… no credit… no even remote acknowledgement that the God of the universe might actually have something to do with what\u2019s happening on planet Earth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And we wonder why the \u201cnones\u201d are on the rise…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I don\u2019t have to wonder too much more nor too extensively nor deeply.\u00a0 If as a nation, we cannot even mention the importance religion has played in this country, it\u2019s no wonder we have trouble doing the same in our own lives.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Respectfully…<\/p>\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On Tuesday, the following report was released from the Pew Research Center: \u201cNones\u201d on the Rise One-in-Five Adults Have No Religious Affiliation \u201cThe number of Americans who do not identify with any religion continues to grow at a rapid pace.\u00a0 One-fifth of the U.S. public \u2013 and a third of adults under 30 … <\/p>\n