Latest news with #PennyEdgell
Axios
06-03-2025
- General
- Axios
Study: Virginia is becoming less Christian
Fewer Virginians are attending church or identifying as Christian, per new 2023-24 Pew Research Center data. The big picture: "This is a broad-based social change," says Alan Cooperman, the director of religion research at the Pew Research Center. "We've had rising shares of people who don't identify with any religion — so called 'nones' — and declining shares who identify as Christian, in all parts of the country, in all parts of the population, by ethnicity and race, among both men and women, and among people at all levels of the educational spectrum," he says about the survey findings. Caveat: What researchers call a "secular surge" has plateaued in the last four years. By the numbers: 62% of Virginia residents identified as Christian in 2024, according to Pew's Religious Landscape Study. That's down from 73% in 2014. Meanwhile, 28% of residents say they are not affiliated with a religion, up from 20% in 2014. The number of Jewish Virginians is around 2%, up from 1% on 2014. Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu Virginians remained relatively flat at around 1% each. Fun fact: A quarter of Virginians who identify as Christian are Evangelical Protestant, the largest Christian denomination sub-sect in the state, followed by Mainline Protestant, how 14% of Christian Virginians worship. Zoom out: Nationally, 29% of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated, up from 16% in 2007, according to Pew. And 7% of U.S. adults identify with other religions, up from 5% in 2007. Between the lines: A significant portion of U.S. adults (35%) have switched religion since childhood, according to the study. What we're hearing: "It's not surprising," Penny Edgell, professor in the sociology department at University of Minnesota, tells Axios. "I think if you're more progressive, you might look at religion and say that the mainstream religious institutions don't reflect my values," particularly when it comes to topics like LGBTQ+ inclusion, she says. Case in point: Fewer self-described liberals say they're Christian (37% — down from 62% in 2007) than are religiously unaffiliated, according to the Pew data. There's been a much smaller decline among self-described conservatives: from 89% identifying as Christian to 82%.
Axios
05-03-2025
- General
- Axios
Fewer North Carolinians identify as religious, new survey shows
North Carolinians are less likely to identify as Christian now compared to a decade ago, per a new study. The big picture: "This is a broad-based social change," says Alan Cooperman, the director of religion research at the Pew Research Center. "We've had rising shares of people who don't identify with any religion — so called 'nones' — and declining shares who identify as Christian, in all parts of the country, in all parts of the population, by ethnicity and race, among both men and women, and among people at all levels of the educational spectrum," he says about the survey findings. Driving the news: What researchers call a "secular surge" has plateaued in the last four years, however. Nationally, the number of people who identify as Christian had been declining for more than a decade before the downward trend starting slowing in 2019, the New York Times reports. After reaching a low point of 60% in 2022, the number has grown slightly in recent years. Zoom in: Close to 70% of North Carolinians identify as Christian — more than the national average, but still down 8% from a decade ago, according to Pew's Religious Landscape Study that surveyed more than 35,000 Americans about religious and social beliefs. Around 26% percent of adults here are religiously unaffiliated, with 17% identifying as "nothing in particular." Zoom out: Nationally, 29% of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated, up from 16% in 2007, according to Pew. And 7% of U.S. adults identify with other religions, up from 5% in 2007. Between the lines: A significant portion of U.S. adults (35%) have switched religion since childhood, according to the study. What we're hearing: "It's not surprising," Penny Edgell, professor in the sociology department at University of Minnesota, tells Axios. "I think if you're more progressive, you might look at religion and say that the mainstream religious institutions don't reflect my values," particularly when it comes to topics like LGBTQ+ inclusion, she says. Case in point: Fewer self-described liberals say they're Christian (37% — down from 62% in 2007) than are religiously unaffiliated, according to the Pew data. There's been a much smaller decline among self-described conservatives: from 89% identifying as Christian to 82%.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
What reality TV can teach us about young people and religion
This article was first published in the State of Faith newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each Monday night. I spent most of last week thinking about and talking about and writing about Pew Research Center's major new study on the American religious landscape. As you've probably heard by now, the study revealed the rise of religious 'nones' and corresponding decline in the U.S. Christian population has stabilized. As of 2024, 62% of American adults identified as Christian and 29% said they were religiously unaffiliated. Those figures are nearly unchanged since 2019. Pew also found that interest and belief in spiritual concepts has remained high even as it's become less common to attend church or identify as religious. Eighty-six percent of U.S. adults believe people have a soul or spirit in addition to a physical body, 83% believe in God or a universal spirit and 79% believe there is something spiritual beyond the natural world, according to the survey. During Pew's press briefing on Feb. 19, a sociologist who consulted on the study emphasized those 'remarkable' numbers and noted that they likely stem, at least in part, from spirituality's emergence in public spaces that were once entirely secular. Today, you don't have to go to a house of worship to hear about caring for your soul or connecting with a higher power. Those ideas are front and center during mindfulness lectures at libraries, chats with humanist chaplains on college campuses and in the self-help books on sale at the airport. 'There are plenty of places where spiritual practices are being maintained outside of religious institutions,' said Penny Edgell, who works at the University of Minnesota. The list of places includes the world of reality TV. As I've watched the current seasons of 'The Bachelor' and 'Love is Blind,' I've been struck by how many of the contestants embody the trends described in Pew's report. They're interested in God but only loosely connected with religious institutions. They talk about faith but not necessarily having a religion. They are clear about not wanting to judge people from different religious backgrounds. To traditional believers, these characteristics might be off-putting. But religion experts say faith leaders should learn to embrace them if they want to see religious institutions grow. 'To the extent that religious communities can address spiritual concerns, they may very well draw people back in. If that happens, the pause (in the decline of organized religion) will become a plateau and the plateau may ultimately become growth,' John C. Green, a political scientist at the University of Akron who consulted with Pew on the new study, told me. The biggest surprise in a major new report on American religion Short on time? Here are key takeaways from Pew's huge new religion study Survey shows Utah's religious landscape is slightly different than you might guess Best actor winner tosses gum then thanks God Conservative commentators thought this speech was the best part of the Oscars Latter-day Saints were in a 'Bachelor'-sized spotlight last week The Mennonites are a small Anabaptist denomination. Think of them like a sibling or cousin to the Amish. Like other Anabaptists, many Mennonites — but not all — avoid modern conveniences like smartphones and view certain secular institutions, such as public schools, with suspicion. 'Some Mennonites have largely assimilated into mainstream culture and dress, with a focus on working for peace and social justice in the larger society. Other Mennonites maintain traditions similar to the Amish, with tight-knit, separatist communities marked by such things as limited technology, nonviolence, male leadership and traditional dress, including women's head coverings,' per The Associated Press. Mennonites in Texas are currently being scrutinized as the state deals with a measles outbreak. While the faith group does not officially oppose vaccination, many members either avoid vaccines or fall behind on the typical sequence because of skepticism about modern medicine. 'More culturally conservative Mennonite (and Amish) groups have tended to be under-immunized or partially-immunized,' said Steven Nolt, professor of history and Anabaptist Studies at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania, to the AP. Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the Christian holiday that marks the start of the season of Lent. Since Pope Francis remains hospitalized, the Vatican is adjusting its typical Ash Wednesday events. 'The Pope usually begins the Ash Wednesday 'stational' liturgy at the church of Sant'Anselmo before leading a penitential procession to the Basilica of Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill, where he celebrates Mass. Since Pope Francis is in Rome's Gemelli Hospital to receive treatment for bilateral pneumonia, he has delegated (Cardinal Angelo De Donatis) to preside in his place,' Vatican News reported. June will mark the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. But marriage law isn't as settled as you might think — lawmakers in at least nine states are working to overturn the 2015 ruling, according to NBC News. A couple of weeks ago, I highlighted Ross Douthat's argument in favor of organized religion. Now, I'm sharing an article from The Atlantic that explores how his argument landed with an atheist. Grab your calendar. We now know the dates for oral arguments for the Supreme Court's three upcoming religious freedom cases. Monday, March 31: Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Labor & Industry Review Commission Tuesday, April 22: Mahmoud v. Taylor Wednesday, April 30: Oklahoma Charter School Board v. Drummond Happy seventh anniversary to my husband, Mike!
Axios
04-03-2025
- General
- Axios
Religion isn't important to most Bay Area residents, Pew study finds
Californians — and San Franciscans — are more likely to identify as religiously unaffiliated now compared to a decade ago, per a new study. The big picture: "This is a broad-based social change," says Alan Cooperman, the director of religion research at the Pew Research Center. What they're saying:"We've had rising shares of people who don't identify with any religion — so called 'nones' — and declining shares who identify as Christian ... in all parts of the population, by ethnicity and race, among both men and women, and among people at all levels of the educational spectrum," he says about the survey findings. Caveat: What researchers call a "secular surge" has plateaued in the last four years. By the numbers: In California, 55% of adults identify as Christians, down from 63% in 2014 and 71% in 2007, according to Pew's Religious Landscape Study, which surveyed more than 35,000 Americans about religious and social beliefs. Meanwhile, 33% of California adults say they're religiously unaffiliated, up from 27% in 2014 and 21% in 2007. Interestingly, the share of Californians who identify with other religions — including Judaism, Islam and Buddhism — has largely remained the same across the decades at 8-9%. Zoom in: In the San Francisco metro area, 46% of adults identify as Christian, a slight downtick from 48% in 2014. (No data for 2007 was provided.) 42% say they're religiously unaffiliated, compared to 35% in 2014. At the same time, the share of people who identify with religions other than Christianity dropped from 15% to 11% over the decade. The intrigue: A majority (54%) of adults in the San Francisco metro area now say religion is not too/not at all important in their life. That stat was 40% in 2014. Yes, but: "It's not surprising," Penny Edgell, professor in the sociology department at University of Minnesota, tells Axios. "I think if you're more progressive, you might look at religion and say that the mainstream religious institutions don't reflect my values," particularly when it comes to topics like LGBTQ+ inclusion, she says. Between the lines: A significant portion of U.S. adults (35%) have switched religion since childhood, according to the study. Case in point: Nationwide fewer self-described liberals say they're Christian (37% — down from 62% in 2007) than are religiously unaffiliated, according to the Pew data. There's been a much smaller decline among self-described conservatives: from 89% identifying as Christian to 82%. Zoom out: Nationally, 29% of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated, up from 16% in 2007, according to Pew.
Axios
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Non-religious 'nones' are on the rise, study shows
The U.S. has become much less Christian, driven in large part by Gen Z and younger Millennials, according to a new Pew study. Why it matters: "This is a broad-based social change," says Alan Cooperman, the director of religion research at the Pew Research Center. "We've had rising shares of people who don't identify with any religion — so-called 'nones' — and declining shares who identify as Christian, in all parts of the country, in all parts of the population, by ethnicity and race, among both men and women, and among people at all levels of the educational spectrum," he says about the survey findings. By the numbers: Fewer than half of 18- to 29-year olds identify as Christian (45%), and nearly the same portion have no religious affiliation (44%), according to Pew's Religious Landscape Study, which surveyed more than 35,000 Americans. Meanwhile, 78% of those 65 and older identify as Christian. Religiously unaffiliated adults came in at 29%, up from 16% in 2007, according to the study. And 7% of U.S. adults identify with other religions, up from 5% in 2007. Caveat: What researchers call a "secular surge" has plateaued in the last four years. Between the lines: A significant portion of U.S. adults (35%) have switched from the religion of their childhood. What we're hearing: "It's not surprising," Penny Edgell, professor in the sociology department at the University of Minnesota, tells Axios. "If you're more progressive, you might look at religion and say that the mainstream religious institutions don't reflect my values," particularly when it comes to topics like LGBTQ+ inclusion, she says. Case in point: Fewer self-described liberals say they're Christian (37%, down from 62% in 2007) than are religiously unaffiliated, according to the Pew data. The decline among self-described conservatives is smaller, from 89% to 82%.
