America is becoming increasingly secular

 (Photo: Unsplash/Samuel Branch)

The US is becoming increasingly secular, with the number of Americans without any religion increasing year after year.

At the same time, fewer Americans are identifying as Christian, according to polling by Pew Research Center. 

Around three in 10 US adults (29%) are religious "nones" - those who identify as atheist, agnostic or "nothing in particular" - 6 percentage points higher than five years ago and 10 points higher than a decade ago. 

Self-identified Christians account for just under two thirds (63%) of the adult population - down from over three quarters (78%) in 2007. 

The poll of over 3,900 US adults found the decline most concentrated among Protestants. Four in 10 Americans identify as Protestant, down 4 percentage points in five years and 10 points in the last decade. 

By comparison, just over a fifth (21%) describe themselves as Catholic, the same proportion as in 2014. 

Of those who identified as Protestant, a majority (60%) said they thought of themselves as "born-again or evangelical Christian". 

Overall, the proportion of Americans who identify as evangelical Protestant has fallen by 6 percentage points since 2007 to just under a quarter (24%) of US adults. 

Protestants who do not identify as evangelical have experienced a similar decline from 22% to 16% in the same time frame. 

The number of Americans who say they pray daily has also steadily fallen in the last 14 years from over half the population (58%) to 45% today. 

Mirroring this change, only four in 10 Americans say religion is "very important" in their lives, compared with 56% who said the same in 2007. 

"The secularizing shifts evident in American society so far in the 21st century show no signs of slowing," Pew said. 

News
'Light of hope for us': Christmas lights illuminate Bethlehem and Jerusalem for the first time in two years
'Light of hope for us': Christmas lights illuminate Bethlehem and Jerusalem for the first time in two years

Bethlehem and Jerusalem have ushered in the Christmas season with public celebrations and glittering lights for the first time in two years, marking a poignant moment of hope in cities still grappling with the humanitarian and economic fallout of the Gaza war.

Church of England bishops were right to halt same-sex blessing plans - Bishop of Winchester 
Church of England bishops were right to halt same-sex blessing plans - Bishop of Winchester 

The Bishop of Winchester has defended the recent decision of the House of Bishops to pause plans to introduce standalone same-sex blessing services. 

Protecting girls and young women in the digital age
Protecting girls and young women in the digital age

It’s a missional priority for us as Christian communities to have open discussions about both the benefits and downsides of being online.

Rev Dr Richard Turnbull: former principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford
Rev Dr Richard Turnbull: former principal of Wycliffe Hall, Oxford

Richard Turnbull brought an unusual combination of skills to his life’s work. He died on 26 October, aged 65, having been diagnosed with terminal cancer.