Share

This is the sixth of a new series entitled Mayfly Meanderings. It refers to reflections on books, manuscripts, presentations, research, articles, and other information and knowledge which I find interesting. I hope these lead to greater wisdom for you and me both.

Read Part One HERE on more than survey research and the limits of survey research.

Read Part Two HERE on decline of Christianity, rise of non-denominationalism, and evangelical trends.

Read Part Three HERE on Mainline Protestantism and high expectations vs. low expectations.

Read Part Four HERE on Black Baptists and the Miscount, and the Disappearance of Judaism.

Read Part Five HERE on Mormons, and Aging vs. Young Families.

Book: Ryan P. Burge. The American Religious Landscape: Facts, Trends, and the Future. New York: Oxford University Press, 2025. See this book HERE.

MM Twelve—Atheists, Agnostics, and Nothing in Particular:

Ryan Burge, the author of the book around which these observations are being made, is a key influencer in assessing the umbrella issue of Nones in our society. He is also one who helps us see distinctions between atheists, agnostics, and those who say they are nothing in particular.

My insights in this post build on the factoids he shares with us. I place emphasis on understanding the subcategory of “Nothing in Particular”

“The share of Americans who claim to be an atheist or agnostic by belief and affiliation is somewhere between 12% and 15% [216]

“People who identify as nothing in particular are not classified as secular. Instead, they are seen as nonreligious. They have walked away from a religious worldview but have not replaced it with anything else. Nothing in particular are defined by what they are not, not by what they are.” [232-33]

“At the current growth rate for nothing in particulars and the current rate of decline for Protestants, it’s probable that nothing in particulars will be the plurality choice of Americans in the next fifteen or twenty years.” [234]

“Nothing in particulars are opting out of more parts of American society than religion alone.” [239]

Among nothing in particulars there are signs of hope for possible spiritual conversations with them. “Just 8% of nothing in particulars definitely said that God doesn’t exist, and another 22% said that there was no way to find out if God existed or not. This means that 70% of nothing in particulars express at least some level of belief in the Divine.” [243]

Twenty percent of nothing in particulars expressed a certain belief in God. [243]

At the same time, part of the resistance to Christianity comes in the form of beliefs that religion causes more problems in society than it solves. Eighty-eight percent of atheists believe this, 72% of agnostics, and 60% of nothing in particulars. Protestants are not totally immune to this perspective with 22% believing religion causes more problems than it solves. [246]

“Nothing in particulars are easily the least educated religious group in the United States today, by a significant margin.” [238] Forty-seven percent have a high school diploma or less. [237]

Seven percent of nothing in particulars have a postgraduate degree. Twelve percent of Protestants, 31% of Jews, and 38% of Hindus have a post graduate degree. [203]

We often talk about congregations being a great place to experience warm and caring community. “Nothing in particulars are rejecting . . . opportunities to build ties with others in their community and thus suppressing social capital. This could have long-term implications for American religion.” [248]

Thus, I [George Bullard] suspect the “come and see” approach of many congregations will totally miss the nothing in particulars. It will take a “go, engage, and share” approach with nothing in particulars within their real time social networks where they gather either virtually or physically.

Next: MM Thirteen is a Final Mayfly Meandering on this Book—The Future of American Religion.

Leave a comment

OR . . .