Despite Gallup Survey, Signs Point to Nonreligious America

Young Americans Point to a Secular Future of America

For immediate release January 10, 2013
Contact: Jesse Galef, [email protected], 614-441-9588 x101

Columbus, OH - Despite a recent survey finding a slowed increase in the percent of Americans claiming no religion, signs among its younger citizens point to a more secular future for the country.  The Gallup Daily tracking survey reported this morning that the percent claiming no religion increased by its smallest amount since the survey began, rising only 0.3% in the past year.  It had increased 1.1% in each of the past two years.  A spokesman for the Secular Student Alliance says the "rise of the nones" is still going strong, citing the growth of secular students and youth.

The Secular Student Alliance, a national nonprofit which supports nonreligious students, currently supports 394 campus groups for nonreligious students, up from 310 a year ago.  Surveys have repeatedly found that Americans 18-29 are the least religious generation of Americans, and Gallup found them to be almost three times as likely to be unaffiliated with religion as senior citizens, 27% compared to 10%.

"Anyone hoping for the Secular American population to slow down is going to be disappointed," said Jesse Galef, Communications Director for the Secular Student Alliance. "With demographic patterns like these, which way do you think the country is going?  America is trending secular, and the youth are leading the way."

Galef also pointed out that the Gallup survey didn't count Americans under the age of 18, a demographic where the Secular Student Alliance has seen a dramatic increase of interest.  At the end of the Fall 2012 semester, they supported over 60 campus groups at high schools - double what they had a year ago.

The Gallup Daily tracking started in 2008 and encompasses about 350,000 interviews a year.  On the question of religious preference, the percent of those answering 'no religion', 'don't know', or refused to answer the question has increased every year the survey has been conducted and currently stands at 17.8%.  This year marks the smallest increase since the survey began.

More information can be found at http://www.gallup.com/poll/159785/rise-religious-nones-slows-2012.aspx