Axios PM, By Mike Allen: 1 Big Thing: Religion’s Downfall!

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Axios PM,
By Mike Allen,
October 6, 2023!

 Happy Friday! Today’s PM — edited by Noah Bressner —
is 563 words, a 2-min. read.

Thanks to Sheryl Miller for the copy edit.

Axios PM

1 big thing: Religion’s downfall

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

PRESENTED BY META

1 big thing: Religion’s downfall

There’s a global, fast-growing population of people without a religion, Axios’ Erica Pandey writes from a new AP-NORC Poll.

• Why it matters: Religion has long been a powerful force in society, touching politics, art and daily life. The rise of nonbelievers is diminishing its influence.

 By the numbers: 3 in 10 U.S. adults said they had no religious affiliation.

• About half of them identify as atheist or agnostic. The other half say their religion is “nothing in particular.”

The shift away from religion is even starker among younger adults: 43% of 18- to 29-year-old Americans responded “none” when asked which religion they follow.

• But fewer than 20% of U.S. adults over 60 are “nones.”

 The trend is also gaining momentum across the world, AP reports from several countries:

•  In Japan, 70% of people in Japan say they have nonreligious feelings.

•  Nearly 80% of Italians say they’re Catholic. But most view it as a tradition, with fewer than 20% attending services weekly.

•  Israel, a country with about 7 million Jews, is remarkably nonreligious: Just 33% said they practiced “traditional” religious worship. Conflict between secular and ultra-religious Israelis has grown in recent years.

 Reality check:
Organized religion remains a key source of community for many Americans, with two-thirds of U.S. adults identifying as Christian,
according to the Pew Research Center.

• As recently as the 1990s that share was 90%.

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