A new study from the American Sociological Association reports on the dramatic rise in the population reporting “no religious preference” over the past decade or so. One primary reason, they posit, is the rise in the intertwining of religion and politics – people simply are turned off by it all and end up disengaging in organized religion or not becoming involved in the first place. Most of this group considering themselves “spiritual” (even believing in a traditional Christianity) rather than being “religious” and part of a Christian church.
Once again, I have been saying for a long time that I believe a reason for the demise of the U.S. mainline denominations, our own Episcopal Church included, is the intertwining of liberal politics and liberal theology. Each ‘system’ – political or theological – on its own has an integrity and strength and each can contribute to the understanding of the other, but when one is equated with the other both fail to live up to their potential. “Theo-politics” just doesn’t cut it, and in my opinion is an affront to the cause of the Gospel. The same can be said for conservatism, and the same dynamic is being witnessed even now.
Since the 1980’s another whole segment of American Christianity has become increasingly political and polarizing. This time, the politicized Religious Right has succeeded in enmeshing conservative politics and conservative theology within American Evangelicalism (and somewhat within Roman Catholicism, Mormonism, etc). I believe we will witness soon an exodus from American Evangelical denominations that have aligned themselves too closely with conservative political causes. Where these people will go, I have no idea. Perhaps to the increasing numbers of Americans who claim “no religious preference?”
Here is a paragraph from the study report:

Hout and Fischer maintain that one important reason for this change in religion preference is political. Specifically, their study found a link between having no religion and rejecting clerical activism, which supports their hypothesis that during the 1990s, having a religious identity increasingly became seen as an endorsement of conservative views. Hout and Fischer found that many liberal and moderate Americans felt that religion became distressingly politicized in the 1990s. As to the role of secularization (i.e., skepticism), the researchers did not find this to be a cause of the increase in “no religion,” because most “no religion” responders maintain religious faith, a belief in God, and a belief in life after death.

Steep rise in ‘no religion’ preference is forged by conservative politics and demographics
From American Sociological Association
WASHINGTON, DC–An important aspect of Americans’ religious beliefs changed dramatically in the 1990s. The proportion of Americans reporting “no religious preference” doubled from 7 percent to an unprecedented level of 14 percent between 1991 and 2000, and this increase is attributable to changes in both population characteristics and the politicization of religion, according to research by University of California-Berkeley sociologists published in the current issue of the American Sociological Review.
In their April article, “Why More Americans Have No Religious Preference: Politics and Generations,” co-authors Michael Hout and Claude Fischer* report that the decline had little to do with religious skepticism, since most respondents continue to hold conventional religious beliefs. Factors that appear to be responsible for the escalation in alienation from organized religion instead include demographic shifts (e.g., age group membership, delayed marriage and parenthood) and political beliefs.
“Perhaps the most influential factor is the recent trend in which politics and religion are becoming increasingly publicly intertwined,” explains Hout. Part of the basis for this conclusion is that the increase in “no religion” survey responses appears to be confined to liberals and moderates.
“This doubling of no religion preference is highly significant because for the 17-year period from 1974 to 1991, there was no significant change in religious preference,” says Hout. But “no religion” responses have accelerated since 1991. The greatest increase in such responses occurred in the two youngest age groups (born in the periods 1945-1959 and 1960-1974). While religious preference also tends to track with family status (i.e., people frequently disengage from organized religion after leaving the family in which they grew up but re-attach when they start their own family), this factor played little or no role in the current findings. Recent trends toward extended schooling and delayed parenthood have influenced religious preference among the younger age groups. In addition, the younger age groups are more likely to have been raised without religion, as a larger percentage of people in the 1990s than in previous years claimed no religious origin or upbringing. And, an increasing percentage of people are “falling away” from the religion of their childhood as they become older. Between 5 and 7 percent of Americans raised in a Christian tradition, especially those who came of age in the 1960s and their offspring, have left organized religion.
Hout and Fischer maintain that one important reason for this change in religion preference is political. Specifically, their study found a link between having no religion and rejecting clerical activism, which supports their hypothesis that during the 1990s, having a religious identity increasingly became seen as an endorsement of conservative views. Hout and Fischer found that many liberal and moderate Americans felt that religion became distressingly politicized in the 1990s. As to the role of secularization (i.e., skepticism), the researchers did not find this to be a cause of the increase in “no religion,” because most “no religion” responders maintain religious faith, a belief in God, and a belief in life after death.
“These findings show that religious dissenters are distancing themselves from the church and not from God. They may consider themselves ‘spiritual’ yet not ‘religious.’ They pray but do not attend service. They detach themselves from organized religion, not God,” Fischer explains.
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The American Sociological Review publishes original works of interest to sociology in general, new theoretical developments, results of qualitative or quantitative research that advance our understanding of fundamental social processes, and important methodological innovations. To acquire a copy of ASR or for further information, contact the American Sociological Association’s Public Information Office at (202) 383-9005 x320 or e-mail pubinfo@asanet.org.