Since the mid-2000s, the fastest-growing religious group in America has been the so-called nones. The percentage of Americans who claim no religious affiliation nearly doubled from 2007 (16 percent) to 2022 (31 percent). They’re becoming a force in American culture and one of the largest segments of the religious landscape, according to Pew Research. Waning Read more
Food for Faith podcast producer Fr John O’Connor is about to tackle a new opportunity presented by disconnected or no-religion Catholics. He’s starting by taking a sabbatical and collecting food for his faith. After more than a decade of providing written and audio reflections for the popular Food for Faith podcast, the Christchurch priest (pictured) Read more
The number of people identifying with Christianity has dropped dramatically from 47.65 per cent in the 2013 census to 37.31 per cent in the latest one. The data from last year’s census, released this week, shows that 48.59 per cent of New Zealanders indicated ‘no religion’ in 2018, up from 41.92 per cent in the Read more
After assiduously avoiding religion during my teenage years, I accidentally attended a Roman Catholic service one afternoon about four years ago says Sophia Mitrokostas. I had missed my bus and ducked into a church to escape a downpour. An hour later, I emerged a convert to going to church, if not to God. Read more
For the first time, Australia’s national census form is to have the “no religion” box at the top of the options for religious affiliation. In the previous census in 2011, “Catholic” was the top option, with “no religion” at the bottom of the list, below a large “other please specify” box. The change came after Read more
Religious affiliation among the United Kingdom’s military personnel is markedly higher than in wider society. According to figures released to The Telegraph under the UK’s Freedom of Information Act, almost 83 per cent of military personnel identified as Christian in 2012. This figure came from almost 180,000 members of the forces who gave data to Read more
She sat beside the bed, tears brimming. ‘Mum’s dying.’ ‘Yes.’ We sat in silence for a bit. ‘I’ve lost my faith.’ ‘Uh huh.’ ‘When my friend died.’ ‘Mm.’ We held hands and Mum’s too, wondering in our own ways, about God and faith and people dying and what the universe meant, if anything. As we Read more