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A review by kevin_shepherd
Nonbeliever Nation: The Rise of Secular Americans by David Niose
5.0
The fact that I am an atheist is one of the worst kept secrets on GoodReads. Yet most of the people I know in “real life” (I use that term sarcastically) have no clue that I am a nonbeliever. It’s not that I masquerade as a Christian (or a Jew or a Muslim or a Buddhist or a Whatever), it’s just that I have instituted my own “don’t ask-don’t tell” philosophy; I won’t tell if they don’t ask. I’m out but I’m not out-out. Those of you who live as I do, in the buckle of America’s Bible Belt, will undoubtedly know why. Being openly godless in this country, even today, comes with a price. Sure, there is a stigma attached to being secular, nonreligious, or agnostic, but if you’re an outright atheist you’re going to feel the heat.
THE DECLINE OF THE AMERICAN DIALOGUE
Things were not always this bad.
“Of course, like every other man of intelligence and education, I do believe in organic evolution. It surprises me that at this late date such questions should be raised.” ~Woodrow Wilson, 1922
As far back as the late nineteenth century many Americans believed that biblical literalism was outdated. According to prominent political players like Eugene Debs (1855-1926), William Howard Taft (1857-1930), and Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), religious conservatism was on its way out. Sadly, they were wrong.
“Extreme religious conservatives, men and women who would have seemed backward even a hundred years ago, are now viewed by well-informed mainstream journalists as a normal part of America’s political landscape.”
Anti-intellectualism is currently a matter of course. Religiosity is now requisite for so-called “patriotism” and the casualty list includes pluralism, pragmatism, and the discipline of reason.
HISTORICALLY OVERLOOKED
The percentage of Americans that are “secular” varies from poll to poll and can be rather speculative. The word itself is simply defined as “having no spiritual or religious basis” and broadly encompasses atheists, agnostics, and the religiously unaffiliated—the Nones.
Author David Niose’s statistical examples (published in 2012) are now a bit outdated, but they show trends that continue to this day. The most recent poll I could find (Pew Research Center, 2021) shows that approximately three out of every 10 Americans are now religiously unaffiliated. Christians currently make up 63% of the population in this country. While 63% is still a significant majority, it is a decline from 75% in 2011, and 78% in 2007. The Nones, on the other hand, have increased from 16% to 29% in the same time period, making them the fastest growing minority in America.
“Secular Americans have existed as long as the country itself, but only in recent years have they begun to stand together as a unit and demand recognition, respect, and equality.”
According to Niose, what the religious right fears more than almost anything is cohesive secular activism. He proposes that we pay close attention to the strides made by the LGBTQ community. It wasn’t that long ago when discrimination against a non-heterosexual wasn’t even frowned upon. I grew up with closeted friends and family members who didn’t dare reveal themselves to anyone for fear of their lives. And then things changed. Starting with a few unbelievably ballsy individuals, people started to come out. It’s taken time (and still has a long way to go!) but attitudes have changed. If the 5.6% LGBTQ minority can accomplish all they have achieved over the past few decades, just imagine what we 30% (and growing!) Nones could do.
THE DECLINE OF THE AMERICAN DIALOGUE
Things were not always this bad.
“Of course, like every other man of intelligence and education, I do believe in organic evolution. It surprises me that at this late date such questions should be raised.” ~Woodrow Wilson, 1922
As far back as the late nineteenth century many Americans believed that biblical literalism was outdated. According to prominent political players like Eugene Debs (1855-1926), William Howard Taft (1857-1930), and Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), religious conservatism was on its way out. Sadly, they were wrong.
“Extreme religious conservatives, men and women who would have seemed backward even a hundred years ago, are now viewed by well-informed mainstream journalists as a normal part of America’s political landscape.”
Anti-intellectualism is currently a matter of course. Religiosity is now requisite for so-called “patriotism” and the casualty list includes pluralism, pragmatism, and the discipline of reason.
HISTORICALLY OVERLOOKED
The percentage of Americans that are “secular” varies from poll to poll and can be rather speculative. The word itself is simply defined as “having no spiritual or religious basis” and broadly encompasses atheists, agnostics, and the religiously unaffiliated—the Nones.
Author David Niose’s statistical examples (published in 2012) are now a bit outdated, but they show trends that continue to this day. The most recent poll I could find (Pew Research Center, 2021) shows that approximately three out of every 10 Americans are now religiously unaffiliated. Christians currently make up 63% of the population in this country. While 63% is still a significant majority, it is a decline from 75% in 2011, and 78% in 2007. The Nones, on the other hand, have increased from 16% to 29% in the same time period, making them the fastest growing minority in America.
“Secular Americans have existed as long as the country itself, but only in recent years have they begun to stand together as a unit and demand recognition, respect, and equality.”
According to Niose, what the religious right fears more than almost anything is cohesive secular activism. He proposes that we pay close attention to the strides made by the LGBTQ community. It wasn’t that long ago when discrimination against a non-heterosexual wasn’t even frowned upon. I grew up with closeted friends and family members who didn’t dare reveal themselves to anyone for fear of their lives. And then things changed. Starting with a few unbelievably ballsy individuals, people started to come out. It’s taken time (and still has a long way to go!) but attitudes have changed. If the 5.6% LGBTQ minority can accomplish all they have achieved over the past few decades, just imagine what we 30% (and growing!) Nones could do.