The number of Protestants in the United States has fallen below 50 percent, while the number of Americans saying they have no religious affiliation continues to rise, a new study from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life states.
The Pew study, released Tuesday, found that 48 percent of American adults identify themselves as Protestant, marking the first time that number has fallen below 50 percent in any Pew Research Center surveys.
Meanwhile, the percentage of American adults who claim no religious affiliation has risen to almost 20 percent, the Pew study found.
Noteworthy among those who have no religious affiliation—sometimes referred to as “nones”—is that 68 percent say they believe in God, and 37 percent say they are “spiritual” but not “religious.” However, they are not seeking religion either. The Pew study found that 88 percent of the “nones” say they are not looking for a religion that would be right for them.
“Overwhelmingly, they think that religious organizations are too concerned with money and power, too focused on rules and too involved in politics,” a Pew report on the study says.
For the full report on the study and its findings, click here.
