None's Not NUn's

 The religiously unaffiliated also known as the “nones” usually those under the age of 30 say they just "stopped believing." 

 The American population consists of 25 percent of the nones a number greater than Catholics ( 21 percent ). Only a small percentage (seven percent) are looking for acceptance in religion. Studies that challenge the idea that those unaffiliated are leaving because of ridicule of gays and lesbians and frequent sex abuse scandals. 

“Those things matter, but they are dwarfed by this central idea that people no longer believe in religious teachings,” said Daniel Cox, PRRI’s research director. 

 The survey was conducted with of 2,201 of American adults and began in late July early August of this year. The margin of error for the study is plus or minus 2.5 percent. 

 Some of the findings of the survey are: 

•  Eighteen percent of nones say “religion is important in their lives,” and 40 percent say they are “moderately spiritual.” The majority of the unaffiliated, 53 percent, describe themselves as neither religious nor spiritual. 
•  The majority of surveyors still believe in God — 22 percent say God is a “person,” and 37 percent see God as “an impersonal force.” 
•  Nones do not leave their religion due to negative experiences. Sixty percent said they just “stopped believing” in their childhood religion, while 32 percent blamed their family’s lack of commitment to religion. Twenty-nine percent — said negative religious teachings about gays and lesbians was essential to why they left religion and only 19 percent cited the clergy sex-abuse crisis. 
•  One in five nones says a belief in God is “necessary” to morality. However, the study, released Thursday (Sept. 22), is full of contradictions, too. 
• While only one-fifth of nones say morality is strengthened by a belief in God, and one in three believe children should be raised in a religion to gain “good values.” 

 Studies were conducted by The Public Religion Research Institute in partnership with Religion News Service; was funded by Stiefel Freethought Foundation and the Henry Luce Foundation. 

For more information on the study visit: http://religionnews.com/2016/09/22/why-most-people-leave-religion-they-just-stop-believing/