In God we trust? More Americans than ever profess having no religious preference



America may be one nation under God but less Americans than ever will formally identify with an organized religious group.



New research shows that 20 per cent of American adults have no religious preference whatsoever as

the widespread decline of religion continues, according to a study by the Institute for the Study of Societal Issues at University of California, Berkeley.

Though Americans are fleeing organized religion, the new study shows they are holding fast to their belief in God as the majority still affirm their faith in a higher power.



Beyond belief: Twenty percent of American adults said in 2012 that they had no religious preference, a dramatic rise in Americans distancing themselves from organized religion

Faith (or lack thereof) in America: Percentage of Americans by region who say they have no religious affiliation

Since the General Social Survey began conducting annual research on religion in America, starting in 1972, they have asked 'What is your religious preference? Is it Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, some other religion, or no religion?'



In 1972, only five per cent of respondents answered 'no religion.'



That number grew to eight per cent in 1990 and it has only been growing through the years, reaching 20 per cent in 2012.



Among those who answered that they had no religion, 8 per cent had been raised without a religious preference.



This is a church...but where are the people? Increasingly, Americans do not identify with an organized religion

The decline in religious affiliation is widespread across various races, ages and geographic regions, according to Michael Hout and Claude S. Fischer from the University of California, Berkeley and Mark A. Chaves, from Duke University, who reviewed the data for a new paper published on March 7.

White Americans are found to be less religious than African Americans and Mexican Americans, a majority of whom are Catholic.



Among geographic regions, those living in the Mountain, Pacific and Northeast areas are more likely to have responded that they had no religion.



Those living in the Bible Belt and the Heartland are more likely to state a religious preference.



One third of those aged 18-24 claimed no religion, compared to 7 per cent of people 75 and older.



The fall: Across the demographics, more and more Americans are not claiming a religious identity

The authors noted that while Americans are less willing than ever to claim a formal religious identity, there is not a dramatic increase in respondents saying they are atheist.



Since 1990, there has only been a one per cent increase in Americans who said they don't believe in God.

When asked, 'I know God really exists and I have no doubts about it,' a majority, 59 per cent, answered yes.



In 1991, 64 per cent of Americans agreed with that statement.

