The “Rise of the Nones” is not the latest science fiction tale of alien invasion. It’s a growing group of people known to demographers and sociologists as the Nones because when asked to identify their religion for a survey or census, they check off the box for “None.”

Almost two years ago, the Pew Research Centre released a study called ‘Nones’ on the Rise. It analyzed the 46 million people (one-fifth of adult Americans at the time) who answered “None” to the religion question that year. Analysis of Canadian census and survey data finds that one in four Canadians are considered Nones.

Whatever the differences between the two countries, research points to a rapid increase in adults who say they have no religious affiliation.

Even without the statistical data, religious leaders have noticed a thinning of their flocks. It’s not just the well-known contingent of worshippers, who only show up to church or synagogue during Easter and Passover. A growing number, especially young people, are eschewing traditional religious affiliations altogether.

What do we know about the Nones? All they have told us is that the have no religious affiliation.

They are a diverse mix, including but not limited to atheists. Agnostics, of course, and those who would consider themselves decidedly spiritual but not seeking an organized religion. One-time Catholics, lapsed Anglicans, secular Muslims and non-observant Jews. You name it.

Today’s young adults are more unhinged from traditional authorities and institutions than any prior generation of 20-year-olds. They didn’t grow up with religion and have not embraced it as adults. No guilt, no shame, no fear of eternal damnation.

Nones tend to be more liberal on social issues, including a significantly higher percentage favouring pro-choice and marriage equality policies.

Their views of churches and other religious organizations are mixed. A majority agree that religious organizations strengthen community bonds and play an important role in helping the poor and needy. But most also say that religious organizations are too concerned with money and power, too obsessed with rules and too involved in politics.

The unaffiliated also are more skeptical than others of the idea that houses of worship contribute to solving important social problems, and the notion that religious organizations protect and strengthen morality in society.

As their numbers grow, will the Nones assume positions of political power? New York City’s new mayor, Bill de Blasio, is perhaps America’s most visible politician whose only religious identity seems to be “spiritual, but not religious.’’ Despite being a more secular country, don’t expect an atheist Canadian prime minister in the near future.

Are we seeing the end of religion as we know it? Hardly. Churches are closing, but organized religion is not dead.

Some church leaders reacted to the Pew Research report with alarm. They saw it as further confirmation of the declining role of religion.

Others, however, have called for a radical recalibration so that institutional religion can reach out to Nones. Pastor James Emery White of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, N.C., has written The Rise of the Nones: Understanding and Reaching the Religiously Unaffiliated.

Good luck with that. Seriously. Despite their diversity, the Nones have either decided that there is no God and/or would simply rather sleep in or go for a run on Sunday morning.

Tough crowd for conversion to say the least. And growing.

Rev. Bob Ripley is a retired United Church minister.

bob.ripley@sympatico.ca

Twitter.com/riplestone