Irreligion in the United States

In the United States, between 6% and 15% of citizens demonstrated nonreligious attitudes and naturalistic worldviews, namely atheists or agnostics.^[2][3][4][5] The number of self-identified atheists and agnostics was around 4% each, while many persons formally affiliated with a religion are likewise non-believing.^[6][7][8]

The percentage of Americans without religious affiliation, often labeled as "Nones", is around 20-29% – with people who identify as "nothing in particular" accounting for the growing majority of this demographic, and both atheists and agnostics accounting for the relatively unchanged minority of this demographic.^[9][10][11] Most of the increase in the unaffiliated comes from people who had weak or no commitment to religion in the first place, not from people who had a religious commitment.^[3] Still, "Nones" is an unclear category.^[12][13] It is a heterogenous group of the not religious and intermittently religious.^[14] Researchers argue that most of the "Nones" should be considered "unchurched", rather than objectively nonreligious;^{[13][15][16][3][4]} especially since most "Nones" do hold some religious-spiritual beliefs and a notable amount participate in behaviors.^{[13][17][15][18][19]} For example, 72% of American "Nones" believe in God or a Higher Power.^[20] The "None" response is more of an indicator for lacking affiliation than an active measure for irreligiosity, and a majority of the "Nones" can either be conventionally religious or "spiritual".^[21][15][22]

Social scientists observe that nonreligious Americans are characterized by indifference.^[23] Very few incorporate active irreligion as part of their identity, and only about 1-2% join groups promoting such values.^[23]