Methodology
The American Trends Panel survey methodology (Wave 132) Overview The American Trends Panel (ATP), created by Pew Research Center, is a nationally representative panel of randomly selected U.S. adults....
View Article8. How do ‘nones’ think about morality?
When making decisions between right and wrong, most “nones” say they rely extensively on the desire to avoid hurting people, and on the use of logic and reason. Overall, 83% of “nones” say the desire...
View Article7. How do ‘nones’ view science?
Compared with U.S. adults who identify with a religion, “nones” have a more positive view of science. At the same time, most “nones” say that there are some things science cannot explain and that...
View Article6. Are ‘nones’ hostile toward religion?
Some are. But many are not. Around a fifth of “nones” express consistently negative views of religion. They say it does more harm than good in society, encourages superstition and causes division....
View Article5. Are ‘nones’ spiritual instead of religious?
In our survey, 49% of “nones” say they think of themselves as spiritual or that spirituality is very important in their lives. And 54% say they sometimes do things (like centering themselves, spending...
View Article4. Are all ‘nones’ nonbelievers?
Not all ‘nones’ are nonbelievers. Far from it. While the “nones” include many nonbelievers, 70% of “nones” say they believe in God or another higher power, and 63% say they believe in spiritual forces...
View Article3. Are ‘nones’ less involved in civic life than people who identify with a...
Survey data shows that religious “nones” are, on average, less civically and politically engaged than people who identify with a religion. But the differences are often modest and tend to be...
View Article2. Why are ‘nones’ nonreligious?
The survey asked “nones” why they are nonreligious, offering a list of six possible reasons and asking respondents to say whether each is an extremely, very, somewhat, not too, or not at all important...
View Article1. Who are the ‘nones’? How are they defined?
Religious “nones” are people who describe themselves as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular” when asked about their religious affiliation in our surveys. To measure religious affiliation in the...
View ArticleReligious ‘Nones’ in America: Who They Are and What They Believe
28% of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated, describing themselves as atheists, agnostics or “nothing in particular” when asked about their religion.
View Article3. Median scores for government restrictions peak, social hostilities...
Government restrictions on religion, by region The global median score on the Government Restrictions Index (GRI) rose from 2.8 in 2020 to 3.0 in 2021, the highest it’s been since Pew Research Center...
View Article2. Harassment of religious groups returned to peak level in 2021
In 2021, religious groups faced harassment from governments or social groups and individuals in 190 out of the 198 countries and territories in our study. This was an increase from 2020 but the same...
View Article1. Number of countries with ‘very high’ government restrictions stays level...
Government restrictions on religion All 198 countries and territories in our study had at least some level of government restrictions or regulations related to religious activity reported in 2021....
View ArticleGlobally, Government Restrictions on Religion Reached Peak Levels in 2021,...
In 2021, government restrictions on religion – laws, policies and actions by state officials that limit religious beliefs and practices – reached a new peak globally. Harassment of religious groups and...
View ArticleMethodology
The American Trends Panel survey methodology Overview The American Trends Panel (ATP), created by Pew Research Center, is a nationally representative panel of randomly selected U.S. adults. Panelists...
View ArticleAcknowledgments
Pew Research Center is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, its primary funder. This report is a collaborative effort based on the input and analysis of the following individuals. Find related...
View Article3. Christianity’s place in politics, and ‘Christian nationalism’
Most Americans support the separation of church and state. Still, half think the Bible should have at least some influence in US laws.
View Article2. U.S. presidential candidates and their religious engagement
Nearly half say it’s important that the president has strong religious beliefs, but few see Biden or Trump as “very religious.”
View Article1. Religion’s role in public life
Americans tend to say religion’s influence in public life is shrinking, and most see this as a bad thing.
View Article8 in 10 Americans Say Religion Is Losing Influence in Public Life
Most Americans say religion's influence is shrinking, and about half (48%) see conflict between their own religious beliefs and mainstream American culture.
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