Who is John Q. Nones? Here’s a snapshot drawn from the Pew Forum’s new poll:
1. He’s a he. Though fewer than half of Americans are male, 56 percent of nones are. The gender divide among nones who are atheists or agnostics is even more pronounced: 64 percent of this group is male.
2. He’s young. The older the American, the more likely he or she is to be affiliated with a religion. One-third of Americans under 30 say they have no religious affiliation, compared to 9 percent of those 65 and older. This is mostly due to “generational replacement” as a younger generation assumes the place of an older one that is decidedly more religious.
I would say there are two problems illustrated here. The first is that young people aren’t in church. The second is that men aren’t in church. My own personal opinion is that men were chased out of many churches, beginning in the Sixties, but accelerating over time, leading to a feminization (and effeminatization) of many churches.
Studies have concluded that if fathers don’t go to church (even if the mother does), it is highly unlikely that the children will be churchgoers. See, e.g.,
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/12/16/a-fathers-role-in-his-children-going-to-church-when-they-are-adults/ .
Surprise, surprise. The demographic most likely to buy Playboy Magazine is the most likely to lack interest in religion. Snarky, maybe, but I’m thinking that if they grow up and get interested in real women, they might get interested in other aspects of reality.
[b][url=http://politicalcalculations.blogspot.com/2012/10/teens-stuck-in-basement.html#.UHY8R0L3BT4]11. He’s living in Mom’s basement[/url][/b]