A new Pew study is shedding light on the beliefs of the "nones", the rapidly growing population group that identifies with no religion in particular. The "none" umbrella encompasses atheists, agnostics, and those who say they just don’t have a strong faith affiliation one way or the other.
Their rise has been meteoric: in the U.S., "nones" jumped from about 5% of the population in the 1970s and 80s to 28% today – making them the single largest “faith” group in America when Catholics and Protestants are counted separately (although there are signs this trend could be changing).
So, how do these so-called nonbelievers view spirituality? Are they strict atheists, or is it more complicated?
Turns out, the "nones" are a lot more spiritual than their label suggests.
What Do the "Nones" Believe?
Study authors surveyed some 23,202 nones across 22 countries encompassing North and South America, Europe, Australia, Africa, and Asia. The results were eye-opening: while they claim no formal ties to religion, many still embrace a wide range of spiritual beliefs.
An Afterlife Awaits
In all 22 of the surveyed countries, about a fifth or more of the respondents report belief in an afterlife. In the United States, a whopping 42% of "nones" say it is likely that there is life after death. In seven of the countries, more than half of those surveyed say that life after death is likely.
Animals Have Spirits
Among the "nones", belief in animal spirits is high. Within the United States, 60% of the religiously unaffiliated report a belief that animals have spirits, and in most surveyed countries more than half of the "nones" surveyed reported belief in animal spirits.
And they believe that animals aren’t the only part of nature with spirits; In 12 of the countries, half or more of the respondents reported that mountains, rivers, or trees could also carry spiritual energies.
The survey also found that many "nones" hold a belief in ancestral spirits. In most countries, about a quarter of respondents stated that the spirits of their ancestors hold sway over their lives.
Magic Is Real
Spells and magic? The "nones" love those too. In most countries, about a quarter of the religiously unaffiliated reported sincere belief in magic, spells, and curses, and their genuine ability to influence people’s lives.
There is a God?
Surprisingly, many "nones" even believe in God. While belief in the Almighty was generally lower amongst the religiously unaffiliated in Europe and Asia, "nones" in South Africa and Latin America reported belief in God at rates higher than 50%.
In Brazil, belief in God among this nonreligious group stood at a whopping 92%. Meanwhile, 45% of "nones" in the United States reported belief in a God.
What to Make of These Results?
For many, the results of the survey were shocking. How can a group which self identifies as religiously unaffiliated be so spiritual? How can many of them even believe in God?
The findings challenge the idea that “none” equals faithless – instead, they reveal a spectrum of spirituality that defies traditional categories. The survey found that simple nonbelief isn’t always the only reason these unaffiliated folks identify the way they do.
In the United States, 30% of "nones" reported that “bad experiences with religious people” was one of their primary reasons for their beliefs, with many citing poor treatment of the LGBTQ+ community in particular. And nearly half reported their belief is heavily influenced by a dislike of religious organizations in general.
In short: the "nones" aren’t necessarily rejecting spirituality — they’re rejecting the institutions and systems that dictate it.
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