UNITED STATES
Christianity Daily
Adults identifying themselves as “religious nones” have increased over the last few decades, and a recent Pew survey explored why they chose to move away from religion.
About 78 percent of the respondents of the survey said that they grew up in religious environment, but departed from the religion.
Pew received hundreds of different responses when the participants were asked to elaborate in their own words why they left their religious groups. Though the responses were diverse, Pew said, the research center was able to categorize some responses under common threads.
Some 36 percent said they were disenchanted with the religion, and about 7 percent said they were not interested in or did not need religion. Around 7 percent also said that their views evolved. Only 1 percent said they experienced a crisis of faith.
Many of the respondents said that they departed ways with religion because of its organized ways and hierarchy. About one in five Americans held this view.
Others also said that they saw religion becoming too much like a business, and also mentioned sexual abuse by clergy as one of the reasons for their leaving their childhood religion.
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