Unaffiliated/Atheism

Rep. Rashida Tlaib joins Congressional Freethought Caucus

By Aysha Khan — August 20, 2020

(RNS) — Rep. Rashida Tlaib, one of the first Muslim women in Congress, has joined the Congressional Freethought Caucus.

The K-pop election

By Tara Isabella Burton — June 30, 2020

(RNS) — On the eve of the 2020 elections, Gen Z-ers are on the verge of using their digital tools to counteract the political establishment.

How Americans’ ‘tell it like it is’ attitude renders us vulnerable to conspiracy theories

By Tara Isabella Burton — May 19, 2020

(RNS) — Americans, distrustful of institutions that would prescribe knowledge for us, have been especially prone to believe what they see online.

In lockdown, our longing for the world could be the antidote to our spiritual anorexia

By Tara Isabella Burton — May 12, 2020

(RNS) — I’ve started cycling again. It’s exercise not as expensive commodity but an embrace of what it means to be in the world.

National Day of Prayer, reshaped by pandemic, includes interfaith and online events

By Adelle M. Banks — May 6, 2020

(RNS) — In its 69th year, the observance — often predominated by evangelical Christians gathering in public places — will feature interfaith and even international voices on computer screens and cellphones.

New report finds nonreligious people face stigma and discrimination

By Alejandra Molina — May 4, 2020

(RNS) — A new study finds that nonreligious people face discrimination and stigma, conceal their nonreligious identities and largely see themselves as atheists and humanists.

Is the rise of the nones slowing? Scholars say maybe

By Yonat Shimron — February 11, 2020

(RNS) — Three political scientists say Generation Z, broadly defined as Americans born after 1996, doesn’t look any less religious than the millennial generation that came before.

Atheists prefer cats, Christians love dogs, study shows

By Ryan Burge — January 7, 2020

(RNS) — New questions on the General Social Survey reveal some interesting connections between faith and pets.

How we all became Jedis

By Tara Isabella Burton — December 20, 2019

(RNS) — After nearly 40 years, the Star Wars saga is almost complete, and the decades-long journey of the Jedi is ending. But the spiritual legacy of the Jedi is sure to last much longer.

Dear Democrats: Four religion requests from non-religious Americans

By Hemant Mehta — December 13, 2019

(RNS) — While by no means our only matter of concern, toning down talk of faith in politics would show some respect to what is rapidly becoming the largest ‘religious’ group in the country.

Christianity as we know it is dying. Let’s welcome the new life ahead.

By Amy Butler — October 30, 2019

(RNS) — A new survey confirms that people aren't leaving faith; they are leaving Christianity. Imagine if, instead of preserving dying institutions, we used our time and money to transform how we do good in the world?

Kenyan atheist demands Quakers revoke his membership

By Fredrick Nzwili — October 24, 2019

NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — Harrison Mumia, president of the Atheists in Kenya Society, applied to the church to cancel his membership and remove any records associated with him, since he no longer considers himself a Christian.

Tennessee pastor posts video burning book that critiques Christian nationalism

By Aysha Khan — October 24, 2019

(RNS) — A conservative evangelical pastor in Tennessee posted a video of himself on social media burning a book by an atheist lawyer who argued the U.S. was not built as a Christian nation.

American faith groups agree: Trump should act more presidential

By Bob Smietana, Jack Jenkins — October 22, 2019

(RNS) — American faith groups are just as divided as political parties — disagreeing about immigration policy, climate change and the future of the country, according to a new poll from the Public Religion Research Institute. One thing they do agree on is that they wish President Trump would act more presidential.