Unaffiliated/Atheism

Poll: Americans’ belief in God is dropping

By Yonat Shimron — June 21, 2022
(RNS) — In the latest Gallup Poll, belief in God dipped to 81%, down 6 percentage points from 2017, and the lowest since Gallup first asked the question in 1944.

Humanist chaplains guide nonreligious students on quest for meaning

By Kathryn Post — June 17, 2022
(RNS) — ‘The nonreligious have as much of, or more of, a need for meaning, purpose and community as anybody else.’

New book ‘Interpreting Religion’ dares to ask ‘how’

By Kathryn Post — June 13, 2022
(RNS) — How do religious people make meaning? And how are those meanings transmitted, contested and remade?

Humanist children’s books translated, available free in Muslim-majority countries

By Kathryn Post — June 9, 2022
(RNS) — ‘The world is a very special place even without magic or the supernatural,’ said Bailey Harris, who began writing her book series at age 8.

The danger of finding our meaning at work

By Kathryn Post — June 8, 2022
(RNS) — In extreme cases, work isn’t just rewarding: It’s religion.

State Department officials report religious freedom woes, wins across the globe

By Adelle M. Banks — June 3, 2022
(RNS) — The secretary of state and religious freedom ambassador also expressed concern about an increase in antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred in many countries, including the United States.

Campus ministries, counselors join to tackle mental health

By Giovanna Dell’Orto and Kathryn Post — June 1, 2022
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP/RNS) — On Ivy League campuses, large public institutions and faith-based colleges, chaplains and psychologists are teaming up.

In India, Hindu nationalists embolden challenges to atheism

By Varsha Torgalkar — May 17, 2022
PUNE, India (RNS) — Organizations that support and promote atheism in India are being attacked by Hindutva activists. 

Deconstructing? There’s a coach for that.

By Ericka Andersen — May 12, 2022
(RNS) — A growing slate of resources is geared at helping people ‘decolonize’ and ‘deconstruct’ the Christianity that was taught to them.

White House’s Melissa Rogers affirms religious diversity as interfaith group expands

By Adelle M. Banks — May 10, 2022
WASHINGTON (RNS) — ‘There’s so much that unites us if we are only willing to look for that unity and work side by side,’ Rogers said at the event launching Interfaith America.

National Day of Prayer observances to feature in-person worship, online petitions

By Adelle M. Banks — May 4, 2022
(RNS) — Proclaimed by Congress in 1952, the prayer day has been observed since 1988 on the first Thursday in May, with a more diverse array of participants in recent years.

Roe v. Wade: Faith leaders react to leaked SCOTUS opinion

By Emily McFarlan Miller — May 3, 2022
(RNS) — Religious views of abortion are not as monolithic as many may believe.

Atheists, spurred by growing ranks, gather for first time since start of pandemic

By Heather Greene — April 20, 2022
ATLANTA (RNS) — Despite frustrations with the current political climate, there was an overall sense of hope buoyed by the growing number of young people identifying as nonbelievers.

An awakening is coming to American religion. You won’t hear about it from the pulpit.

By Joshua Stanton and Benjamin Spratt — April 12, 2022
(RNS) — The future of American religion resides with innovative lay leaders who focus on empowerment, rather than power.

American Atheists to take a quieter approach to culture wars at Atlanta meeting

By Yonat Shimron — April 8, 2022
(RNS) — Community-building is the conference's theme for this year's first in-person convention since 2019.
Page 7 of 18