Overview

• The percentage of Americans identifying as religious 'nones' has surged from 5% to over 25% in recent decades, according to a Cornell-led study published April 14, 2025, in Socius.
• The study highlights value conflicts, particularly on LGBTQ rights and gender equality, as primary reasons for leaving organized religion while maintaining personal spirituality.
• Data from the National Study of Youth and Religion shows institutional religious engagement, such as church attendance, declined significantly faster than individual practices like prayer and meditation.
• Meditation is the only spiritual practice to show growth, increasing from 12% to 21%, while support for proselytism dropped by nearly 10%.
• Researchers propose a 'faith-religion cycle,' explaining historical shifts between institutional religion and personalized spirituality, driven by evolving social values and a desire for authenticity.