Why are the "Nones" Considered Separate from Agnostics and Atheists


I discuss often here the polling data which shows that, according to polls, those who claim to be "nones" (consider themselves not part of any religious group) continue to grow while those who affiliate with religious groups continues to fall. I've concluded this polling technique is biased in favor of Christianity. This is because the three non Christian groups, nones, atheists and agnostics are considered separate groups when, in reality, they are more likely one group.

So far as I can tell, there is no group or organization which calls itself the "Nones." So, who are they and where did they come from? The answer is "Nones" are a creation of the polling companies themselves. When respondents refuse to identify as atheists, agnostic or Christian (or other religions) the are offers an alternative category to check. ThAT is where "nones" were created. That is to say, Christians identify because of views they more or less share with others. Atheists and agnostics do the same. These three groups are different from "nones" who have largely undefined views. I realize there have been studies and a very few books discussing nones, but I don't think it correct to say there is an awareness in our society of something called "the nones." Truth be told, the nones probably are much more like atheists and agnostics than they are Christians or any other religious group. 

Currently, some Christian pundits are claiming "nones" have temporarily parked their Christian identity and will be returning. There is no evidence this is the case. Years have gone by and nothing like this has happened. In fact, the opposite seems to be happening. Referring to nones as a group separate from atheists and agnostics is likely a propaganda technique which tries to make Christianity look more popular and powerful than it is actually and non-believers seem smaller than they are actually. 

Christian pundits have little choice but to distort the faith's decline. There are various polls with slightly different results all showing a rise in nones. Generalizing, they show atheists, agnostics and nones total about 45% of the population. If one adds those who answer as church members but privately do not buy the narrative the percentage probably goes to over 50%.

Christian need badly a new marketing idea. So far, they have just repeated over and over the old one of sin and the afterlife. These are ideas whose time has past.

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