Americans Abandoning Church, God In Record Numbers

                                                               Pew: Too Few In The Pews?

                The results of a new Pew Research Center survey on faith were released Wednesday, and it’s apparent that many Americans really are “losing their religion,” to paraphrase the REM song. The survey is additional evidence of a growing trend in the United States: more and more people are shunning religion and giving up on God. (Islam is the only religion experiencing significant growth in the country, primarily from immigration).

                Virtually half of Americans who have left their church no longer believe in God, the survey found, according to the Washington Examiner. (Nearly one-quarter of the nation now professes to have no religious affiliation whatsoever). Another twenty percent of the church non-goers left because they don’t like organized religion. Many respondents mentioned 'science' as the reason they no longer believe in religious teachings. (“They blinded me with science,” to quote another REM song).

                The WashingtonExaminer.com post listed a number of the reasons survey respondents gave for their disbelief in God, including:

·         “Learning about evolution when I went away to college.” (Didn’t you learn about it before that)?

·         “Too many Christians doing un-Christian things.” (A lot of scientists do un-scientific things, too. Just sayin’).

·         “”Religion is the opiate of the people.” (A mantra on college campuses, but actually I think opiates are the opiate of the people, Einstein).

·         “Rational thought makes religion go out the window.” (The truth is, colleges now make rational thought go out the window).

·         “Lack of any sort of scientific or specific evidence of a creator.” (You don’t get the Sports’ Illustrated ‘swim suit issue,’ do you)?

·         “I just realized somewhere along the line that I didn’t really believe in it.” (But you believe in global warming and Bernie Sander’s economic policies, don’t you)?

·         “I’m doing a lot more learning, studying and kind of making decisions myself rather than listening to someone else.” (You’re kind of not married, are you)?

·         “I’m a scientist, I don’t believe in miracles.” (Either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump is going to be the next president of the United States. Oh, and Nancy Pelosi is married).

                Then there were those who are unsure or undecided:

·         “I don’t have a particular religion because I am open-minded and don’t think there is one particular religion that is right or wrong.” (You might try looking at the historical evidence- or at what’s been happening lately. Is anything right or wrong, your high and open-mindedness? I bet you think Trump is ‘wrong’ and transgender bathroom rights are ‘right,’ right)?

·         “I feel that there is something out there, but I can’t nail down a religion.” (“Something” is out there? You are remarkably perceptive! Speaking of nails and religion, maybe you’ll come across something to help you decide).

·         “I just basically stopped going to church when I went to college and never picked it back up. I was never super religious.” (Do you perceive a theme here)?

·         “I don’t have the time to go to church.” (I’m too damn busy hunting Pokémon characters)!

                Perhaps Pew’s next survey question should be: “What do you think is the percentage of Americans in which God no longer believes?”