What’s the fastest growing religious demographic in the United States? Not sure? OK, let’s try another. As of 2014, evangelist Protestants were the largest major religious group in the U.S. What group was second? Well, the answer to both questions is “no religion at all.” According to a November 2015 Pew Research survey, when asked what religion they followed, 23% of the respondents answered “atheist,” “agnostic” or “nothing in particular.” That’s up from 16% just seven years ago, and represents 55 million Americans nationwide. That’s more than those who identify as traditional Protestant denominations or as Catholics.
While most politicians still seem blind to this growing demographic, Madison’s Freedom from Religion Foundation has taken note. Through its new “I’m Secular and I Vote” campaign, the foundation hopes to forge those unbelievers and freethinkers into a powerful lobby. Annie Laurie Gaylor founded the Freedom from Religion Foundation in 1978, and is the foundation’s current co-president.
Annie spoke with host Brian Standing about the Foundation’s work.
