We all know those visiting demons are cute and all for Halloween, but what do you do when they outstay their welcome? Furniture flying around the room, loved ones floating […]
The Apocalyptic Politics of the American Evangelical Right
Trump’s foreign policy has been largely incoherent to experts and politicians, but a certain group of his supporters understand it as ushering forth the end times. That’s the topic of […]
Engaging Religious Leaders in Public Health Policy
Last month, the Hillsborough County, Florida Sheriff arrested evangelical pastor Rodney Howard-Browne for defying the county’s “stay-at-home” order. In order to limit the transmission of the COVID-19 virus, Hillsborough County […]
Temple of Satan Redefines Religion
Imagine going to a city council meeting, and at the beginning of the meeting, hearing the following convocation: “Let us stand now, unbowed and unfettered by arcane doctrines born of […]
Black History, Religious Faith, and Political Struggle with Randal Jel...
Religious leaders have been at the forefront of the fight for racial justice in Madison and around the country—and have been for over a century—but we don’t often consider the […]
The Secular Voter
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.
