Watch Live: Congressional Hearing on IRS Scandal

Live Now on TheBlaze Radio: ‘The Buck Sexton Show’

Faith

If You’re Less Religious, Are You Also Less Likely to Vote?

Oct. 23, 2012 11:09am Billy Hallowell

To religious peoples’ chagrin, numerous studies have confirmed that one in five Americans is now “unaffiliated” with a faith. While this certainly doesn’t mean that 20 percent of the U.S. rejects the notion of God outright, those who fall into the category very clearly have no attachment to specific religious systems.

Considering this development — and the notion that these unaffiliated comprise the fastest growing group in the faith sphere — the
Public Religion Research Institute found something worth noting when it comes to this cohort’s voting patterns. When compared to religious people, unaffiliated Americans, though more likely to support a Democrat this electoral cycle, are actually less likely to exercise their right to vote.

Public Religion Study: Religiously Unaffiliated Less Likely to Vote

President Barack Obama (L) and First Lady Michelle Obama (3rd-R) speak to one of Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s (2nd-R) sons as he and his wife Ann Romney watch on October 22, 2012 at the end of the last presidential debate at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, October 22, 2012. Credit: AFP/Getty Images

PRRI’s “2012 American Values Survey” confirmed the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life finding that nearly 20 percent of the nation lacks a religious affiliation. But when it comes to politics, the proportions get interesting.

As for the 2012 presidential campaign, 73 percent of unaffiliated Americans support President Barack Obama’s re-election bid. In contrast, only 22 percent support Republican challenger Mitt Romney. However, it should also be noted that those unattached to a religious tradition are also less likely to claim that they will definitively vote on November 6. While 61 percent say they will head to the polls, 73 percent of religiously-affiliated Americans say the same.

Naturally, this creates questions surrounding why believers are more likely to head out and cast a vote in the coming election. Of course, there are likely a variety of theories. People attached to a religion may feel as though they are a key part in a grander system (i.e. their church). Perhaps this view carries over to the political schema, where they may also see themselves as an important part of the American public — as individuals whose votes matter.

Understanding who comprises this group is, of course, paramount. As it has grown in size, it has also increased in its diversity. In fact, the unaffiliated faith subgroup can be divided into three parts. PRRI explains:

Religiously unaffiliated Americans are comprised of three discrete subgroups, which have distinct religious and demographic profiles:
- “Unattached believers” (23%): describe themselves as religious despite having no formal religious identity, and are more likely than the general population to be black or Hispanic and to have lower levels of educational attainment;
- “Seculars” (39%): describe themselves as secular or not religious, and roughly mirror the general population in terms of racial composition and levels of educational attainment;
- “Atheists and agnostics” (36%): identify as atheist or agnostic, and are more likely than the general population to be non-Hispanic white and to have significantly higher levels of educational attainment.

So — contrary to what some may assume, not all of those people in this group consider themselves atheist or agnostic. In fact, a solid proportion of them are sympathetic to faith (or, at the least, not hostile to it). Interestingly, many of these individuals were brought up in faithful households.

“The majority of Americans who are now religiously unaffiliated were raised in a particular faith,” said Daniel Cox, who serves as PRRI Research Director and the co-author of the report. “Their reasons for leaving vary widely, ranging from a rejection of the teachings of their childhood faith or a fading belief in God, to antipathy toward organized religion, to negative personal experiences with religion or life experiences generally.”

–

Related:

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (30)

davecorkery
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 3:11pm
Most of the 20% are not atheists, just have no affiliation or interest.

PHEW!!!
As long as they’re not atheists, cause my preacher says they’re all deeeemons.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Apophiss
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 10:55am
I was raised in a strict religious home, but now do not adhere to any faith.

I voted early on Oct. 23.

This country severely needs a little R & R – Romney & Ryan!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
dmerwin
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 9:27pm
I do not adhere to church religion. I do believe in god and that Jesus existed and created a positive message. I have not missed ANY election in 30 years.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
drandall
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 7:12pm
Authority is a deadly superstition.What is difference between Yahweh and an earthly tyrant….earthly tyrant is real!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
TedBohne
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 3:27pm
we don’t need the christian hate at the ballots, they should stay home.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Individualism
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 1:26pm
if your less religious, you less gullible and harder to sway. you more likely to think for yourself and do your own research instead of being used to having someone hand it to you. Atheists although not all, are likely to know or atleast suspect the fake presidential elections that real options are censored by the two party monopoly and the election of president or maybe others are rigged and decided by an elite group of powerful people. they understand this and you see a big percentage of revolutionary people are Atheists. Although you neo cons think there all left wing liberals, yeah many are and many are also libertarians and nationalists. there self thinkers and non gullible.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- tzion
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 1:56pm
  If your any example, atheists arrogantly see themselves as superior to others intellectually and morally, and are likely too make unfounded, bigoted, and discriminatory generalizations of religious people. I can personally attest to the fact that historically those of the Jewish faith rarely agree on anything. Moreover, religiously observant Jews see it as a religious obligation to study the laws themselves rather than accept whatever someone tells them.
  
  You claim to do your own research and be a free thinker, but in reality your ideas are anchored in the idea that because your an atheist (a viewpoint for which there is no evidence to support) you are inherently superior to everyone else. Exactly how are you better than any racial, cultural, or religious supremacist that ever lived?
  
  Report this comment
- tzion
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 2:08pm
  Also, if you’re supposed to be an example of an atheist whose a Libertarian, you’re really not helping your case. True conservatives believe in individualism, the idea of judging people as by who they are and how they behave. It is the idea that no one person deserves preference over another. Despite your chosen name, the very fact that your would collectively dismiss all religious people as delusional, foolish, and downright idiotic demonstrates your true nature as a collectivist thinker.
  
  You claim to morally superior yet you have clearly demonstrated to care nothing about people who don’t fit your own twisted definition of “American”. You’re always preaching isolationism so tell me, do you think America should’ve helped when that earthquake hit Haiti, or the tsunami hit Japan?
  
  You don’t value freedom for all, you merely want freedom for those you think deserve it.
  
  Report this comment
- ChrisDiamond
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 4:18pm
  I know many Christians who are aware of the false left-right paradigm, and I’d say they number equally to atheists who are likewise aware. I agree that you’ll find more ‘free thinker’ atheists than you will theists, but that’s an assessment I can’t back with any factual evidence.
  
  TZION
  On the Dawkins scale of 1-7, 1 being absolute faith without evidence in the existence of God, and 7 being absolute ‘faith’, without (enough) evidence that there is no God, most atheists are actually 5s or 6s, and most Christians are 2s or 3s. I’m likely a 6, and readily admit that I cannot prove undoubtedly that God does not exist.
  
  What I can tell you is that Libertarianism, which many atheists can be grouped as (I hate groups) is completely antithetical to racism because racism requires collectivization of peoples based on gender, ethnicity, religion etc. We vie people as individuals, and not as groups. Without such collectivization of peoples, we are absolute opposites of supremacists and supremacist mentalities. It simply doesn’t align with our philosophy at all.
  
  I know some extremely intelligent theists. I admire Dr. Craig, Dinesh D’Souza and some others… even though I disagree with them. But, your garden variety ‘believer’ tends to believe what some ‘authority figure’ tells them and accepts it w/out critical thought. There are atheists guilty of this as well. Know what you believe and why. Sadly, too many on both sides really don’t.
  
  Report this comment
- WATER-THE-TREE
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 3:40am
  Liberals refuse to see the truth, that is why they do not see GOD! GOD calls them FOOLS,and I agree!
  
  Report this comment
- Malrick
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 5:39am
  hey indy, The love of truth alone would never make one man attack another bitterly.
  
  Report this comment
FoxholeAtheist
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 12:34pm
I make sure I vote every single time.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Conservativeman
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 12:26pm
In Kansas a local conservative politician is being singled out by the Huffington post for supporting the catholic church and Christians in the fight to stop the infringement upon first amendment protections as a result of Obamacare. Mr. Fitzgerald’s opponent is a handpicked disciple of HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebilius. Mr. Fitzgerald has received threatening emails and posts since being featured on Huffington post twice in 10 days. Apparently no fish is too small when opposing the evil queen of HHS. He was also interviewed on the Alan Colmes show.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/15/steve-fitzgerald-kansas-catholic-democrats_n_1968038.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/22/steve-fitzgerald-kansas-catholics_n_2002167.html

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
ChrisDiamond
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 12:23pm
Were I a Christian, I would have a seroius conflict between voting and not voting. Romans 13 says that ‘the powers that be’ are ordained by God, thus one can assume that whoever wins was intended to win by God’s design, whether I vote or not. Further, both of these men, in particular, are entirely committed to the maintenance of American global militarism and all of the unintended consequences that brings; death of innocents (collateral damage), an increase in ill-will toward the US and Americans, and the astounding cost we pay for it all. As this is not in line with Christianity in any way, shape or form, I’m not sure how any Christian could vote for either of them. Additionally, both of these men enjoy the indefinite detention powers provided by the NDAA of 2012, and the USA WIPE OUT THE 4TH AMENDMENT ACT, which shows that they have no respect whatsoever for our natural (or God-given) rights. How, then, can a Christian support either of these men? I mean who would Jesus bomb? Who would Jesus spy on — er, wait a minute. Nix that point. Finally, both of these men enjoy the inflationary theft committed by the Federal Reserve, without which they could could not sell you promises today requiring your grandkids to pay for them?

If you are a MORAL person, Christian or not, you can’t possibly take either of these men seriously.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Calm Voice of Reason
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 12:41pm
  Agreed. There can be no debate on foreign policy when both parties support a policy of endless war. Both candidates dodged the question on what they would do when the deadline to leave Afghanistan arrived and the work was unfinished. I think we all know that we will continue to have a strong, expensive presence in the Middle East and neither party has any intent to change this.
  
  Report this comment
- ChrisDiamond
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 1:37pm
  I’m amazed that some of us see this rather clearly, but most either are unable to, or are unwilling to. The cost of this kind of stagnation in paradigm shifting will be tremendous for all of us.
  
  Report this comment
The-Monk
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 12:15pm
“If You’re Less Religious, Are You Also Less Likely to Vote?”

I guess that depends on what your definition of “Religious” is…..

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Cavallo
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:53am
“If You’re Less Religious, Are You Also Less Likely to Vote?” I hope so. The less religious /tend/ to be more fascist in mindset, and replace their lost spirituality with a dependance and worship of the State. (there are the Ayn Rand like libertarians, but I fear we are too much of a minority).

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- ChrisDiamond
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 12:16pm
  CAVALLO
  
  I know that Christopher Hitchens and some other outspoken atheists are Trotskyites (the spring board for neoconservatism), but perhaps as many (or I hope as many) are Randian or Voluntaryists like myself. If there was a real choice in this election, I might vote. But there isn’t a real choice. I refuse to vote for Goldman Sachs.
  
  Report this comment
Detroit paperboy
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:48am
I’m not religious at all,,, but I pray everyday, and I am in awe of God designs, from small flowers to my dogs, I’m just happy that I got a ticket to ride on planet earth !!!!!! And I vote……

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Gonzo
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 12:35pm
  That’s a good start Rock City, look deeper and discover real truth…the only one that counts.
  
  Report this comment
spfoam1
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:39am
Whether religious or not you still have to eat and keep a roof over your head, and to do that you need a job. It’s the economy, not religion. Vote for jobs, and that means Romney. Obama is an economic failure.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:31am
I’ve already cast my vote for Romney.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Rock_Paper_Bullets
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 4:18pm
  Same, here Snow…I did the deed and voted for Romney/Ryan on my Lunch hour today!
  
  Report this comment
blackyb
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:18am
We are more likely to vote where I come from. The Communists/Marxists are counting on religious people not voting. If they do not, then they are idiots. Our votes are not necessarily for Romney, but against Obama. We cannot stand that big-eared cake boy.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
justangry
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:17am
Religious folks are pumped to vote for the family and society’s morals. You know, collectivism.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- woodyee
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:25am
  I haven’t been into a church in over a year – took a break from giving weak-kneed priests the “what-for” (in private). But I’ll be voting No-Bama in just a few weeks – can’t wait! Weeeeee!
  
  http://www.churchmilitant.tv
  
  Report this comment
- justangry
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:38am
  I’d like to see the Marxist out of office myself. Of course, I don’t want to see Romney in the office either. I’d actually like to see someone with different policies.
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:41am
  Bots and owsers will vote for their messiahs. If they remember the clock and calender.
  
  Report this comment
NO_MORE_OBAMA
Posted on October 23, 2012 at 11:17am
WRONG! I have not stepped in a church in 30 years and I can’t wait to vote. As a matter of fact, I might even try and vote twice.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.