More Americans claim no religious affiliation, study shows
Number up 5 percent
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Posted: 10/09/2012
Last Updated:
226 days ago
NEW YORK - The number of Americans who don't consider themselves religious is growing, according to a new study.
The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life found the number of Americans with no religious affiliation has increased from 15 to 20 percent in the last five years.
The trend has political implications. Americans who describe themselves as having no religion vote overwhelmingly for Democrats and support abortion rights and gay marriage at a much higher-rate than the U.S. public at large.
But the unaffiliated include people who still say they believe in God, pray daily or consider themselves "spiritual" but not "religious."
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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