USA Today has an article about the results of a survey by The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life that show that the percentage of Americans who do not affiliate with any religion has risen to 20%.
I haven't read the The Pew Forum's report yet. What amused me though is the reaction of some of the religious persons quoted in the USA Today article.
First up is Rev. Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptists Theological Seminary, who frets that "Today, there's no shame in saying you're an unbeliever, no cultural pressure to
claim a religious affiliation, no matter how remote or loose."
Right, how dare we be open about being atheist, agnostic or just spiritual!
Then from North Dakota we have Wanda Melchert, who in response to The Pew Forum's report declares "we're praying about this. We feel there's a great need for people to turn back
to God. When we lose that, it's dangerous for our country."
Really? How so?
What is potentially dangerous is the possibility of violent religious reactionaries lashing out at a society that they feel they can no longer control.
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