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Optimism in a Post-Truth World

Long before fake news entered the lexicon, unquestioning adherence to religious beliefs laid the foundations for our post-truth world.
  
We have grounds for cautious optimism. For the first time in history, almost a full third of Americans (31%) declare that they are neither spiritual nor religious. Compared to 38% of "nones" over 65, 79% of nones under 30 became religiously unaffiliated before they turned 18. While white evangelicals are on the decline, unaffiliated nones have become the majority "religious" demographic in 20 of the 50 US states. Overall, the religiously unaffiliated make up 24% of the US population—up from 7% in 1976, 12% in 1996, 14% in 2000, 17% in 2008, and 20% in 2012!

 The direction of the future seems clearer than ever.


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