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Secular and Liminal: Discovering Heterogeneity among Religious Nones

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  • Putnam, Robert David
  • Lim, Chaeyoon
  • MacGregor, Carol Ann

Abstract

This study examines the stability of religious preference among people who claim no religious preference in national surveys (i.e., religious nones). Using data from the Faith Matters Study, General Social Survey, and American National Election Study, we show that about 30 percent of religious nones in the first wave of the survey claim an affiliation with a religious group a year later. The percentage of religious nones remained stable in the two waves because a similar number of respondents moved in the opposite direction. Using various measures of religiosity, we show that most of these unstable nones report no significant change in religious belief or practice. We call them liminal nones as they stand halfway in and halfway out of a religious identity. We conclude by discussing the implications of our findings on the controversies surrounding the rise of religious nones in recent years.

Suggested Citation

  • Putnam, Robert David & Lim, Chaeyoon & MacGregor, Carol Ann, 2010. "Secular and Liminal: Discovering Heterogeneity among Religious Nones," Scholarly Articles 5341589, Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
    • Handle: RePEc:hrv:hksfac:5341589
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    1. Ragin, Charles C., 2000. "Fuzzy-Set Social Science," University of Chicago Press Economics Books, University of Chicago Press, edition 1, number 9780226702773, September.
    2. repec:ucp:bkecon:9780226702766 is not listed on IDEAS
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    1. Maryam Dilmaghani, 2018. "Which is greener: secularity or religiosity? Environmental philanthropy along religiosity spectrum," Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Springer;Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - SEEPS, vol. 20(2), pages 477-502, April.
    2. Adam Gemar, 2024. "Institutional Trust, Spirituality, and Religious Practice in the United States," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-19, January.
    3. Ayse Guveli & Lucinda Platt, 2023. "Religiosity of Migrants and Natives in Western Europe 2002–2018: Convergence and Divergence," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 39(1), pages 1-27, December.
    4. Maryam Dilmaghani, 2019. "Religiosity, Secularity and Fertility in Canada," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 35(2), pages 403-428, May.
    5. Jason Wollschleger & Lindsey R. Beach, 2013. "Religious chameleons: Exploring the social context for belonging without believing," Rationality and Society, , vol. 25(2), pages 178-197, May.
    6. Masakure, Oliver, 2016. "The effect of employee loyalty on wages," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 274-298.
    7. Jean M. Twenge & Ryne A. Sherman & Julie J. Exline & Joshua B. Grubbs, 2016. "Declines in American Adults’ Religious Participation and Beliefs, 1972-2014," SAGE Open, , vol. 6(1), pages 21582440166, March.
    8. Miles S. Marsala, 2019. "Approval of Euthanasia: Differences Between Cohorts and Religion," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(1), pages 21582440198, March.
    9. Maryam Dilmaghani, 2021. "Deep-Level Religious Diversity and Work-Life Balance Satisfaction in Canada," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(1), pages 315-350, February.

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