1. Dr Gladys Ganiel Queen’s University Belfast G.Ganiel@qub.ac.uk
The Apocalypse for Religion: Understanding People who identify as ‘No Religion’
Dr Gladys Ganiel Queen’s University Belfast

2. People of No Religion Country % No Religion Source USA 22.8%
2014, Pew Survey (the USA does not ask a religion question on its Census)
UK (England, Scotland, Wales)
46%
2015, YouGov Survey by Linda Woodhead (the UK does ask a religion question, last Census 2011, about 25%)
Australia
30%
2016 Census
Canada
25%
2013 National Household Survey (the Census does not ask about religion)
Norway
17%
2017 Statistics Norway; BUT in 2016, 39% of people told Ipsos Norway they don’t believe in God at all!
Sweden
27%
2015 ISSP Survey
Northern Ireland
2011 Census
Republic of Ireland
12%
Denmark
20%
2015 Eurobarometer Poll
Germany
33%
2011 Census. BUT large differences between East and West Germany; percentages for region vary from 13% to 77%

3. Least Religious Countries
China – 7%
Japan – 13%
Estonia – 16%
Sweden – 19%
Norway – 21%
Czech Republic – 23%
Hong Kong – 26%
Netherlands – 26%
Israel – 30%
UK – 30%
11. New Zealand – 33% 12. Australia – 34% 13. Azerbaijan – 34% 14. Belarus – 34% 15. Cuba – 34% 16. Germany – 34% 17. Vietnam – 34% 18. Spain – 37% 19. Switzerland – 38% 20. Albania, Austria, Hungary, Luxembourg – 39%

4. Questions
Do people who identify as ‘No Religion’ believe in a God or supernatural force?
What sort of frameworks do people of ‘No Religion’ use to live their lives?
Is there a relationship between ‘Nones’, ‘Dones’ and the Emerging Church?
How are institutional churches responding to people of ‘No Religion’?
How should institutional churches respond to people of ‘No Religion’?
Does the increase in people who identify as ‘No Religion’ mean the apocalypse for religion as we have known it?

5. Resources
Elizabeth Drescher (2016) Choosing our Religion: The Spiritual Lives of America’s Nones, Oxford University Press
Josh Packard and Ashleigh Hope (2015) Church Refugees: Sociologists Reveal why people are DONE with Church, but not their Faith, Group Publishing

6. Gender

7. Country you live in

8. No Religion on Census?

9. Have you identified as No Religion?

10. Do people of No Religion believe in God/supernatural force?

11. Top Spiritually meaningful practices (Drescher)
Enjoying time with family
Enjoying time with friends
Enjoying time with pets or other animals
Preparing and/or sharing food/meals
Praying
Enjoying nature
Listening to/playing music
Enjoying/creating art
Physical activity/sports (cycling, running)
Yoga
11. Meditation 12. Hiking 13. Personal travel 14. Journaling/writing 15. Participating in a community group (non-religious) 16. Dance 17. Volunteering 18. Caring for the sick or dying 19. Service activities within a religious group 20. Political activities

12. Family
Friends
Fido
Food
Good Samaritans
Cosmopolitan ethics

13. More questions …
Relationship between Nones, Dones and Emerging Church?
How churches are responding?
How churches SHOULD respond?

14. Does the increase in people who identify as ‘No Religion’ mean the apocalypse for religion as we have known it?

15. For more information visit my blog at www.gladysganiel.com
For more information visit my blog at: gladysganiel.com