America's secular revival

"Five signs that, despite the GOP's efforts, religion's impact on U.S. politics will soon decline

1. American religious belief is becoming more fractured 

[...]


2. Non-belief — and acceptance of non-belief — on the rise 
Last month was the first time atheists were knocked from the top of America’s most hated list, an honor that now belongs to the Tea Party. While this development may have more to do with the fact that the mainstream media’s love affair with the Tea Party is not shared by most Americans, it also dovetails with increased visibility and acceptance of atheism. 

[...]

3. Growing numbers of young people who do not identify as religious  
As recently as 1990, all but 7 percent of Americans claimed a religious affiliation, a figure that had held constant for decades. Today, 17 percent of Americans say they have no religion, and these new “nones” are very heavily concentrated among Americans who have come of age since 1990. Between 25 percent and 30 percent of twentysomethings today say they have no religious affiliation — roughly four times higher than in any previous generation. 

[...]


4. Hate group that exploited religion to bash gays hemorrhaging funds 
In 2008, Focus on the Family had to cut its staff by 18 percent. Last week, FOTF had to do another round of cuts, again citing a drop in donations (though it claims the lower funding is a result of tough economic times). 

[...]

5. Getting married by friends 
A study last year by TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com showed that 31 percent of their users who married in 2010 used a family member or friend as the officiant, up from 29 percent in 2009, the first year of the survey."

Salon Mag/Alternet Sep 29, 2011

The latest “ex-gay” ruse: Junk science at its worst

"Focus on the Family’s Melissa Fryrear chirped about the “high . . . percentage of reported change.” But look at the numbers reported in the study:

33 people reported change in the desired manner (from gay at time 1 in the heterosexual direction at time 3)

29 reported no change

8 reported change in the “undesired direction”

3 were unsure how to describe their experience

25 dropped out of the study.

Add up those numbers: 33 + 29 + 8 + 3 + 25 = 98 (72 men and 26 women). A study claiming such global conclusions was based on a subject pool -- selected from Exodus clients -- of fewer than 100 people. The “high percentage” Ms. Fryrear chirped about is less than the combined percentage of those reporting “no change” and those who were “gayer” than when they entered the project."

Mel Seesholtz, Ph.D., Online Journal, Oct 1, 2007

Talk about gay science! Brought to you by the same morons that gave you "creation science".

He posted lots of nice references, so take a look. I found this one amusing:

“When I appeared with Chambers on the Faith Under Fire TV show, he insisted that millions and millions of people have found freedom from homosexuality through Jesus Christ. I questioned him, ‘Millions and millions?!? Do you have data to back this up.’ He proceeded to tell me about a five-year study they started with 100 people. I asked, ‘What happened to millions of millions?’”

Peterson Toscano's A Musing, March 02, 2006