Bring out your felids: ‘Tis the feast of St. Gertrude of Nivelles, patron saint of cats

March 17, 2015 • 7:30 am

UPDATE: The time is up for submitting your cat photos. Thanks to all for doing so!

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The occasion was announced in a tw**t by Rev. Richard Coles (via Matthew Cobb):

Let’s make that wave a tsunami. Readers, send in one picture of your favorite cat, along with its name and perhaps one sentence about it (as well as what name you want to use). If I get more than five photos I’ll add them to this post. Now’s the chance to make your moggie a star. Cutoff time for sending pix is noon Chicago time.

And indeed, the tw**t about the feast day is true: St. Gertrude (162s-1659) is the patron saint of cats (also gardeners, travelers, widows, the poor, and the mentally ill). She will protect you against mice, rats, and insanity. Catster gives a bit of the story as well as some nice photos:

St-Gertrude-cats-statue — A cat petitions St. Gertrude in this statue located in the saint’s hometown of Nivelles, Belgium. Photo by Jean-Pol Grandmont.

From Catster:

There’s no single story that links St. Gertrude to her patronage of cats. However, writings confirm that she and her nuns kept cats to control the rodent population. Some people believe her patronage most likely originated from the claim that water from her well and bread baked in her oven were thought to repel mice and rats. (And I thought I was a bad cook!)

Other accounts say she prayed for the mice to go away and they did. Because of the great mouse exodus, people referred to her as the patroness of cat lovers. She is often depicted with a cat near her or with mice running up her staff. The mice in her icons are said to represent souls trapped in Purgatory, whom she diligently prayed for. And we ailurophiles know that cats and mice go together like saints and Heaven.

St-Gertrude-cats-Console-Oudegracht-321 — St. Gertrude is depicted in a stone relief on a canal known as Oudegracht in the Dutch city of Utrecht. Photo by Kattenkruid.

*******

Here we go. From reader Chris:

This is Stimpy (named after another famous feline without a tail) and her hobbies include sleeping, eating, exposing herself and lap warming.

From Dorsa Amir, “Emerson chasing the sunlight.”

From Mark Emerson:

Here’s our cat Mooch, up a tree, stalking birds. Maybe she thinks she blends in.

From John Williamson:

You often hear of Kings and Queens, but this is Jacks. He looks pretty regal basking in the sun in the garage after some string-play.

From reader Denise:

Willow, nonchalant, after delivering post-dawn present of dead juvenile rat this morning to my front door step. I live in a converted barn next to a working farm (UK) – Willow heaven.

From Phil:

Attached is a picture of my cat Zoey. She has a serious attitude and takes sass from no one. Despite what the picture indicates she hates to travel but loves to bite fingers (especially if you’re asleep) and electric blankets.

Reader Lauren sent two pictures, but I’ll allow the N = 1 rule to be violated this one time (one cat per person, please!):

Here are two photos of my cats. One is Foxbat practicing to be an Art Institute lion. The other is the late Smaug in one of my favorite poses.

Our own Matthew Cobb sent a photo of his new kitten, Harry, whose peskiness drove one of the older cats, Pepper, into the wastebasket:

From reader Diana MacPherson:

Fred is the only cat I’ve ever had because after I had him I became allergic to cats. He was a feral cat and he preferred it that way as he took off one day and didn’t come back. Look how cute he was though!

From Ken Elliott:

In an attempt to get something fun despite the off season flavor, here is Gunner plahying Santa’s helper back in Christmas of 2013. He is, of course, lying on his Gunners blanket.

From Mary Bierbaum:

This is Ajax. He came to us one cold, snowy January night two years ago. He was skinny and had a badly healed broken hip. He invited himself in and never left.

From Lori Way:

Here is Sophie in all her glory.

Reader serendipitydawg sent a photo of poor George:

The attached is one of the only images I have at my office; it shows George in a sad state after having pins inserted into all of the bones in his foot, having broken them all somehow. After 12 weeks being in plaster and being unable to roam far and wide he recovered and 2 years on you would never know his leg was broken.

From reader HaggisForBrains:

Here are Monte Carlo (Monte to his friends, and everyone was his friend) and Morgan (named after a vintage three-wheeler car, because he was somewhat unstable on his feet), as kittens, both now sadly deceased.

From Reader Maria:

Salem is 14 years old, spoiled rotten, and very much loved (not to mention, gorgeous!). As you can see, she “decorates” the house.

From Palaeo Sam:

This is Kitty, she is crazy and adept at opening closed doors (do you suppose the two are connected?):

From Michael Day:

Attached is a picture of two of our cats, Bowmen (L) and Sam (R). They are neutered males who love snuggling together in our garage. This is rare photo, since they both usually leap up out of the box, utterly embarrassed, if caught in the act, so to speak.

Ben Goren sends his iconic cat:

This is Baihu. “It ain’t easy living with a god.”

Reader ManOutOfTime sent his cat:

This is Mini Me, so named because he is fluffy and opinionated, like his human mama (my wife). He is a lean 14-lb cat who looks fat but it is all fur. Here he is having a rest on mama’s boot, cruelly exposing the furry underbelly that I want to rub but am NOT ALLOWED TO RUB.

From reader John:

Here is (rather, are) mine. Benny is watching over Babette as she prepares for a bath. (She did not take one.)

Reader Susan sent a pair of cats named after a Strident Atheist:

Ingy and Sol, brothers named in honour of Robert G. Ingersoll, sleeping the sleep of the just.

Reader Merilee sent a photo of her cat Booker. She has apparently done something I used to do to my cats to efface their dignity: turn their ears inside out:

From reader Kathy:

Both Lily and Tiger would like to sit in my lap, but they will not share. Whose will is stronger?

Louis and Andrea sent a photo of a cat named after a state:

Here’s a picture of our cat Texas. She’s one and a half years old and very gentle. She loves climbing, purring, and looking out the window.

From our own Greg Mayer:

Peyton, the philosopickal cat, on Gertrude’s Eve, helping to unpack a newly arrived laptop.

From reader Art:

Here is a picture of our cat Princess. She adopted us 15 years ago and occasionally will help with the ironing if she’s awake.

Reader Jennifer Apple sends a photo of her pal:

This is Danny, my best buddy of 13 years, enjoying the fireplace and his personal rug from the Snow Leopard Trust.

Danny

From Linda Grilli:

Pewter playing with his favorite toy, water, with Billy the Kit looking on and learning how to do it.

From reader Rachel:

This is my boy, Lloyd. I’d hoped he’d climb into the pumpkin since he’s obsessed with being *in* things, but I guess that’s where he draws the line.

From reader Abnormal Wrench:

This is Artemis doing her best impression of Maru. She was 5 months old then. She is one year old now but this was all I had on my phone to post in short notice. She loves playing fetch with bottle caps; we play every night.

From Peter Nothnagle:

Gus, enjoying a quiet moment in a sunbeam (this photo was taken this very morning).

Reader John Mitchell sends a three-legged cat:

Leela lost her front leg (and almost her life) to a possum when she was nine months old. She showed amazing resilience in the months of operations and other complications afterwards, and has grown into an incredibly friendly and charming companion. Most mornings she’s out greeting the many fans she has in the neighborhood – she knows more of them than I do!

Reader Cliff sent two Persians:

I am attaching pictures of two of my favorite cats, even though I know you are not particularly fond of Persians. The first is Black Cherry (who we called “Cricket”, because that’s what he reminded us of when first born, and the second is a little cream Persian named Miss American Pie, whose weight never exceeded 6 lbs., so I called her my “pocket Persian”. Both deceased; both still loved.

Reader Todd sent a lovely little moggie:

Here’s one of my (5) rescue kitties as a youngster. His name is Copper and he was born with a bobtail (a one inch stub that wiggles before he pounces).

From reader Brad Day:

Spicy J, reviewing a map of the plotted GPS data from the tracking device she had implanted on me.

Reader Nicole sends a funny cat portrait:

Ginger Bravo poses for a portrait of Madonna and Child.

From reader Amy:

This is “kitten” on his perch, a much better vantage point to see the birds and chipmunks. Turns out Leon is not the only cat that likes a leash! However, I would not be able to fit this felid in a backpack. Now 16 years old he weighs in at 20 pounds.

From reader Taskin:

I noticed you already have a Gus in the sun this morning, so I thought I’d send another. You can’t have too many sun cats!

Reader Stepha sent a black cat (we have many!):

This is Schrödinger (not a great pic, but the best one on my phone). He showed up on my doorstep, frightened & starving, several years ago, & I adopted him despite my allergies. It was one of the best decisions of my life.

Reader anonypuss sends a photo of the lovely Oskar:

… Iz true, I do have many different faces….

Reader Simon Hayward, new to Chicago sent two cats (we’ve seen the ten-legged Titan before):

Cheating – it’s both cats.
Titan says “meh – atheist cat haz no needs of saint”
Pachecca says “does saint haz can opener?”

Reader Charlie Jones sent one in the closing minutes:

Attached is Grover yawning. A bit out of focus, but an impressive maw nonetheless. Feel free to post; photographer is Hannah Jones, age 13.

And one slipped under the wire, sent by reader Erin Coldrick:

An uncomfortable looking position but it seemed to work for him nonetheless. My always photogenic cat’s name is Yarn. He’s put up with his staff (Erin-me) snapping photos of him for 4 years now. He’s my snuggly little baby!! 🙂 All around great cat, although my husband gives a different story. Yarn tends to be quite vocal. Maybe some Siamese in his family lineage?? 🙂

And. . . .time is UP! Hold onto your kitteh photos for the next time. Thanks to all for their lovely photos. I for one was glad to see what my readers’ cats looked like.

Tuesday: Hili dialogue

March 17, 2015 • 4:59 am

It’s Tuesday and, just awake, I hear the wind howling outside. Our temperatures yesterday were in the 70s (Fahrenheit), and it was lovely. Today it will be cold again, and rain is predicted. (That’s okay, as my car needs a “natural” wash to purge it of winter’s salt. It is also the Feast of St. Gertrude, the patron saint of cats, so prepare to send me a photo of your cat (see next post). The first cat photo of the day is, of course, of the Furry Princess of Poland, Navel of the World: Ms. Hili, who is apparently usurping Andrzej’s chair in the guise of helping him.

A: You are making it difficult for me to work.

Hili: On the contrary, when a human lounges comfortably in an armchair, he loses the ability to concentrate.

In Polish:

Ja: Utrudniasz mi pracę.
Hili: Przeciwnie, kiedy człowiek rozsiada się wygodnie w fotelu traci zdolność koncentracji.

Mr. Deity on the Chapel Hill murders and their sequelae

March 16, 2015 • 4:31 pm

Here Brian Keith Dalton, in his “Way of the Mister” series (he’s not playing God here), discusses the Chapel Hill murders of three Muslims by Craig Hicks, and the subsequent rush to pin that crime on atheism. His point is that those who pin the violence on New Atheists (none of whom call for violence) while defending religious scriptures (which explicitly call for violence) are simply hypocrites.

Mr. Deity is becoming quite the strident atheist!

Cat scratches woman! Taylor Swift’s cat injured her $40 million legs

March 16, 2015 • 3:40 pm

Here’s some rare celebrity gossip on this site, posted because it involves a celebrity-scratching cat.

Taylor Swift is reportedly getting her legs insured for forty million dollars. Although I didn’t believe that because it was reported by The National Enquirer, the Instagram photo and caption below, showing a scratch made by her cat Meredith, either substantiates that rumor or mocks it. Regardless, it shows that cats respect neither fame nor money:

Screen Shot 2015-03-16 at 8.27.53 AM

That’s a nasty scratch! Is she going to now write a song about being clawed by a cat she was only trying to love?

Swift has two cats. The malefactor who scratched her is Meredith Gray, a Scottish Fold named after the character played by Ellen Pompeo on the t.v. show “Grey’s Anatomy”. Here’s Meredith as a kitten:

Her other cat is Olivia Benson, named after Mariska Hargitay’s detective character on the t.v. show “Law and Order SVU”. Here’s Swift with Olivia, clearly another lop-eared cat:

I don’t much like her music, but I like her cats!

Mirabile dictu: Krauss publishes pro-science and anti-religion piece in The New Yorker

March 16, 2015 • 12:56 pm

It’s well known to us New Yorker fans that the magazine doesn’t much countenance criticism of religion. That’s always baffled me since it’s a magazine run by left-leaning New Yorkers. And I wish they’d get with the Zeitgeist: their current avoidance of the issue not only enables superstition, but bucks the tide of increasing secularism in America. There’s a reason for that tide of nonbelief, but the New Yorker stays well away from it.

A welcome exception, though, is a new piece by Lawrence Krauss at the magazine’s online version (why wasn’t it in the paper version?), “Teaching doubt.” They even head the article with this picture:

(Of course, that could simply be a sign about the metaphorical nature of the Bible, but I prefer to construe it as “The Bible is not true!”)

Krauss’s is a short piece, and most readers here have heard the arguments before, but remember that it’s aimed at New Yorker readers, not at us. And so those readers might be shocked–shocked, I tell you!—to hear that science and religion aren’t compatible. I especially appreciated Krauss’s dismantling of Gould’s NOMA hypothesis, which I do at great length in The Albatross. Gould, of course, didn’t devise the notion that religion and science should occupy separate spheres of influence, with the former dealing with values, morals, and meaning, and the latter with facts about the cosmos. That idea was limned by others before him, including Alfred North Whitehead. But Krauss takes it apart deftly, at least from one side:

Recent studies—including a comprehensive national survey by researchers at Penn State University, in 2007—show that up to sixty per cent of high-school biology teachers shy away from adequately teaching evolution as a unifying principle of biology. They don’t want to risk potential controversy by offending religious sensibilities. Instead, many resort to the idea, advocated by the late Stephen Jay Gould, that science and religion are “non-overlapping magisteria”—separate traditions of thinking that need not contradict one another.

“Non-overlapping magisteria” has a nice ring to it. The problem is that there are many religious claims that not only “overlap” with empirical data but are incompatible with it. As a scientist who also spends a fair amount of time in the public arena, if I am asked if our understanding of the Big Bang conflicts with the idea of a six-thousand-year-old universe, I face a choice: I can betray my scientific values, or encourage that person to doubt his or her own beliefs. More often than you might think, teaching science is inseparable from teaching doubt.

And that last sentence is the point of Krauss’s piece. It’s okay to say “I don’t know” when you don’t have the relevant facts. That’s the ethos of science that has yet to permeate society as a whole.

The implicit message of the piece, derived from its approbation of doubt, is that there is a clash between science and religion, and science wins—for religion has no way of ascertaining its confident assertions of truth. Yes, churches and pastors may pay lip service to the “doubts” of believers, but those are always supposed to be resolved—not by finding out facts but by devising ways to buttress one’s faith. Here are a few more passages that I’m still surprised to find in the New Yorker (my emphasis).

. . . earlier this year, an AP-GfK poll revealed that less than a third of Americans are willing to express confidence in the reality of human-induced climate change, evolution, the age of the Earth, and the existence of the Big Bang. Among those surveyed, there was a direct correlation between religious conviction and an unwillingness to accept the results of empirical scientific investigation. Religious beliefs vary widely, of course—not all faiths, or all faithful people, are the same. But it seems fair to say that, on average, religious faith appears to be an obstacle to understanding the world.

I’m stunned! I hope my friends on the New Yorker staff read and absorb that sentence.

And Krauss’s ending:

One thing is certain: if our educational system does not honestly and explicitly promote the central tenet of science—that nothing is sacred—then we encourage myth and prejudice to endure. We need to equip our children with tools to avoid the mistakes of the past while constructing a better, and more sustainable, world for themselves and future generations. We won’t do that by dodging inevitable and important questions about facts and faith. Instead of punting on those questions, we owe it to the next generation to plant the seeds of doubt.

I like the part about “facts and faith,” of course, for that’s largely the title of The Albatross. Kudos to Krauss for pushing the New Yorker‘s envelope, and let’s hope the magazine gets a bit more forthright in criticizing what “appears to be an obstacle to understanding the world.”

Jane Goodall condemns GM food, says its proponents are “anti-science”

March 16, 2015 • 12:20 pm

Oh dear Lord. I don’t know if Jane Goodall is simply ignorant of the evidence for the safety of GM (genetically modified) food, or, like Lynn Margulis, has become so taken by her own fame that she thinks her pronouncements on subjects outside her field are decisive. Or it could be that the Daily Mail’s report is simply wrong, but I’d bet big money against that. And it’s even worse, for Goodall apparently called the advocates of GM food “anti-science,” which is in fact a characterization of her own attitude on the issue. As the Mail reports:

Dame Jane Goodall, the renowned primate expert, has condemned ‘deluded’ politicians for pushing ‘Frankenstein Food’.

The highly respected academic has endorsed a new book, which argues the companies responsible for developing genetically modified farming and food have twisted the evidence to minimise the dangers.

. . . Dame Jane argues that the advocates of GM food have ignored evidence of harm with the result it is they who are guilty of being ‘anti-science’.

Here are more of her claims, which I’ll reproduce in extenso (I haven’t read her foreword)

Dame Jane’s concerns have been raised in the foreword to a new book, ‘Altered Genes, Twisted Truth’, which is written by the American public interest lawyer, Steve Druker.

Its publication comes as the US is seeing a growing backlash against GM. Just last week it emerged that the country’s favourite chocolate manufacturer, Hershey, is to drop GM from its products.

Dame Jane said she has become appalled as what she calls a ‘shocking corruption of the life forms of the planet’.

She said the GM process, which involves adding foreign genes to plants to create toxins to fend off insects or give them immunity to being sprayed with chemical pesticides has fundamentally changed them. [JAC: Yes, but so has artificial selection, which in fact changes more genes in a species than does “the GM process.”]

However, she complains that supporters of the technology have committed a ‘fraud’ by trying to give the false impression that these new plants are essentially the same as those created by conventional plant breeding.

She said: ‘This very real difference between GM plants and their conventional counterparts is one of the basic truths that biotech proponents have endeavoured to obscure. As part of the process, they portrayed the various concerns as merely the ignorant opinions of misinformed individuals – and derided them as not only unscientific, but anti-science.

There’s a difference between the technology of gene transfer (used in making GMOs) and that of artificial selection, as the latter involves selecting on naturally-occurring (or induced) mutations in a species or breed; but that difference is irrelevant to the real question: whether GMOs are dangerous. And on that the science is decisive: the answer is, “so far, no.”

Student Council at University of California Irvine bans all flags because they create “unsafe spaces”

March 16, 2015 • 10:15 am

It used to be that the Left was the bastion of free speech in America—at least that’s the way I remember it from the turbulent times of the Sixties. It was the Left that, in the Fifties, opposed the censorship of McCarthy; it was the Left that fought UC Berkeley’s ban on political organization on campus, giving rise to the Free Speech Movement; it was the Left who created and supported the American Civil Liberties Union, dedicated to preserving Constitutional rights like free speech (even for Nazis marching in Skokie, Illinois); and it was members of the Left who were beat up and even killed by publicly opposing the Vietnam War.

Things have changed. The Left, both on campus and elsewhere, is in fact becoming the repository of censorship: censorship of free speech on the grounds that it creates “unsafe spaces” that make people uncomfortable. This is the road to First Amendment Perdition, and I oppose it with every molecule of my aging body.

And nowhere is this tension more obvious than in a ludicrous resolution passed by the Associated Students at the University of California, Irvine (ASUCI) on March 5. According to Snopes.com, the resolution, which you can find here, banned the display of flags of any country in the lobby of the student government offices—on the grounds that they disrupt “cultural inclusiveness.” I reproduce it below. It’s poorly worded, full of bad grammar, but was passed by a vote of 6-4, with two students abstaining. Pay attention to the words in bold at bottom, which perfectly exemplify the doublethink of supposedly left-leaning students.

Item Number: 81	Legislation Number (B: Bill, R: Resolution): R50-70
Author: Matthew Guevara	Second: Khaalidah Sidney
Synopsis: Flags and decoration adjustment for inclusivity
Date of Presentation: March 3rd, 2015

Whereas flags are a symbol of a nation, are used as decorations and have a wide range of cultural significance. Whereas flags are typically viewed as patriotic symbols of a single nation, are often associated with government and military due to their history and have a wide variety of interpretations. Whereas the traditional patriotic interpretation of a flag is a result of a nation and/or persons who encourage a nationalistic understanding of the flag. Whereas traditional understandings and ideologies, as encouraged by the national government, include liberty, democracy, constitution values and are up for interpretation on constituents. Whereas flags not only serve as symbols of patriotism or weapons for nationalism, but also construct cultural mythologies and narratives that in turn charge nationalistic sentiments. Whereas flags function specifically for a nation and Whereas people are assimilated into national ideologies by deployment of this cultural artifact. Whereas flags construct paradigms of conformity and sets homogenized standards for others to obtain which in this country typically are idolized as freedom, equality, and democracy. [JAC: OMG, what horrible standards!] Whereas symbolism is interpreted differently by different groups or persons based on individual unique experiences. Whereas a common ideological understanding of the United states includes American exceptionalism and superiority. Whereas the American flag is commonly flown in government public service locations, military related entities, at homes, in foreign lands where the US government has a presence. Whereas the American flag has been flown in instances of colonialism and imperialism. Whereas symbolism has negative and positive aspects that are interpreted differently by individuals. Whereas displaying a flag does not express only selective aspects of its symbolism but the entire spectrum of its interpretation. Whereas designing a culturally inclusive space is taken seriously by ASUCI Whereas designing a culturally inclusive space aims to remove barriers that create undue effort and separation by planning and designing spaces that enable everyone to participate equally and confidently. Whereas the removal of barriers is the best option at promoting an inclusive space. Whereas it is a psychological effect for individuals to identify negative aspects of a space rather than positive ones. Whereas whenever public spaces are produced and managed by narrow interests, they are bound to become exclusive places and Whereas the planning process must be inclusive in such that designers are advised to forget about the ‘average’ user or themselves and instead begin the open space designing process with ‘deep knowledge’ of the preferences of the actual communities who are likely to use those spaces Whereas designers should be careful about using cultural symbols as the symbols will inherently remain open for interpretation. Whereas once an open space is created, it is important to employ continual evaluation in order to understand changing use patterns and needs over time. Whereas a high-quality culturally inclusive spaces is essential in any society that embodies a dynamic and multifaceted culture Whereas freedom of speech is a valued right that ASUCI supports Whereas freedom of speech, in a space that aims to be as inclusive as possible can be interpreted as hate speech. Let it be resolved that ASUCI make every effort to make the Associated Students main lobby space as inclusive as possible. Let it further be resolved that no flag, of any nation, may be hanged on the walls of the Associate Student main lobby space. Let it be further be resolved that if a decorative item is in the Associate student lobby space and issues arise, the solution will be to remove the item if there is considerable request to do so.

Referred to:	Committee on:
Vote Required: Majority	FINAL VOTE: VETOED YEA: 6 NAY: 4 ABS: 2

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OFCALIFONIA, IRVINE ON THE DATE OF March 5th, 2015 HAS TAKEN ACTION ON THIS LEGISLATION.

Freedom of speech is a value that these students supposedly support, but only partly, for “freedom of speech, in a space that aims to be as inclusive as possible can be interpreted as hate speech.” Right there you have the whole crazy rationale behind “safe spaces” and the Columbia University signs proclaiming such spaces in students’ rooms. The definition of a “safe space” is this: “a space where nobody will be presented with ideas that make them uncomfortable by challenging what they already believe.”

It’s deplorable. College is supposed to prepare you for the real world by providing you with a diverse group of people and ideas that challenge your worldview. If it’s a good college, it will be a place of intellectual ferment, giving you the yeast to raise your thoughts (and not your dough). If these UCI students had their way, there would be no intellectual give-and-take outside of class (or even in class), and the whole college would be a “safe space”.

Now I’m no big fan of flags: I’ve never flown one or even owned one, as I feel more part of a world community than a specifically American community. But I would never try to ban them, especially on the ludicrous grounds that they create an unsafe, non-inclusive, and psychologically debilitating climate. The whole resolution above reeks of postmodernism, and the sentence about free speech being equated with hate speech is the precise trope behind the growing censorship on American college campuses.

It’s ironic that this kind of nonsense is taking place at the University of California, a system once known for its liberal students. And fortunately, this ill-conceived resolution was nipped in the bud: two days after this was passed, the ASUCI’s executive board vetoed the decision.

Religion fades in the U.S.

March 16, 2015 • 9:10 am

Just remember, you heard it here first, and a fair while back: religion is on its way out in the U.S., no matter what John Gray claims. The diminution of faith in my land is much to be welcomed, and, according to Tobin Grant at the Religious News Service, is the ineluctable conclusion of the latest General Social Survey, an survey of American demography, attitudes and beliefs conducted every other year using face-to-face interviews.

This is the genuine Good News. Tobin highlights three conclusions (his words are indented)

1. The “nones” are growing. “Nones are those people who report no formal affiliation with an established church, i.e., have no religious preference. Not all of these are nonbelievers; in fact, I think most of them are either believers who haven’t found a place to worship or have a diffuse kind of “spirituality.” Nevertheless, more than 1 in 5 Americans is now a self-identified member of this group:

When asked their “religious preference”, nearly one-in-four Americans now says “none.” [JAC: it looks closer to 20% than 25%.] Up until the 1990s, this group of so-called “nones” hovered in the single digits. The 2014 GSS showed that the so-called nones are 21 percent. How large is this group of nones? There are nearly as many Americans who claim no religion as there are Catholics (24 percent). If this growth continues, in a few years the largest “religion” in the U.S. may be no religion at all.

Here’s the time course of “none-itude”; the trend is clear:

As Tobin notes,

An important point to remember as you see the data: each percentage point increase represents a growth of 2.5 million adults.

For the three graphs, we see between a one and three point rise in secularity since 2012, with 7.5 million more people never entering a church or other worship service than just two years earlier.

2. Church attendance is down.

The number of Americans who never darken a church door is also at a new high. Over a third of Americans (34 percent) never attend a worship service (other than weddings and other ceremonies). This is a 3.4 point increase from just a few years earlier. Put differently, the group of Americans who don’t attend church grew by a rate of over ten percent in two years.

As Tobin’s data implies, a 3.4 percent increase in nonattendance means that there are 8.5 million more empty spaces in pews than there were a few years ago.

3. The percentage of Americans who never pray has gone up by about 30% in the last decade (at least that’s what I glean from the graph below).

This is still too many, for 6 out of 7 Americans still appear to pray sometimes. Unless they conceive of prayer as a form of meditation, and don’t assume that somebody’s listening, this shows that 6 out of 7 American think that Somebody is Listening Up There. And that means that of 20% of people who are “nones”, a lot of them are still praying.

Regardless, this clearly shows a trend of increasing secularism in the U.S. We’re getting more like Europe, which I think is the inevitable result of a combination of modernity (science removed reasons to believe in God) and the spread of Enlightenment values (it’s irrational to believe without evidence).

Now remember, these data are taken from in-person surveys, so there may be a bias towards answering untruthfully. But if there is, I think that, in light of the opprobrium attached to nonbelief in America, it would be in the direction of people saying that they were more religious than they were; that is, the proportion of unbelief, non-prayer, etc. would be underestimated. And you’d still have to explain why, over the past ten years, it would have become more acceptable for people to claim nonbelief when they really were believers. I can’t think of a good reason for that.

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