USA Today: Americans are running away from church. But they don’t have to run from each other.

A recent study from the Public Religion Research Institute found that more than a quarter of Americans consider themselves religiously unaffiliated. The perceived importance of religion also has declined. A decade ago, 63% of Americans cited religion as the most or one of the most important things in their lives; now, that number stands at 52%. 

This decline is not random, however. Those most likely to leave religion are white, formerly Christian-affiliated Americans. The majority say they have stopped believing in the religion’s teachings as their primary reason for stepping away. [continue reading]