MORE AMERICANS CHANGING RELIGIONS, EMBRACING ATHEISM

The new PRRI study, titled "Religion and Congregations in a Time of Social and Political Upheaval," surveyed over 6,600 adults from all 50 states.

For the one in four Americans who switched religions, the majority (56%) stated that they stopped believing in the teachings of their previous religion. Other reasons proffered for leaving their erstwhile creeds include negative teachings about the LGBT community (30%), growing up in an irreligious family (29%), scandals involving religious leaders (27%), traumatic events (18%) and excessive focus on politics by their church (17%).

Religious fervor is also waning stateside.

According to PRRI, "Today, 16% of Americans say that religion is the most important thing in their life, [and] 36% say religion is one among many important things." But a mere 10 years ago, 20% of Americans considered religion the most important thing, and 43% regarded it as one among many important things.