A recent study found that approximately 20 percent of the American public does not claim a religion.

According to a Pew Research Center study, the number of Americans not claiming a religion is increasing rapidly. 

The numbers are higher for the millennial generation, but the study breaks affiliations down even further. 

Younger millennials, aged 18 to 22, are 34 percent unaffiliated. Older millennials — born from 1981 to 1989 — are 30 percent unaffiliated.

Michael Pasquier, religious studies professor and the department’s undergraduate adviser, said the increase is a part of the “rise of the nones.”

“There is this group of people, especially among democrats and the young, that just don’t have an opinion about religion,” Pasquier said. “It isn’t that they are agnostic or atheist, they just simply don’t have an opinion. The person might still be religious though. Many just choose to express their religion outside of church membership.”

Pasquier added that the “two big payoffs” from the study are that there are more Americans claiming the “none” label and that the number of Protestants is decreasing.

“There are more people that just don’t claim a religion, and that number will continue to rise,” he said. “Also, I think we will see that Louisiana doesn’t really show these trends. Only 8 percent of people in Louisiana claim the ‘none’ label. LSU is probably around there.”

He estimated most of the “nones” are young white Protestants and Catholics.

Despite Louisiana’s slow shift to the “none” label, many students are noticing a change in their peers’ religious affiliations. 

Trey Krause, mass communication junior, said he comes from a strong Catholic family and knew he would be tempted to stray from his beliefs. 

To combat temptation, he immersed himself in ministry at Christ the King Parish and Catholic Center at LSU.

“It’s difficult because students are away from their parents for the first time,” Krause said. “I think it could be a generational thing. We just might be more apathetic than other generations.”

Krause also attributed the decline in religious affiliation on campus to the Consuming Fire Fellowship — a group of Evangelical Christians who preach in Free Speech Plaza about the perils of sin.

“They come in and scare away people walking by,” Krause said.

William Sanchez, mechanical engineering sophomore, said the “rise of the nones” can be attributed to college students’ priorities.  

“People tell me all the time ‘Man, why don’t you listen to what God is telling you?’” he said. “I tell them, ‘Right now God is telling me to do my homework and get good grades.’”

Reverend Drew Sutton, the director and campus minister of the Wesley Foundation, said he makes a conscious effort to leave the decision up to the students. Sutton also said the images of college frequently conflict with religious beliefs.

“I think it is the same with any college,” he said. “Until you leave home, people are told that alcohol and sex is bad. I think it creates a desire for those negative things, but other priorities play into apathy.”

Sutton added that the increase in “nones” isn’t necessarily negative. He said the “rise of the nones” means that students have taken a careful look at each religion and may not agree with its dogma.

‘I still go to church, but once I came to college I decided to branch out.’
‘I am Muslim, but my religion really hasn’t changed. I still worship God just the same.’