Good News for America......

For those of you that may not stay up on census type news. Last week a survey was published that studied religion in America, and the survey showed that "nones"—people claiming no religion—constitute the only "religious" tradition that's growing in all 50 states". This survey, called the "American Religious Identification Survey" was conducted by the Program on Public Values at Trinity College—pays special attention to the growing ranks of American "nones." From the press release:

The percentage of Americans claiming no religion, which jumped from 8.2 in 1990 to 14.2 in 2001, has now increased to 15 percent. Given the estimated growth of the American adult population since the last census from 207 million to 228 million, that reflects an additional 4.7 million "Nones." Northern New England has now taken over from the Pacific Northwest as the least religious section of the country, with Vermont, at 34 percent "Nones," leading all other states by a full 9 points.

"Many people thought our 2001 finding was an anomaly," [Ariela] Keysar said. We now know it wasn't. The 'Nones' are the only group to have grown in every state of the Union."

Now, I don't know about you, but I am happy to hear this kind of news because what it tells me is that more and more Americans are thinking rationally, instead of through the filter of superstition, when they make their decisions in everything from their personal life to their voting agendas.
It is my belief that once we can become a more secular society, we can be closer to being a truly free society instead of allowing our ideology and belief in something like a book that we think was written by an all knowing man in the sky who, if he had his way, would have you stone your own children just because they talk back to you and treat women as your property (among many other inhumane actions that the "bible" instructs).
So, all I can say is...good for you America. And, I hope that Barack Obama will be able to get his plans to push more advancement in science and research going in full speed as soon as possible. After our country's advancements in science and technology have been pushed into virtual non-existence in the previous eight years of the Bush Presidency.
The only thing to think about is the fact that, although this large and steady growth of a very secular society in America is a good thing and a triumph for reason and logical, peaceful thinking in this country, there is also a sector of the far right, evangelical crowd in America that is feeling it's hold on this country slipping away. This is causing a gap in the middle to grow between non-religious and extremely-religious, which is causing a rather large culture clash to grow between the two sides. Furthermore, in my own opinion, it seems that the religious evangelical side is one that will respond with much more brutality in it's fight (they will see this growing rift as a fight, or battle, and that it is their duty to win this imaginary battle for their invisible friend in the sky by whatever means necessary). Just look at the battle that the Mormons and other powerful religions waged in California to put a stop to the laws allowing homosexual individuals to get married, as an example of how they will go nuts over limiting anyone's personal freedoms just because they think that their invisible friend doesn't like it.
Well, I've gotten off point. Initially I read this article, and just felt that it had some really good news for those of us who are tired of so much religious dogma controlling the decisions of many of the ruling powers in this country. I just hope that this trend of rational thinking continues.......