Many people nowadays do not identify with a particular religion or feel that religious beliefs are not very important in their lives. This raises the question: What religion are you if you don’t care about religion? There are a few possible answers.
Quick Answer: If you don’t care about religion or religious beliefs, you could be considered nonreligious, secular, agnostic, atheist, or nothing in particular. The term “spiritual but not religious” also applies to some people who don’t identify with organized religion but still have spiritual beliefs.
What Does It Mean to Not Care About Religion?
Not caring about religion can mean different things:
- You do not follow any particular religious tradition or denomination.
- You do not hold strong beliefs about God or the supernatural.
- You do not engage in religious practices like praying, attending services, or reading scripture.
- Your life philosophy is not guided by religious teachings.
- Religious beliefs and values are not important to you.
In essence, being religiously unaffiliated means religion does not play a big role in a person’s identity or worldview. Their beliefs and behavior are not dictated by a religious authority or institution.
Nonreligious
One term for people who do not care about religion or religious involvement is “nonreligious.” This is a broad category that includes:
- Atheists – do not believe in any gods or spiritual beings.
- Agnostics – unsure about the existence of gods and consider it unknowable.
- “Nones” or people of “no religion” – do not identify with a specific religion.
- Secular and humanist – believe in reason/science, not religious authority.
Nonreligious people generally live their lives without religious motivations or constraints. Religion has little to no influence on their worldview and decision-making.
Key Stats
- About 22.8% of Americans identified as nonreligious in 2014, up from 8.2% in 1990. [1]
- Only 3% of Americans claimed to be atheist or agnostic in 2014. [1]
- “Nones” made up almost 23% of adults in America as of 2015. [2]
So while strict atheism remains rare in America, an increasing number do not identify with organized religion.
Secular
Secular means not relating to religion or spiritual matters. Someone who is secular focuses on the physical world and does not base their beliefs or values on religious doctrine. Secular people may still be spiritual in their own way or believe in a higher power. But they do not look to religion as an authority.
Some Key Aspects of Secularism:
- Separation of religion from state policies and governance.
- Belief that morality comes from human reason, not religious commands.
- Skepticism or rejection of religious supernatural claims.
- Value placed on empirical science and evidence-based thinking.
- Belief that meaning comes from making the most of life here and now, not afterlife rewards.
Secularists argue religion should not dictate public life in a pluralistic society. The percentage of secular Americans rose from 8% in 1990 to 18% in 2014. [1]
Agnostic
Agnostics believe that nothing can be known for certain about God’s existence or divine truths. Their position is one of skepticism rather than complete disbelief.
Two Types of Agnosticism:
- Apathetic agnosticism – the existence of gods is unknown and unknowable, but the issue is unimportant.
- Gnostic agnosticism – gods may exist but nothing can be known or proven either way.
Agnostics admit only what can be scientifically proven. They keep an open but doubtful mind regarding religious claims. Just 2% of Americans identified as agnostic in 2014. [1]
Atheist
Atheists expressly do not believe in any divine beings or spiritual realities. They accept only the natural world as explained by science.
Types of Atheism:
- “Soft” atheism – absence of belief in gods but open to the possibility.
- “Hard” atheism – affirmatively denies the existence of gods.
- Agnostic atheism – claims insufficient evidence to know if any deities exist or not.
- Antitheism – belief gods do not exist and often opposition to religious institutions.
Only about 4% of Americans identified as atheist in 2019. [3] But their numbers are growing, especially among younger generations.
Nothing in Particular
When asked their religion, many people respond “nothing in particular.” This means they do not identify with any established religious tradition.
“Nones” made up 48% of Americans born after 1990. Just 11% of “nones” qualify as outright atheists however. Most believe in a higher power but not within a formal church. [2]
This middle ground reflects amorphous spiritual beliefs combined with religious skepticism. “Nones” represent the fastest growing segment of American society, especially among millennials.
Spiritual But Not Religious
Some people consider themselves “spiritual but not religious.” This describes those who believe in:
- A supernatural realm or higher power.
- divine purpose, consciousness, or moral law.
- Pursuing personal growth and self-transcendence.
But they do not accept organized religions or follow religious rules. Instead, they seek their own spiritual experiences outside church walls.
Surveys suggest around 1 in 5 Americans identify as spiritual but not religious. [4] This reflects a more individualistic attitude toward spirituality.
So What Religion Are You If You Don’t Care?
If you do not care about religion or reject religious labels, you could identify as:
- Nonreligious
- Secular
- Agnostic
- Atheist
- “Nothing in particular”
- “Spiritual but not religious”
- Completely ambivalent about religion
Regardless of which term fits best, not prioritizing religion means you likely:
- Do not follow religious rules or teachings.
- Are skeptical of supernatural claims.
- Focus more on empirical science.
- Determine morality through reason.
- Do not attend religious services.
Your worldview is shaped by evidence and personal experience, not faith in doctrines. You look for meaning in the here and now rather than the afterlife.
What Percentage of the World is Not Religious?
It’s difficult to precisely measure how many people worldwide are nonreligious as definitions vary. But surveys indicate around 10-20% of the global population today does not identify with a religious group.
Regionally, the percentage of religiously unaffiliated ranges from: [5]
- Over 70% in China
- 50-60% in Estonia, Scandinavia, Czech Republic
- 30-40% in United States, Australia, United Kingdom
- Less than 10% in South America, Middle East, Southeast Asia
Key Factors Influencing Religious Unaffiliation:
- Communist regimes discouraging religion like China.
- Wealthier and more educated populations.
- Prizing scientific rationalism over faith.
- Rejection of oppressive religious dogmas.
- Valuing individual choice over tradition.
While most of the world remains actively religious, secular perspectives keep gaining ground globally.
What if I Don’t Know What Religion I Am?
Many people feel unsure exactly where they stand religiously. If you don’t know what belief system fits you best, don’t worry! Here are some tips:
- Examine your core values/beliefs non-judgmentally.
- Reflect on your spirituality apart from others’ expectations.
- Consider different religions’ worldviews.
- Discuss questions with people of diverse views.
- Learn about humanism, atheism, agnosticism.
- Check if local Unitarian Universalist groups appeal.
- Take belief quizzes.
- Read philosophers addressing religion’s big questions.
Discovering your perspective takes time and self-exploration. Be patient and know it’s okay not to fit a label perfectly.
Can I Have Morals Without Religion?
Absolutely! Many secular people lead principled lives based on reason rather than religion. Some key points:
- Morality can be defined by universal human values like compassion.
- Philosophers like Kant argued ethics can be rationally determined.
- Moral psychology studies innate social cooperation in humans.
- Secular laws forbid unethical acts like murder based on shared values.
- Many nonreligious people volunteer and give to charity.
In fact, rates of violent crimes and divorce tend to be lower in more secular societies. [6] Most nonreligious people have strong morals from secular family and community bonds.
Do Nonreligious People Fear Death More?
Surveys find that people without religion do not generally have greater anxiety about death than the religious. [7] Possible reasons:
- Nonreligious people are usually realistic about death as inevitable.
- Accepting mortality gives secular lives urgency and meaning.
- Leave positive legacies through people they impact.
- May still believe in some form of afterlife without religion.
- Strong focus on enjoying the here and now.
Ultimately, anxiety about death correlates more with overall happiness than a particular belief system. Religion does not guarantee reduced death anxiety.
Are Atheists Lonelier Without Community?
Secular people may lack the built-in community churches provide. But nonreligious people build community too:
- Through family ties, friendships, interest groups, and local networks.
- Humanist and atheist/agnostic social meetup groups.
- Online forums connecting nonreligious people.
- Skeptics societies and atheist conferences.
- Unitarian Universalist congregations.
- Volunteering with the nonreligious in need.
Loneliness depends much more on personality and relationships. Nonreligious people forge social bonds around shared interests, ethics, and sense of meaning like anyone.
Do I Need Religion to Be Happy?
Not at all. Multiple global surveys have found the nonreligious, on average, are as satisfied with their lives as the religious. [8] Some evidence implies religion does not itself increase happiness.
Possible factors in nonreligious happiness:
- Close personal relationships.
- Meaning derived from work, hobbies, creativity.
- Feeling connected to community and causes.
- Sense of freedom making life choices.
- Pursuing passions and self-growth.
- Contributing to collective human progress.
With so many secular sources of meaning and satisfaction available, religion is not required for a rich life.
Conclusion
If you do not care about religion or reject religious labels, you have plenty of good company. Millions find meaning, ethics, and community without formal religion through shared humanity. Don’t worry if no single label captures your perspective perfectly either. The diversity of nonreligious thought keeps growing. Wherever you stand, you can live an deeply principled, purposeful, and fulfilling life without religion as your guide. The only belief you really need is believing in yourself.
