According to the American Religious Identification Survey of 2008, 15 percent of the U.S. population consider themselves to be nonreligious. So it’s no wonder that in January of next year the first academic journal on secular studies will be published.
The Institute for the Study of Secularism in Society and Cultureat Trinity College in Hartford has teamed up with the Non-religion and Secularity Research Network to launch this new publication, and I for one, can’t wait to
Tracy
read it.
It’s not that I applaud the ‘nones’ (that’s what researchers are calling the non-religious), but I am fascinated by this trend and I’m glad that academics will be researching this segment and writing about it. The journal will be called Secularism and Nonreligion and will be manned by scholars from all across the globe.
The word ‘secular’ simply pertains to worldly things that aren’t spiritual, sacred or temporal.
According to the journal website, the publication will explore all aspects of what it means to be secular, focusing mainly on social scientific disciplines, including: psychology, sociology, political science, women’s studies, economics, geography, demography, anthropology, public health, and religious studies.
Surely they won’t have a shortage of things to write about.
If, like me, you’re interested in or concerned about this religious exodus then it’s important for you to read this journal. The church has definiely done plenty to turn me off, but I still remain firm in my faith. And because I still cherish my Christian beliefs, I can’t have a conversation with a none and pretend to understand where they’re coming from. This journal will help bridge that gap.
I’m not saying to read this publication and then go prostletyze to the ‘unsaved.’ In fact I condemn that. The nones deserve our attention and respect, just like any faith group does. You can’t truly get to know and understand your Buddhist neighbor without taking the time to learn about their beliefs, right? It’s the same with this secular group. We all have to work together and it’s about time the nonreligious perspective is presented in an educational, insighful way.
Tracy Simmons is editor of Creedible.com, which is an online magazine that covers religion news in Connecticut. Her column on CtWatchdog, CT@Prayer, covers the consumer aspect of religion in Connecticut, reporting on the good deeds being done at different houses of worship, where they are falling down, and she will be looking into complaints from members of congregations. Please contact her at tsimmons@creedible.com if you have story ideas.
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anything without Jesus will fail.