Ask Americans what their religion is, and nearly 1 in 3 say this -- none. That’s according to the U.S. adults surveyed by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Mike Dulak grew up Catholic in Southern California, but by his teen years, he began skipping Mass and driving straight to the shore to play guitar, watch the waves and enjoy the beauty of the morning. “And it felt more spiritual than any time I set foot in a church,” he recalled.

Nothing has changed that view in the ensuing decades.

“Most religions are there to control people and get money from them,” said Dulak, now 76, of Rocheport, Missouri. He also cited sex abuse scandals in Catholic and Southern Baptist churches. “I can’t buy into that,” he said.

      • Queen HawlSeraEnglish
        21·
        9 months ago

        Because on average it’s shown that atheists tend to become depressed and nihilistic upon leaving religion

        I’d love to go back myself but I can’t convince myself there’s a God.

            • SatansMaggotyCumFart@lemmy.world
              6·
              9 months ago

              Nothing to do with religion is bliss but I feel for the people who’s entire lives are intertwined with it and lose everything when they see the light.

              • Fraylor
                3·
                9 months ago

                I mean that’s inherently not true. Do you understand why people join a church? Community, belonging, being part of something that can give someone meaning. Not everything about religion is crusades, beheading and lgbtq discrimination. If I were to prescribe to anything though it’d be Buddhist. Nevertheless, you can point to all of the bad things in religion you want. I’m not saying that there isn’t likely even more bad than good, but you can’t plug your ears and say “lalalala all religion bad 100%” and expect anyone to see your perspective seriously.