The religious demographics of the United States are shifting, particularly in our generation– the millennials. The Pew Research Center reports that there’s been a decrease in Christian adherents. But the more notable trend lies in the increase of people who aren’t identifying with a religion at all, increasing the divide between the religious and non-religious.

Let’s get one thing straight: America is far from becoming a religion-free nation. About 76% of the population still identifies with a faith, and of that percentage, 70.6% are Christians. Not to mention, the religious are still religious; religious attendance and the rates of those who pray have only had minor fluctuations within the last decade. However, the religiously-unaffiliated are increasing significantly, encompassing 22.8% of the American population.

In 2007, 83% of adults affiliated themselves with a religion. Within 7 years, that figure dropped to 77%. “Society has changed,” says sophomore Jayden Gibison. “People care so much about what others think, they become less involved with their religion due to the fear of judgement for their beliefs.” But is judgement the sole culprit for America’s religious decline? According to Frank Newport, editor-in-chief at Gallup, America goes through “cycles of religiosity”, meaning the amount of Americans adhering to certain faith fluctuates along with the intensity of their dedication.

Research suggests that the more educated a person is, the less likely they are to be religious. So is the change in America’s religious landscape a sign of a more educated nation? “This country was founded on the principle of religious freedom,” says sophomore Kiera Wilson. “Society has become more open-minded towards the ‘new’ standards of individuality.” And growing increasingly common is the identity of not identifying with a religion at all. However, many other religious groups are gaining notable traction in the U.S., adding more diversity to the religious landscape. “I truly believe that participating in a faith is a necessary part of life, and that the differences between religions should be celebrated,” says sophomore Marisa Searle.

While religion is far from lost in America, it’s important to recognize that the religious landscape is changing in numerous ways. Today, those unaffiliated with a religion outnumber the Catholic community. Our generation is increasing the gap between those who are and those who are not religious.