A Look Into Latino Spirituality: How Many Are Religiously Affiliated and How Many are 'Nones'?

About 28% of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated, describing themselves as either Atheists, Agnostics or "nothing in particular." Overall, they are called "Nones." A comprehensive study by the Pew Research Center delved into this part of the population, looking at whether they believe there is a god or another higher power, their thoughts on organized religion and their civil profile in contrast with religious people.

Latinos who consider themselves Nones comprise 17% of the country's population, a figure that is slightly lower to the almost 20% of the overall population they currently represent. They are the second largest group of Nones in the country behind Whites (63%) and ahead of Blacks (9%) and Asians (7%).

The figures for Latino Agnostics and "Nothing in particular" are also similar to the overall population, although they only comprise 9% of Atheists. Whites are overrepresented in this group, with 77% of the total, with only 2% of Blacks and 7% of Asians considering themselves Atheists.

Overall, 17% of "nones" identified as atheist, 20% said they are agnostic and 63% chose "nothing in particular."

When it comes to those who did identify with a religion, Latinos are disproportionately Catholics, representing 35% of the country's parishioners. They are underrepresented in all other groups surveyed, especially among Protestants (9%). Religiously affiliated Latinos represent 16% of the United States' population.

Looking into Nones in particular, the Pew Research Center found that most believe in God or another higher power, but very few go to religious services regularly; that most say religion "does some harm, but many also think it does some good;" and that most reject the idea that science can explain everything, but express "more positive views of science than religiously affiliated Americans do."

Most respondents said they were not religious because they question many religious teachings or don't believe in god. Many also mentioned criticism of "of religious institutions or people, including 47% who say that one extremely or very important reason why they are not religious is that they dislike religious organizations."

In regards to whether they believe there is a god, Nones are "far less likely than religiously affiliated Americans to say they believe in God "as described in the Bible, "but most do believe in God or some other higher power." "Just 29% reject the notion that there is any higher power or spiritual force in the universe," the report added.

Most Nones were raised in a religion, usually Christianity. However, they tend to be "disconnected from religious institutions, having shaken off religious labels and involvement in churches, synagogues, mosques and other religious organizations. "90% of religious 'Nones' say they seldom or never go to religious services," the report showed.