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| Meet the ‘Nones,’ the Democratic Party’s biggest faith constituency | Meet the ‘Nones,’ the Democratic Party’s biggest faith constituency |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Joe Stone is part of an enormous but invisible voting constituency. | Joe Stone is part of an enormous but invisible voting constituency. |
| A “troubled atheist,” the retired Virginia accountant calls himself spiritual, celebrates Christmas and defines religious as the need to “do good.” He says organized religion – Christianity as well as Islam – has “gone off the deep end” and political candidates who emphasize the rightness of a certain faith turn him off. At the same time, Stone calls himself “religiously open minded.” | A “troubled atheist,” the retired Virginia accountant calls himself spiritual, celebrates Christmas and defines religious as the need to “do good.” He says organized religion – Christianity as well as Islam – has “gone off the deep end” and political candidates who emphasize the rightness of a certain faith turn him off. At the same time, Stone calls himself “religiously open minded.” |
| When Bernie Sanders told a New Hampshire town hall last month that religion is a way of saying all people are connected, Stone agreed. “He is speaking directly to me.” | When Bernie Sanders told a New Hampshire town hall last month that religion is a way of saying all people are connected, Stone agreed. “He is speaking directly to me.” |
| Stone is part of a massive group of Americans who reject any label or affiliation to describe their faith. At 23 percent of the U.S. population, this left-leaning group called “Nones” are the Democratic parallel to the GOP’s white evangelicals – except without organization, PACs, leadership and a clear agenda. They do, however, have one big expectation of political candidates: Be ethical, and go light on the God talk. | Stone is part of a massive group of Americans who reject any label or affiliation to describe their faith. At 23 percent of the U.S. population, this left-leaning group called “Nones” are the Democratic parallel to the GOP’s white evangelicals – except without organization, PACs, leadership and a clear agenda. They do, however, have one big expectation of political candidates: Be ethical, and go light on the God talk. |
| The Nones’ impact will be tested in the next big primary, Super Tuesday (March 1), when multiple states with large unaffiliated populations vote: Virginia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Vermont and Colorado. So far, Sanders has a large edge among Nones. | The Nones’ impact will be tested in the next big primary, Super Tuesday (March 1), when multiple states with large unaffiliated populations vote: Virginia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Vermont and Colorado. So far, Sanders has a large edge among Nones. |
| A huge group that skews under 40, white and non-immigrant , the Nones want politicians to tone it down not because they’ve made some final determination about God — the vast majority are believers — but because they are fed up with religious institutions they see as corrupt and discriminatory. And in the process, they are rewriting the country’s political discourse on morality. | A huge group that skews under 40, white and non-immigrant , the Nones want politicians to tone it down not because they’ve made some final determination about God — the vast majority are believers — but because they are fed up with religious institutions they see as corrupt and discriminatory. And in the process, they are rewriting the country’s political discourse on morality. |
| Experts say the country is just beginning to feel Nones’ political power, in good part because their turnout has been low at about 12 percent — unsurprising for a disproportionately young group. But that is likely to change as they grow older, with early research suggesting they are not inclined to become more religious as they grow older. | Experts say the country is just beginning to feel Nones’ political power, in good part because their turnout has been low at about 12 percent — unsurprising for a disproportionately young group. But that is likely to change as they grow older, with early research suggesting they are not inclined to become more religious as they grow older. |
| Prominent political scientist David Campbell, who focuses on religion, compared the Nones of today with evangelicals of the 1970s — who grew in number and slowly became a massive, organized political force. | |
| “You might say we are awaiting the emergence of a secular Jerry Falwell,” said Cambpell, who chairs the political science department at the University of Notre Dame. | “You might say we are awaiting the emergence of a secular Jerry Falwell,” said Cambpell, who chairs the political science department at the University of Notre Dame. |
| With their socially liberal viewpoints, Nones will pull the Democrats to the left -- which is already happening with Sanders, said Mark Rozell, dean of the government and policy school at George Mason University and author of multiple books on religion and politics. | With their socially liberal viewpoints, Nones will pull the Democrats to the left -- which is already happening with Sanders, said Mark Rozell, dean of the government and policy school at George Mason University and author of multiple books on religion and politics. |
| “It will make a profound change in American politics in the long run..Put up a candidate who challenges people’s right to love who they want and make decisions about their own lifestyles, and see what happens among the unaffiliated. A lot of other issues go to the back burner,” Rozell said. | “It will make a profound change in American politics in the long run..Put up a candidate who challenges people’s right to love who they want and make decisions about their own lifestyles, and see what happens among the unaffiliated. A lot of other issues go to the back burner,” Rozell said. |
| If Sanders or Clinton start talking too much about religion as the race veers South, among Nones that would be “dangerous,” he said. | |
| ‘We need a revolution’ | ‘We need a revolution’ |
| Nones talk about tolerance, fairness, choice and “making the world a better place.” In interviews some describe their world view as being more authentically holy than people who cite scripture and denominational labels. | Nones talk about tolerance, fairness, choice and “making the world a better place.” In interviews some describe their world view as being more authentically holy than people who cite scripture and denominational labels. |
| “My girlfriend said ‘Greta, you’re the best Christian I know that doesn’t go to church,’” said Greta Clark, 81, of Youngstown, Ohio, an agnostic who says her religion is “do no wrong.” Stone says he has an answer for Christians skeptical of Sanders’ bio: “Wait a minute, Jesus was a Jewish Socialist.” | “My girlfriend said ‘Greta, you’re the best Christian I know that doesn’t go to church,’” said Greta Clark, 81, of Youngstown, Ohio, an agnostic who says her religion is “do no wrong.” Stone says he has an answer for Christians skeptical of Sanders’ bio: “Wait a minute, Jesus was a Jewish Socialist.” |
| In addition to their skepticism about religious instiutions, Nones share anger at secular institutions they feel are immoral, interviews show. Their political priorities include reducing big money’s influence on politics, raising wages and making college affordable. They do not trust government to police personal morality. | In addition to their skepticism about religious instiutions, Nones share anger at secular institutions they feel are immoral, interviews show. Their political priorities include reducing big money’s influence on politics, raising wages and making college affordable. They do not trust government to police personal morality. |
| “We need a revolution at this point because corruption is so vast,” said Cheryl, a 43-year-old chief financial officer from Atlanta who spoke on condition her last name not be used because she said the stigma of being not religious in the South would harm her career and her child. She doesn’t like when candidates talk about religion but it bothers her less if it seems like lip service - evidence they probably won’t apply dogma to public policy. If they’re saying it just to get elected, that’s more OK, she says. | “We need a revolution at this point because corruption is so vast,” said Cheryl, a 43-year-old chief financial officer from Atlanta who spoke on condition her last name not be used because she said the stigma of being not religious in the South would harm her career and her child. She doesn’t like when candidates talk about religion but it bothers her less if it seems like lip service - evidence they probably won’t apply dogma to public policy. If they’re saying it just to get elected, that’s more OK, she says. |
| “It doesn’t bother me because I’ve done the same thing, tried to pass,” she said. “I have no idea whether there is a God and I don’t think that’s an answerable question.” Before she got married, however, she put “atheist” in her dating profile instead of “agnostic” only to turn off fundamentalist Christians who might misinterpret her as open to their belief. | “It doesn’t bother me because I’ve done the same thing, tried to pass,” she said. “I have no idea whether there is a God and I don’t think that’s an answerable question.” Before she got married, however, she put “atheist” in her dating profile instead of “agnostic” only to turn off fundamentalist Christians who might misinterpret her as open to their belief. |
| While most evangelicals and Catholics say terrorism is their top voting priority, Nones say theirs is the economy, according to a December Washington Post poll. | While most evangelicals and Catholics say terrorism is their top voting priority, Nones say theirs is the economy, according to a December Washington Post poll. |
| The major check on Nones’ political power is their lack of group awareness. | The major check on Nones’ political power is their lack of group awareness. |
| “This cohort is as large as evangelicals, but very poorly organized, and they don’t have the discipline or political reflex. But you can’t tell me campaigns aren’t thinking about them, especially the Democrats,” said Jacques Berlinerblau, a Georgetown University sociologist who has written several books about the role of religion in politics. Democrats, he said, have to straddle the Nones, most of whom feel candidates are talking too much about their faith and prayer, and the rest of the Democratic faith coalition — which includes progressive Jews, Catholics and Protestants — “who don’t mind it as long as it doesn’t get overwrought.” | “This cohort is as large as evangelicals, but very poorly organized, and they don’t have the discipline or political reflex. But you can’t tell me campaigns aren’t thinking about them, especially the Democrats,” said Jacques Berlinerblau, a Georgetown University sociologist who has written several books about the role of religion in politics. Democrats, he said, have to straddle the Nones, most of whom feel candidates are talking too much about their faith and prayer, and the rest of the Democratic faith coalition — which includes progressive Jews, Catholics and Protestants — “who don’t mind it as long as it doesn’t get overwrought.” |
| A quarter of Obama’s voters in 2012 were religiously unaffiliated — by far the largest “faith” group in his coalition. Perhaps in consideration of his religiously independent supporters, the president gave the first inaugural nod in his 2008 address to “non-believers.” | A quarter of Obama’s voters in 2012 were religiously unaffiliated — by far the largest “faith” group in his coalition. Perhaps in consideration of his religiously independent supporters, the president gave the first inaugural nod in his 2008 address to “non-believers.” |
| At the moment Nones are breaking hard for Sanders, a secular Jew who seems ambivalent about how to portray his faith. He has said he is not religious, chose to spend last Rosh Hashana — a major Jewish holiday — speaking to evangelicals at Liberty University and a few weeks ago when he became the first American Jew to ever win a presidential primary, didn’t mention the fact in his acceptance speech, instead calling himself “son of a Polish immigrant.” However, last fall when the Post ran a piece entitled: “Bernie Sanders: Our first non-religious president?” the Sanders campaign quickly e-mailed the reporter to point out a September interview about Pope Francis in which the senator referenced a “belief in God..that requires me to do all that I can to follow the Golden Rule.” | |
| . | |
| Mike McCurry, a communications consultant to candidates and faith groups who served as press secretary to Bill Clinton, said top Democratic advisors to campaigns “just don’t get” the role of faith groups - including the Nones. | Mike McCurry, a communications consultant to candidates and faith groups who served as press secretary to Bill Clinton, said top Democratic advisors to campaigns “just don’t get” the role of faith groups - including the Nones. |
| “They don’t see it as a political constituency to mobilize,” McCurry said. That said, “it’s a delicate balance. [Nones] want to hear about your value and what gives you a moral stake, but they don’t want an agenda that’s forced down their throat.” | “They don’t see it as a political constituency to mobilize,” McCurry said. That said, “it’s a delicate balance. [Nones] want to hear about your value and what gives you a moral stake, but they don’t want an agenda that’s forced down their throat.” |
| In fact the Nones are a complex and sometimes contradictory group. They believe in God - - but on their own terms. They don’t particularly want to hear about religion, but they aren’t anti-religion. | In fact the Nones are a complex and sometimes contradictory group. They believe in God - - but on their own terms. They don’t particularly want to hear about religion, but they aren’t anti-religion. |
| Clark doesn’t believe in confession, doesn’t think she believes in God, considers herself a Christian “in some ways,” thinks candidates shouldn’t mention religion and spits with disgust about “houses of worship fancied up with icons and statues, big churches built from poor people’s money.” But she and her husband sent their now-grown sons to Catholic school. To her, the main election issues are things like roads, bridges, and clean water. The issue of water contamination “is a disgrace.” | Clark doesn’t believe in confession, doesn’t think she believes in God, considers herself a Christian “in some ways,” thinks candidates shouldn’t mention religion and spits with disgust about “houses of worship fancied up with icons and statues, big churches built from poor people’s money.” But she and her husband sent their now-grown sons to Catholic school. To her, the main election issues are things like roads, bridges, and clean water. The issue of water contamination “is a disgrace.” |
| Hearing Sanders say religion means “we’re all in this together,” Clark agrees. “I’ve got to agree with him there. But he has the young people all worked up, they think they’re going to get something for nothing. It don’t work that way.” Of anyone, she prefers Sanders but she is undecided. | Hearing Sanders say religion means “we’re all in this together,” Clark agrees. “I’ve got to agree with him there. But he has the young people all worked up, they think they’re going to get something for nothing. It don’t work that way.” Of anyone, she prefers Sanders but she is undecided. |
| Stone sees in Sanders a glimpse of his youth - a time when religion seemed less angry, less divided, when his folks could buy a home in Massachusetts for $8,000, when the system didn’t seem rigged. More recently, he and his wife — both accountants — “retired reluctantly, more or less.” Not that he’s complaining or bitter, and he has lots of positive things to say about religious relatives and pastors he’s known. Stone even regrets a bit not raising his children in the church, if only so that when religion and scripture come up in conversation, they’d be able to more knowledgeably talk — or debate. | Stone sees in Sanders a glimpse of his youth - a time when religion seemed less angry, less divided, when his folks could buy a home in Massachusetts for $8,000, when the system didn’t seem rigged. More recently, he and his wife — both accountants — “retired reluctantly, more or less.” Not that he’s complaining or bitter, and he has lots of positive things to say about religious relatives and pastors he’s known. Stone even regrets a bit not raising his children in the church, if only so that when religion and scripture come up in conversation, they’d be able to more knowledgeably talk — or debate. |
| Stone sees Sanders as serious about getting money out of politics. He trusts Sanders when the senator talks about his spirituality. He even trusts Clinton - - a Methodist his age — when he hears her tell an Iowa voter: “I am a person of faith, I am a Christian, I am a Methodist.” But he wishes there was no need for candidates to state their religion. | Stone sees Sanders as serious about getting money out of politics. He trusts Sanders when the senator talks about his spirituality. He even trusts Clinton - - a Methodist his age — when he hears her tell an Iowa voter: “I am a person of faith, I am a Christian, I am a Methodist.” But he wishes there was no need for candidates to state their religion. |
| “I wish we didn’t have to talk about religion in politics. This is not a religious race,” said Stone. He grew up in a big religious family but feels the church overall has become arrogant and intolerant. “We should be a spiritual country, meaning we should endeavor to have a good government in the eyes of whatever God you feel is right, or in the eyes of no God.” | “I wish we didn’t have to talk about religion in politics. This is not a religious race,” said Stone. He grew up in a big religious family but feels the church overall has become arrogant and intolerant. “We should be a spiritual country, meaning we should endeavor to have a good government in the eyes of whatever God you feel is right, or in the eyes of no God.” |
| Christianity has become too broken into sects and intolerant, “it’s split up more,” he says. “Back then Muslims were peaceful happy people and for whatever reason, they got angry. Religions have gotten wacky,” Stone says. “Morality comes from another place. It’s a chicken or egg thing. The morality came before the stories” of religion. | Christianity has become too broken into sects and intolerant, “it’s split up more,” he says. “Back then Muslims were peaceful happy people and for whatever reason, they got angry. Religions have gotten wacky,” Stone says. “Morality comes from another place. It’s a chicken or egg thing. The morality came before the stories” of religion. |
| Alexis Echevarria, 20, calls herself a None because “I don’t want to label myself. I believe in a bunch of little things, other religions,” including the Catholicism to which her family holds fast and in which she was raised. But in recent years she has started questioning some church teachings, doesn’t like labels and sees her peer group in Katy, Texas, outside Houston, as totally split on religion – half her friends are religious and half are not. She values choice, whether that comes to whether to go to church, accept abortion or homosexuality or to even call yourself a believer. | Alexis Echevarria, 20, calls herself a None because “I don’t want to label myself. I believe in a bunch of little things, other religions,” including the Catholicism to which her family holds fast and in which she was raised. But in recent years she has started questioning some church teachings, doesn’t like labels and sees her peer group in Katy, Texas, outside Houston, as totally split on religion – half her friends are religious and half are not. She values choice, whether that comes to whether to go to church, accept abortion or homosexuality or to even call yourself a believer. |
| “I’m open to everything and everyone,” said Echevarria, including candidates who talk, or don’t talk, about their faith. She’s heard “very very little” about candidates’ religion “except Trump talking about religion and immigration “which is baloney,” she said. | “I’m open to everything and everyone,” said Echevarria, including candidates who talk, or don’t talk, about their faith. She’s heard “very very little” about candidates’ religion “except Trump talking about religion and immigration “which is baloney,” she said. |
| In truth, she has been paying limited attention to the campaign, except she knows she likes Sanders for her first-ever presidential vote. The senator’s talk about raising the minimum wage and making college more affordable “would be awesome.” | In truth, she has been paying limited attention to the campaign, except she knows she likes Sanders for her first-ever presidential vote. The senator’s talk about raising the minimum wage and making college more affordable “would be awesome.” |
| Her feelings about Sanders reminds her of the ones she had about Romney. “Sanders seems like a genuine guy, and so did Romney.” Nothing specific. | Her feelings about Sanders reminds her of the ones she had about Romney. “Sanders seems like a genuine guy, and so did Romney.” Nothing specific. |
| Asked how she can tell if a candidate is speaking genuinely about their faith, Echevarria’s sunny, non-judgmental vocabulary shifts. “I was told candidates lie. I’m guarded with everyone. Open, but guarded.” | Asked how she can tell if a candidate is speaking genuinely about their faith, Echevarria’s sunny, non-judgmental vocabulary shifts. “I was told candidates lie. I’m guarded with everyone. Open, but guarded.” |
| Washington Post reseacher Scott Clement contributed to this report | Washington Post reseacher Scott Clement contributed to this report |