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.

  • @expatriado
    14•9 months ago

    the reason i am nonreligious is because i realized it is human made concept, it has nothing to do with my likes or dislikes of the organizations

    • Semi-Hemi-Demigod
      8•9 months ago

      If I’m going to follow a made up belief system I’ll just make up my own that’s fun and inspiring

    • z500English
      3•9 months ago

      For me it’s because everyone made a big deal of having a “personal relationship” with God, but nobody was on the other end