Ross Douthat, a columnist for the Catholic New York Times, and atheist psychologist Steven Pinker participated in a debate titled “Do we need God?” at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in Manhattan earlier this year. During the discussion, Pinker argued that the least religious individuals, referred to as 'nones,' are the least politically polarized, contrasting them with evangelical Christians, who he described as the most politically committed and polarized group in the U.S.
Pinker noted that while 'nones' tend to have a more centrist view of politics, many still believe in God and engage in prayer. He stated that 78% of atheists identify as Democrats, compared to 72% of evangelicals identifying as Republicans, while 'nones' show a more balanced political affiliation with 54% identifying as Democrats and 37% as Republicans.
Additionally, Pinker pointed out that only 17% of 'nones' identify as atheists, suggesting that the majority still hold some belief in a higher power. The article also highlights a trend among younger generations raised without religious identities, indicating that they are increasingly identifying as independents rather than aligning strictly with the Democratic Party. The findings suggest that losing religious affiliation does not automatically correlate with a shift towards Democratic political views.