Less religion isn’t always a bad thing

The new Gallup poll, published last week, indicates that religious membership in the United States has fallen to just 47% among those surveyed — representing less than half of the adult population for the first time since Gallup began asking the question more than 80 years ago.

For the first time in our history, fewer than half of all Americans belong to a church or express religious affiliation.

Kind of amazing given that 70% of Americans reported religious membership just 20 years ago.

A precipitous decline.

I’m not opposed to religion, of course. I often describe myself as a reluctant atheist:

I’d like to believe in a higher power, but I have been unable to find the capacity for faith thus far. Religion sounds like a warm, comforting blanket that I wish I could enjoy. Instead, I stare into a vast, empty void and tremble in fear of nonexistence.

However, I’m not opposed to a decline or outright elimination of any religion that promotes bigotry, misogyny, or any other hateful or violent doctrine. So if this decline in religious membership also signals a reduction in the systematic, widespread opposition of same sex marriage and transgender rights and brings a swift end to the institutional misogyny that affords men positions and power that are not also available to women, I’m pleased.

Keep on declining, you institutions of bigotry and hate!

Huzzah.

In short, I have no problem with any religion that isn’t led by patriarchal, asinine bigots. If a woman can assume any position of leadership in the organization, if two male congregants can be married under the church’s roof, and if congregants can choose the gender and sex that suits their mind and body best, I’m all in favor of that religion.

In fact, I hope those religions ascend while the stupid ones decline.

Or reform, of course. I’m also always in favor of allowing people or institutions to see the error of their ways. If a religious institution wants to rethink their hateful, idiotic positions against equality, I’ll cheer them on for their newfound enlightenment.

Otherwise, a decline in membership sounds fantastic.

We have enough hatred and bigotry in this world without religion making it any worse.