Is Religion Dying in the U.S.? – Goodbye Religion by Ryan T. Cragun and Jesse M. Smith | Ep. 1972

Is religion dying in America? In this episode, we sit down with Ryan T. Cragun and Jesse M. Smith, authors of Goodbye Religion: The Causes and Consequences of Secularization. This groundbreaking book examines the surge in people leaving organized religion and its profound impact on American culture and society. Drawing on extensive data and over a hundred in-depth interviews, Cragun and Smith delve into the social, psychological, and environmental factors behind religious exit. They also address the misconceptions surrounding secularization, revealing that leaving religion is not the crisis it’s often portrayed to be. Instead, they show how nonreligious individuals remain socially engaged and committed to making a positive impact in their communities. Show Notes YouTube 00:02:20 Background for Ryan and Jesse 00:14:00 This could be really bad on society 00:27:15 Who is leaving? 00:31:25 How is the Mormon church doing with losing members? 00:44:00 Resurgence of interest among the young Mormons? 00:54:30 Polling the audience 00:58:35 The push-pull analysis for what’s pushing people out 01:16:40 How to replace your community 01:20:00 Where are people going? 01:30:40 Where are people finding community? 01:36:45 No meaningful relationship between religiosity and mental health 02:00:00 Use the religion don’t let the religion use you Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon PayPal Venmo Our Platforms: YouTube Patreon Spotify Apple Podcasts Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: Insta: @mormstories TikTok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord