The religiously unaffiliated, or religious nones, do not have one set of beliefs. They include a variety of viewpoints and opinions, but all are far from God. Learn more about the religiously unaffiliated and how you can talk to them about Jesus.
Fast Facts
Population: 1.9 billion (24.2% of global population)
Growth Rate: The population is expected to increase by 3% by 2060.
Year Founded: Unknown
Founder: Unknown
Holy Texts: None
Major Branches: Atheism, Agnosticism, Humanism, Secularism
View of Jesus: A good person or a myth
Where They Live
Most of the world’s religiously unaffiliated (also known as “nones”) live in the Asia-Pacific region, with China having the largest population of unaffiliated people (1.2 billion). The United States, Japan, and Vietnam also have large numbers of religious nones, making up about 13% of the global population combined.
Major Beliefs
Religious nones have varying degrees of belief in God and the divine.
Atheism means “without God.” It comes from the Greek word atheos, a derogatory term from the fifth century B.C. used to describe those who rejected the gods of Greek society. Some argue that atheists only reject the belief in a personal God, while others assert that atheists reject the belief in any god.
Agnostics believe there is no way to prove that God exists. Scientist and anthropologist T. H. Huxley coined the term, intending it to mean someone would not believe something is certain without good evidence.
Humanists are nonreligious people who believe this life is the only life, there is nothing supernatural about the universe, and people can live ethical and meaningful lives on the basis of reason and humanity.
Secularists are removed from religion. Some believe religion is a myth and that spiritual systems are irrelevant at best and destructive at worst. For secularists, morality, ethics, and morals are largely subjective and cultural.
Conversation Bridges
Some religious nones believe Christians are brainwashed and are oppressive in their beliefs. They do not necessarily believe in sin, Heaven, or Hell, so conversations about humanity’s need for a Savior may not be received well at first.
Instead, try asking questions to better understand their beliefs, such as how they believe humans developed morality and ethics and who gets to determine what is good and what is evil. You can also ask them what they believe the point of life is. Avoid entering into a debate; simply try to understand their perspective.
One thing that can’t be refuted is your testimony. Ask if you can share how and why your life changed and what you believe about Jesus. If your friends need evidence that God exists, your life is prime evidence of His work in the world today.
Read this story of how an atheist came to know Jesus.
As you engage in conversations with religious nones, pray that they will encounter God in a real, undeniable way.
A Field Guide to Major World Religions
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are not ashamed of the gospel and its power. Yet we sometimes still find ourselves unsure of how to share our faith as we go about daily lives, especially with people of different religions and worldviews. This guide includes a summary of beliefs from the major world religions, stories of lives changed by Jesus, prayers, and tips for sharing the gospel to help you engage missionally with people from various faith backgrounds. Download your free copy today!
