The Dutch have invented an interesting word for the SBNR category: ietsism. Ietsists do not believe in a personal God, but have a "unspecified belief in an undetermined transcendent reality." The word "iets" means "something" in Dutch. An ietsist is someone who when asked whether he or she believes in God, answers, "No, but there must be something." My mother was one. Einstein most often called himself an agnostic, but ietsist is arguably a better fit.
A 2014 poll concluded that the Dutch population is 27% ietsist, 31% agnostic, 25% atheist, and only 17% theist.
Rather simplistic of you. I know non-zealot atheists who were republican and are not members now of a party because they believe in the inherent worth of the individual, fair taxes, and international relations. And to be honest, these non-zealot atheists do not care what you believe in, and unless you struck up a conversation with them specifically about religion, you wouldn't know you're talking to one based on any political view.
Very interesting! It seems like the Dones are atheists but not missionary in their atheism. The Dones are the least religious because they aren’t in debate w religion. Their atheism is not “evangelical”. What’s religion and what’s not? I tackled this in my own article on the Nones in Jeffrey Haynes, ed. Routledge Handbook of Politics and Religion in Contemporary America (2025), chapter 8.
I’m 43, with a business background, and three years into my walk with Jesus. I’ve been searching for meaningful metrics around faith and church engagement, so I truly appreciate the work you and your team are doing—it will absolutely be put to use. At our church, the “old guard” tends to look at you like you’re speaking another language when you ask for substantive data on who’s joining and who’s leaving.
Thank you. I follow Tony Jones along with the Convocation. Thank you for all of your hard work. I attend church regularly, serve on committees, and engage in book study. I attend a UCC church and make no secret of the fact that I am agnostic, and no longer call myself Christian (for many reasons) I was raised a Methodist. Yet, I have found a place to be in community where I can participate in community service projects (housing the unhoused and before Trump 2.0 refugee resettlement) and I can donate to causes that are worthy.
As others have already stated, fascinating stuff! I wonder too if maybe some of the NiNos don’t like the religious labels because they might be more eclectic in their faith than other believers.
The NiNOs remind me of Lieutenant Schiesskopf’s Wife who chastised Yossarian when he was railing against god. He was surprised because he noted that they had agreed that they were both atheists. She replied that the god she didn’t believe in was loving & caring while the one he was describing was mean & petty.
Growing up in England in the 1970s, religion was an everyday part of my life. Lord’s Prayer and hymns every day. Church several times a year for special occasions. I still love to go to church, but I have been an atheist since I was seven. I love to discuss religion, and have read dozens of books, but I have never tried to change anyone’s mind. I think that puts me halfway between your DONEs and your Zealots. I think there are a lot of us in England because we have been more exposed to religion than your atheists in America. We are more accepting of religion, even if we don't believe it.
Fundamentalists believe something and expect others to believe the same (e.g., astrology, aliens among us, bigfoot).
Atheists reject all known gods. Atheists lack a god in their lives. But when you expect (or demand) that others do the same.... you're a Fundamentalist
I wonder if you could do a survey to look at how Dones and Zealous Atheists came to be atheists. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dones are further away from their conversion point - that is either second generation atheists, or just never had strong beliefs. I suspect that Zealous Atheists may have had to fight more for their beliefs or lack thereof whereas for Dones religion is just less of a salient issue at all.
Very different comment than most others—I just finished a grad class in machine learning for social science applications, so it was very nice to see a tangible example of cluster analysis out in the wild for a topic I’m interested in. I’d be interested to see if there are “types” of Christians using this method (the religious in name only, “zealous” Christians, etc.). I’ve followed your work for a bit, and I’m always happy to see what you are finding (and how you find it).
You're description of "Done" is spot on in describing me. I describe myself as secular, not atheist, because atheist sounds like I'm trying to convince someone of something. I'm not. I'm done.
I studied the Bible deeply and was at church anytime the door was open until my mid-30s. Then, as I objectively assessed the Bible and religion, I became deeply skeptical. I'm skeptical of any authority and politically am a hard libertarian. Don't tread on me. I grew up Presbyterian. No popes for us. The ancestors I most identify with were Scots-Irish, very independent cusses. I believe in the conditional nature of science. We don't know what we don't know, but we know we don't know it. No inerrant authority from ancient texts for me.
Religion isn't relevant in my life, except that I have to deal with religious people around me. I actually know more about the Bible than most religious people I discuss it with. I am where I am not because I know too little, but because I know a lot, including a lot that I wasn't taught as a child in Sunday School. The deeper you dig into the stories in the Bible, the more bizarre some of them become.
I was recently asked in a business meeting whether I am Christian. I found it very difficult to respond without sounding condescending about their belief in mythology. When I provided no quarter and we finally got to the point of the other person saying, "We're just not going to agree," I responded, "You asked."
The Dutch have invented an interesting word for the SBNR category: ietsism. Ietsists do not believe in a personal God, but have a "unspecified belief in an undetermined transcendent reality." The word "iets" means "something" in Dutch. An ietsist is someone who when asked whether he or she believes in God, answers, "No, but there must be something." My mother was one. Einstein most often called himself an agnostic, but ietsist is arguably a better fit.
A 2014 poll concluded that the Dutch population is 27% ietsist, 31% agnostic, 25% atheist, and only 17% theist.
It would be interesting to cross reference the four types with our political parties...
Definitely going to be a post in the series about politics.
NiNOs: QAnon adherents
SBNR: Standard mainstream liberals
Dones: Annoying leftist protester you want to punch
Zealous atheists: Keyboard warrior leftist you really want to punch
Rather simplistic of you. I know non-zealot atheists who were republican and are not members now of a party because they believe in the inherent worth of the individual, fair taxes, and international relations. And to be honest, these non-zealot atheists do not care what you believe in, and unless you struck up a conversation with them specifically about religion, you wouldn't know you're talking to one based on any political view.
Very interesting! It seems like the Dones are atheists but not missionary in their atheism. The Dones are the least religious because they aren’t in debate w religion. Their atheism is not “evangelical”. What’s religion and what’s not? I tackled this in my own article on the Nones in Jeffrey Haynes, ed. Routledge Handbook of Politics and Religion in Contemporary America (2025), chapter 8.
Dones are just checked out. Zealous atheists have turned atheism into a de facto religion.
I’m 43, with a business background, and three years into my walk with Jesus. I’ve been searching for meaningful metrics around faith and church engagement, so I truly appreciate the work you and your team are doing—it will absolutely be put to use. At our church, the “old guard” tends to look at you like you’re speaking another language when you ask for substantive data on who’s joining and who’s leaving.
Thank you. I follow Tony Jones along with the Convocation. Thank you for all of your hard work. I attend church regularly, serve on committees, and engage in book study. I attend a UCC church and make no secret of the fact that I am agnostic, and no longer call myself Christian (for many reasons) I was raised a Methodist. Yet, I have found a place to be in community where I can participate in community service projects (housing the unhoused and before Trump 2.0 refugee resettlement) and I can donate to causes that are worthy.
Very fascinating stuff my friend.
As others have already stated, fascinating stuff! I wonder too if maybe some of the NiNos don’t like the religious labels because they might be more eclectic in their faith than other believers.
Really good work on a compelling topic. I look forward to seeing future posts.
The NiNOs remind me of Lieutenant Schiesskopf’s Wife who chastised Yossarian when he was railing against god. He was surprised because he noted that they had agreed that they were both atheists. She replied that the god she didn’t believe in was loving & caring while the one he was describing was mean & petty.
I’m guessing SBNRs are mostly women, while zealous atheists are mostly men.
You will find out in a couple of weeks!
Did you do any research using the Big 5 personality traits or mental health diagnoses?
Otherwise, this is fascinating and I’d love to see a typology of religious people in the future as well.
Growing up in England in the 1970s, religion was an everyday part of my life. Lord’s Prayer and hymns every day. Church several times a year for special occasions. I still love to go to church, but I have been an atheist since I was seven. I love to discuss religion, and have read dozens of books, but I have never tried to change anyone’s mind. I think that puts me halfway between your DONEs and your Zealots. I think there are a lot of us in England because we have been more exposed to religion than your atheists in America. We are more accepting of religion, even if we don't believe it.
It's more like "Fundamentalist Atheists".
Fundamentalists believe something and expect others to believe the same (e.g., astrology, aliens among us, bigfoot).
Atheists reject all known gods. Atheists lack a god in their lives. But when you expect (or demand) that others do the same.... you're a Fundamentalist
I wonder if you could do a survey to look at how Dones and Zealous Atheists came to be atheists. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dones are further away from their conversion point - that is either second generation atheists, or just never had strong beliefs. I suspect that Zealous Atheists may have had to fight more for their beliefs or lack thereof whereas for Dones religion is just less of a salient issue at all.
Very different comment than most others—I just finished a grad class in machine learning for social science applications, so it was very nice to see a tangible example of cluster analysis out in the wild for a topic I’m interested in. I’d be interested to see if there are “types” of Christians using this method (the religious in name only, “zealous” Christians, etc.). I’ve followed your work for a bit, and I’m always happy to see what you are finding (and how you find it).
You're description of "Done" is spot on in describing me. I describe myself as secular, not atheist, because atheist sounds like I'm trying to convince someone of something. I'm not. I'm done.
I studied the Bible deeply and was at church anytime the door was open until my mid-30s. Then, as I objectively assessed the Bible and religion, I became deeply skeptical. I'm skeptical of any authority and politically am a hard libertarian. Don't tread on me. I grew up Presbyterian. No popes for us. The ancestors I most identify with were Scots-Irish, very independent cusses. I believe in the conditional nature of science. We don't know what we don't know, but we know we don't know it. No inerrant authority from ancient texts for me.
Religion isn't relevant in my life, except that I have to deal with religious people around me. I actually know more about the Bible than most religious people I discuss it with. I am where I am not because I know too little, but because I know a lot, including a lot that I wasn't taught as a child in Sunday School. The deeper you dig into the stories in the Bible, the more bizarre some of them become.
I was recently asked in a business meeting whether I am Christian. I found it very difficult to respond without sounding condescending about their belief in mythology. When I provided no quarter and we finally got to the point of the other person saying, "We're just not going to agree," I responded, "You asked."