Review: Nonbeliever Nation: The Rise of Secular Americans by David Niose (2012 book)

A number of independent opinion polls conducted over the past several decades have noted a significant increase in the fraction of adult Americans who don’t consider themselves members of any religion. For example, in 2014 the nonreligious accounted for 21 … Continue reading

Review: God Bless America: Strange and Unusual Religious Beliefs and Practices in the United States by Karen Stallznow (2013 book)

Stallznow, an Australian living in the U.S., has a linguistics PhD and a background in history and anthropology. She treats odd-sounding beliefs with respect but doesn’t hesitate to condemn — quite rightly, I’d say — groups that exploit or mistreat … Continue reading