The number of Americans identifying with the Christian religion has declined significantly over the past generation. According to the recently published “American Religious Identification Survey,” the number of professing Christians in the United States has dropped 10 percent since 1990.

The reason for this marked decline is not so much that Americans are converting to other religions as it is that Americans are rejecting organized religion altogether.

The report found that the number of Americans claiming no religious identity has risen from 8 to 15 percent over the past 18 years. The number of atheists and agnostics has risen in every state.

This shift away from a belief in God represents a dangerous trend in America.

During his 1796 farewell address, George Washington said, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.” The second American president, John Adams, later said, “Statesmen may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand.”

Shifting away from belief in God means shifting away from the foundational principles upon which America was founded. For more information, read Character in Crisis.