Why Are Americans Leaving Religion? Interview with James Nagle

The Big Chew Podcast

Why are record numbers of Americans and Europeans exiting the religions they grew up with--especially Christians? Is Christianity toast? What might come next? James Nagle studies this "deconversion" at Fordham University. He considers himself a "deconvert" and describes his path--from a tattooed, skateboarding, Mass-missing kid to a seminarian training for the Catholic priesthood; to his years of teaching high school religious studies and then leaving his belief behind. Now a doctoral candidate at Fordham, Nagle researches why people leave religion (and explains that often it's for "religious" reasons). We talk about how the nonreligious "nones" seek meaning outside religion, why Christianity is declining, and what he thinks will happen after he dies. Music in interview: Ayla Nereo--Bonteko (Scott Nice Remix)from the album All the Wild Creatures. Used through Creative Commons.