The latest findings of the American Religious Identification Survey find that 34 million adult Americans -- that's almost one in five of us -- are now non-religious.

The Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation was quick to leap on the fact that they are now in the majority. The findings may not rival the "Great Awakening," but the United States is clearly in the midst of a "Gradual Awakening," and catching up with Europe's embrace of secularism, the group notes in a press release.

Some 29 percent of the new "Nones" are ages 18-29, and 41 percent are 30-49, the survey found. Nonreligious are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population, according to a 2001 survey, which showed the nonreligious climbing from 8.2 percent in 1990 to 14.1 percent. The religiously-affiliated have declined overall, but since 2001, more than 4.7 million Americans have joined the ranks of the Nones.

"The United States of America started as a proudly rebellious nation. We are now turning our prized disrespect for authority to religion," states the group. "It's 'Downward, Christian Soldiers' and 'Forward, Godless America!'"

Throwing Stones: Randy Koschnick saw his glass house dented a bit last week.

The Jefferson County judge, who is running against state Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson in April, previously criticized Abrahamson for taking money from those dreaded trial lawyers and still hearing cases.

Koschnick's own campaign seems to be doing the same thing, a little opposition research found.

Koschnick has heard 1,830 cases involving 19 lawyers who made contributions to his prior judicial campaign, including 35 cases which are currently open, Abrahamson backers in the group One Wisconsin Now claim.

Koschnick has said he would recuse himself -- as should Abrahamson -- from cases brought to the court by campaign contributors. The group says he has 35 open cases in front of him with similar circumstances.

According to campaign finance reports, Koschnick received $10,345 in donations from non-family members to his campaign for Jefferson County circuit judge in 1999 and $1,345, or 13 percent, came from 19 attorneys who subsequently have had 1,830 cases before him since.

"Randy Koschnick heard over 1,800 cases from 19 attorneys who previously donated to his campaign," said Scot Ross, executive director for One Wisconsin Now.

"He even has 35 open cases, right now, before him from campaign donors. However you slice it, he has zero credibility on judicial ethics."

The contributions include one from David Wambach, former District Attorney of Jefferson County. Koschnick received a $50 campaign contribution from Wambach on Jan. 22, 1999. Koschnick went on to hear 1,186 cases in which Wambach was listed as the prosecuting attorney. Ten of these cases remain open.

One Wisconsin Now remains one of the few outside special interest groups showing interest in the Supreme Court race, in which Abrahamson is a heavy favorite.

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Posted by squareinch on March 22, 2009 at 12:35 p.m. (report)

Organized religion is bad. I never understood why to prove your beliefs you have to follow some ridiculous "rules" written by man. Don't eat this during this month, don't do anything on saturday, don't show your face and etc. Another big problem with organized religion (especially Catholicism) are the politics of "scare", sometimes it feels like the only reason people go to church on sundays, because they are so brainwashed about going to hell if they wont... And last thing which really pisses me off, are fundamentalists. Taking anything to the extreme is always bad. And denying things like evolution, calling it "Satan's Plan" is just ridiculous. I'm in the Freethinkers camp: A person who forms opinions about religion on the basis of reason, independently of tradition, authority, or established belief. Freethinkers include atheists, agnostics and rationalists. http://www.ffrf.org/nontracts/freethinker.php

Posted by leprechaunshawn on March 20, 2009 at 7:26 p.m. (report)

I can be counted in the group that is non-religious. And this is after 14 years of attenting private lutheran schools and weekly church services. I didnt believe any of the hocus pocus then and now that I'm older and wiser I certainly dont/wouldnt believe it now.

Posted by Scott_Cook on March 20, 2009 at 12:24 p.m. (report)

Ok, I already have two problems. One, as of July of last year, there are an estimated ~303.8 million people in the US, which would be more of a 1 in 10. Second, how can ~10% be considered a "majority"?

Posted by Believe on March 20, 2009 at 11:11 a.m. (report)

Young people may not favor "organized religion", but they are still spiritual in many ways. To many people not being "religious" does not mean a person does not believe in a higher power of some sort.

Posted by teddddd on March 20, 2009 at 10:14 a.m. (report)

I'm with you Gomez!!! "Trust in the LORD....lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6