And then there were none: Regional dynamics of non-religious identities, beliefs and practices among Canadian millennials

Abstract

Religious nones – or, in other words, those who say that they have no religion when asked – are one of the fastest growing demographics in Canada, especially among young adults aged 18–35. Using statistical data from a 2019 Millennial Trends Survey, a diversity of approaches to religion, spirituality and non-religion can be seen within this broad category of individuals. Based on these findings, the author argues that the two main theoretical frameworks of ‘secular transition’ and ‘spiritual but not religious’ should be understood as complementary, rather than contradictory, in understanding the religious none phenomenon. Evidence of five distinct regional patterns of religious nones across the country is found, which are designated as ‘spiritual British Columbia’, ‘dispersed Prairies’, ‘vestigial and uncertain Ontario’, ‘non-believing Quebec’ and ‘stigmatized Atlantic Canada’ nones.