Final answer:
Religious nones are people who claim no religious affiliation and may hold traditional or nontraditional religious beliefs. Factors such as politicization of churches contribute to the growth of religious nones. Nearly a quarter of Americans identify as nones.
Step-by-step explanation:
Religious nones are people who claim no religious affiliation. They are not the same as agnostics or atheists, as nones may hold traditional or nontraditional religious beliefs outside of membership in a religious institution. The growth of religious nones in the United States has been significant, with nearly a quarter of Americans identifying themselves as nones in a 2014 survey. This trend is influenced by factors such as the politicization of American churches and a critical stance toward the institutional structure of religions.