[Opinionated Blowhard]

That’s where the Internet comes in. In the 1980s, Internet use was essentially zero, but in 2010, 53 percent of the population spent two hours per week online and 25 percent surfed for more than 7 hours. This increase closely matches the decrease in religious affiliation.

There is absolutely nothing in this article that ties the drop in religious affiliation and the internet other than a correlation. Its not worth the paper its written on (or the pixels its written on . . . .).

[Mad Dawg]

I agree that it is a fortuitous correlation, nothing more.

My personal theory is that Progressivism is a quasi-religion which has had its dysvangelists in education (at all levels) and among the elites for more than a century. Certainly a great many Catholics are really Progressives, and the Episcopal Church in the US has gone from the old jibe, "The Republican (or Tory) party at prayer" to the place where Progressivism finds liturgical expression.