You don't have to be religious to believe in God or for that matter to love him and live your life for him. People are steadily pulling away from the church because of dogma; but even though they are they should still hold strong to their belief in a higher power. With all the troubles in the world people aren't running to the churches but away from them. Thereby, leaving15 percent of the nation as nonreligious and steadily increasing. Many folks have just had enough of narrow minded religious views. Furthermore, they fall short of our belief system, our laws, and our ethical principles that apply to our modern times.

In the 21 st. century we don't crucify people, we don't own slaves, and other types of worn out practices, ideas, and belief systems that run rampant in the bible and some of those ideas are still holding strong in churches. Such as claiming someone is using sorcery if they have psychic abilities, or are clairvoyant, or have some other form of spiritual gift. The church will condemn you for your spiritual abilities before excepting it as natural abilities that we all should have. In the 21st century we are all becoming more spiritually in tuned and receiving more spiritual knowledge. Furthermore, there is a lot of good information to learn from holy books; but just as the saying goes, “Take what you need, and throw out the rest”diffidently applies.

Rise of Nonreligious Individuals
A 2008 survey done at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut by Barry Kosmin and Ariela Keysar, concluded that a percentage of Christians in America has declined from 76.7 in 2001 to 76 percent, down from 86.2 percent in the 1990s. Even more, people referring themselves as nondenominational is on the increase in America and others claim to be of no religion up by 8.2 percent in 1990 to 14.2 in 2001. Since then there has been an increase by 15 percent. In addition, 1.6 percent of Americans claim to be either atheist or agnostic.

Spiritual Development
Choosing to have a spiritual base is helpful to maintain an open mind and heart to the many possibilities of the unique mind powers that usually lie dormant within each one of us. By opening your heart and mind up to spirituality you bring yourself closer to God and are more able to develop or enhanced spiritual abilities.

Corruption in the Church
The devil in the church too; hiding and portraying himself as a “good person.” Not to mention the heretics, and judgmental opinions that overwhelm some, with any given faith. Some individuals use the church to disguise their evil mind. Like with the child molestation cases that hit America like a wave of assault from pedophiles in the church; masking themselves as God loving, compassionate priests, nuns and monks. With the flip of a coin, there are excellent churches, and people in them; but not everyone is perfect. And human growth is not limited to old beliefs. People must grow, change, and develop their natural born tendencies for mind powers for their own spiritual growth.

Being Open Minded
If you take all the religions in general and read them at your own whim; there is important information that has to do with God and being a good person that anyone could live by. Religions that teach their their way is the only way; (according to their doctrine) is something most people aren't interested in because of the closed mindedness. There is valuable information in holy books. Like, “love your neighbor.” The wording is just different with each religion but based on the same belief system. An easy concept to understand is the saying: “Treat others as you would want to be treated.” It does help to have encouraging words to live by except for any form of manipulation of doctrine that tries to control another. Furthermore, reading theology is a wonderful experience of learning and opening peoples' mind's, and heart's to the concept that there is a divine being without bing religious, but in being spiritual.

Loving God is between you, and him. It has nothing to do with joining a church to give them money. Unless you go to church because you want to learn more, to become more spiritual for your souls own growth. People don't need to be of any particular faith in order to go to heaven and to be close to God. Believing otherwise, is just a way to put fear in the hearts' and minds' of people; in order to control them, and to get them to conform. Being a church member is much like joining a “Club.”

See God in yourself, in your child, in the house plant. In addition, see God's work in your life as he guides and directs you. Believe in him and love him and he will be there for you through your experiences of growth, and learning. Even more, always do what is right in your heart, and mind by being open minded as a spiritual individual, and learning more about supernatural know how, God, angels, spiritualism, ESP. Or just by being loving, caring and compassionate with yourself and others.

Ways to be Closer to God
-Believe in God.
-Talk to God often.
-Love God, open your heat and mind to the divine being.
-Know that God is with you always. God is in all things living. The essence of him is there. Recall the natural beauty of the world as Gods handy work.
-Read holy books (theology) and spiritual books from places like Hay house.
- By loving yourself therefore, you can love others.
-Love nature enough to go green. Plant a tree, pick up garbage, do your part in the world to make a difference. Don't get caught up in materialistic shopping sprees.
Taking more than what you need is greed which is wasteful spending; caused by ignorance, and leads you off your spiritual path.

-Put your faith into God and know that you are a divine being, alive right now, having an earthly experience. And that you are here on earth learning to prefect your soul for your own individual souls growth. Furthermore, that your real home is in heaven. Know this! Remember it and live by it. Don't forget God wants you to know your soul. To be aware of you as a spiritual being. God wants you to walk with him. To love him as he loves you. God wants you to know that you chose to come here to experience and learn through so much; and to be able to be a genuine good person, loving, and caring always. Even when you are being tested and going through hardship, heartache, pain and suffering. To know that no matter what happens for you to call upon him and to never give up on his love for you. God is always there for you through it all; even when you push him away mentally. He might back up and let you experience but he will never leave you as long as there is genuine goodness in your heart and soul. He made you! Don't be apart of evil and know that ignorance is evil. Which is the ultimate cause of all the insanity of this world, that has caused so much tragedy. Even more, always walk with God in your heart, soul, and mind. This is the path to spirituality.

Reference
A Spiritual Research Project
http://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/articles/id/spiritualresearch/spiritualscience/sixthsense

http://www.christianpost.com/Society/Polls_reports/2009/03/survey-non-religious-americans-on-the-rise-in-every-state-09/index.html

Survey States non-religious is on the rise
http://www.catholic.org/hf/faith/story.php?id=32554

Born Believers: How your Brain Creates God
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20126941.700-born-believers-how-your-brain-creates-god.html?full=true

Changing Religiosity
http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/2/6/8/9/4/p268949_index.html