Is Google Replacing God?

Digital technology might have been slower to arrive in churches, temples, synagogues and mosques than in other areas of life, but many religious institutions are now embracing the opportunities it offers. Carmelite nuns, for instance, take prayer requests via Facebook FB -2.27% and some pastors encourage their congregations to live-tweet sermons. In many faith communities, evangelization and outreach are as likely to occur online as off.

But the Internet's impact on religion might not be entirely positive. A recent report in MIT MITD 0.00% Technology Review suggests a correlation between increased Internet use and the decline of religious affiliation. After analyzing data from the University of Chicago's General Social Survey, Olin College of Engineering professor Allen Downey found that the percentage of people in the U.S. population who claimed no religious affiliation increased to 18% in 2010 from 8% in 1990. That's a jump of 25 million people.