The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has just published a study that is
sobering for those of us in the Church (http://www.pewforum.org). Fewer
Americans are going to Church and more Americans are identifying
themselves as atheists. Those who claim they are "unaffiliated" rose from 15
percent to 20 percent in the last five years. Additionally, those identifying
themselves as atheists now number more than 13 million, or six percent of
the population.
It gets worse. The study says "a third of adults under 30 have no religious
affiliation (32%) compared with just one in ten who are 65 and older (9%)."
This means if it weren't for the huge baby boom bubble of people who still
go to church, churches would be in a world of hurt. Of course, if we do
nothing, we will be.
The causes are hard to pinpoint because there are so many variables. Generally the unaffiliated "think
that religious organizations are too concerned with money and power, too focused on rules and too
involved with politics." The study points to four theories of decline:
Political Backlash. Young adults see organized religion as "deeply entangled with conservative politics."
Robert Putnam and David Campbell argue that young Americans are tired of culture wars and see
religion as "judgmental, homophobic, hypocritical, and too political."
Delays in Marriage. If you are under 30, you are more likely to go to church if you are married than if
you are not. Thus, some sociologists claim that postponing marriage and parenthood is a factor in the
decline in Church attendance.
Broad Social Disengagement. Robert Putnam argues that generally Americans tend to be more isolated
and less communally involved. We are increasingly "Bowling Alone" because no one shows up anymore - to bowling leagues or Church. It's individualism run wild.
Secularization. Religion has less authority or prominence in our society than previously. The writers
suggest economic patterns -- wealthier nations decline in Church attendance. Clearly religion is
decreasing as the norm in public life.
It's a sobering report. However, 30 percent of the unaffiliated claim to have had a mystical experience.
That is, the unaffiliated are not interested in dogma or canons or institutions but they are interested in
meaning and experience. There is a God hunger that is embedded in everyone. In the next decades, the
Church must be about effectively proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ or our churches will be
museums.
In 1950 Herbert Butterfield wrote, "We can do worse than remember a principle which both gives us a
firm Rock and leaves us a maximum elasticity for our minds: Hold to Christ and for the rest be totally
uncommitted." Sixty two years later in 2012, his words guide us. We must be clearer about and more
grounded in our faith and more flexible with our institutions. People want to know what Christianity is
all about. The first or second or third answer is not, "The institutional Church." The answer always
begins with, "Jesus Christ."
+Porter