A recent Gallup poll authored by Jeffery M. Jones shows some interesting statistics about religion and church attendance. In some ways the results are not surprising, since they continue a trend line. The poll indicates that attendance at a church, synagogue or mosque declined again. For the first time in eight decades since Gallup has been following this, the number went below 50%. We are told that 47% of US adults belonged to one of these three traditions---Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Comparative numbers show that 50% claimed in 2018 to belong and in 1999 70% claimed it.
That means a sense of belonging has declined by nearly 20% since the beginning of this century. The Gallup poll assumes this sense of belonging means being a member. The poll offers some conclusions, as the numbers over the years have been analyzed. The first lesson notes that “The decline in church membership is primarily a function of the increasing number of Americans who express no religious preference.” A major contributing factor is the increasing number of folks who claim “none” when asked their religious preference. This group is called the “Nones.” This number is significant among the younger folks who are 18 and in their 20s. But it is also noteworthy that the number of “Nones” is increasing in every age level.
It is obvious that someone who self-identifies as a “None” would have no religious affiliation. Correlated with this is other interesting information. There are generational differences, as we might expect. Older Americans claim membership at the highest level. Adults born before 1946 have a 66% average for membership. Boomers have 55%. It continues to decline, reaching the Millennials, who have an average of only 36% claiming membership. This means two out of every three in the last category claim no membership. No wonder churches are rightly worried about their long-term future!
The story is a little more complicated for churches, synagogues and mosques because the number of Americans within each age group has seen declining membership. For example, 13% of the Boomers now claim no institutional affiliation, compared to 7% a mere twenty years ago. Of course, some could claim these claims are skewed by the pandemic, but there should be hesitancy to assume the trend line has been altered. The author of the article (and I) could assume the numbers are both real and indicative. They show the future unfolding before our eyes.
If I am desirous for a rosy future for churches, synagogues and mosques, the picture is not encouraging. But there is also another angle to give attention. While the membership picture is discouraging, membership does not fully tell the story of whether someone is religious or spiritual. In fact, those numbers are still pretty high. For example, most Americans still claim that they believe in God. In correlation with this, a high number say they are spiritual. The discrepancy is this belief in God does not necessarily translate into church membership. In fact, there is nothing in the last nearly one-hundred years of American history that would suggest that belief in God is going to increase church membership.
Most of us who are older and might remember the 1950s remember a time when any respectable person naturally had a religious affiliation. In many ways, that was the high-water mark of religious membership of last century. Since the 1960s the decline has been in place. We could offer many arguments why this is true, but it is nevertheless true. I am intrigued to think more about this, but that will be for another day.
What interests me is what the new statistics from Gallup tell me about spirituality in our day. And I also am quite convinced that religion or spirituality is best served when there is a community component. I am intrigued what religious leaders might do to become attractive to spiritual folks? Clearly this implicates some innovative thinking. I am sure business-as-usual won’t cut it! We can’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results. Let me offer a couple suggestions that I might experiment with.
I would look for a way to appeal the inherent spiritual interest that people claim. That interest is true; younger folks, for example, are interested in spirituality. A high number of these folks are not looking for an institutional place to practice that. And so, churches, etc. are going to have to de-institutionalize in multiple ways. There are many related issues we will have to deal with. Some of these are the prevalence of social media, busyness of American lives and what many see as old-fashioned, out-of-date religious services. Leaders are going to have to learn, rather than be defensive, from these critiques.
Secondly, the prime group to address would be those younger folks who head into their 30s. This is the group that typically is committing to relationships, having kids and dealing with life issues that challenge youthful thinking. Again, fewer and fewer of these folks may be looking for church, but they might want some sense of community---some place (or people) to belong. Belonging is a strong human need. Can we recognize and meaningfully address this?
I will be on the strength and power of spirituality. Statistics will follow how spirituality develops.
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