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Spirituality May Be Hot in America, But 76 Million Adults Never Attend Church
The Barna Group ^ | 3/20/06

Posted on 03/21/2006 7:47:50 AM PST by dukeman

(Ventura, CA) - Marketers devote billions of dollars to penetrating the Baby Boomer market – the generation of 77 million individuals that populate the nation. There is another market segment equally as large that is of interest to the faith community: the 76 million adults who regularly avoid going to church.

A new report based on its annual tracking survey by The Barna Group reveals that one-third of the adult population (34%) has not attended any type of church service or activity, other than a special event such as a funeral or wedding, during the past six months.

The Barna report described this “unchurched” population in relation to its spiritual and demographic background.

The Religious Profile of the Unchurched

Citing past research that discovered most unchurched adults were formerly churched, the new study indicates that six out of ten unchurched people (62%) consider themselves to be Christian, 4% say they are Jewish, 4% are associated with an eastern religion, and 24% say they are atheist. Denominationally, the largest share of unchurched adults is made up of lapsed Catholics: almost three out of every ten unchurched people (29%) associate with Catholicism. One out of every five (18%) say they are Baptist.

In the eyes of these individuals, absence from church life does not indicate a lack of commitment to the Christian faith. Three out of four unchurched adults who consider themselves to be Christian (77%) contend that they are either absolutely or moderately committed to the Christian faith.

Millions of unchurched adults engage in spiritual activity during a typical week. For instance, nearly two-thirds (62%) pray to God, one-fifth (20%) read from the Bible, and 5% participate in a small group that meets in someone’s home for Bible study, prayer or Christian fellowship.

The aggregate numbers of the unchurched are not as clean-cut as they used to be, however, one out of every eight unchurched adults (13%) is involved in a house church at least once a month, with another 15% involved in a house church less frequently. In the survey, these house church participants stated that they had not attended a “Christian church service or event” during the past six months, despite having attended numerous house church meetings during that period.

Unchurched Possess A Variety of Beliefs

Adults disassociated with a conventional church have a wide range of beliefs, some of which are biblical in nature. Some of the perspectives held by half or more of the unchurched population, either strongly or moderately, include the following:

50% agree that the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches.

66% agree that their religious faith is very important in their life today.

64% contend that Satan is not a living being but is just a symbol of evil.

62% believe that a good person can earn eternal salvation.

51% believe that Jesus Christ sinned while He lived on earth.

61% say their single, most important purpose in life is to love God with all their heart, mind, strength and soul.

55% argue that they are totally committed to having a deeper relationship with God and will do whatever it takes to get and maintain that relationship.

66% say they are completely committed to making the world, and other people’s lives, better.

The Barna Group survey noted that one out of every five unchurched adults (21%) is a born again Christians. However, only 4% of unchurched adults possess a biblical worldview.

George Barna, who directed the study, also pointed out that a minority of unchurched adults has a biblical view of God. In addition, less than one out of five say that involvement in a community of faith is necessary to become a mature and complete person. Interestingly, nearly one-quarter of the unchurched (23%) say that a person’s faith in God is meant to be developed mainly through involvement in a local church.

Demographic Profile

As has been the pattern throughout the two decades that Barna has been tracking religious belief and behavior in the U.S., men represent the majority of unchurched adults (55%). However, during the past decade there has been a significant increase in the percentage of women who avoid church activity.

The unchurched rate is highest in the Northeast (40%) and West (43%). It is also more common among single adults (43%) than married adults (28%). People groups with abnormally high levels of church avoidance include Asians (56%) and those who consider themselves to be “mostly liberal” on social and political issues (51%).

Connecting With the Unchurched

Having studied the growing numbers of unchurched adults in America for more than two decades, George Barna indicated that we are approaching one of the two times of year when massive numbers of the unchurched alter their pattern and attend a church service. “Every year, many previously unchurched people return to a church for one or more Easter season services. More often than not, this is the result of one of two motivations: the compelling invitation of a close friend who accompanies them to the service, or a personal crisis that compels them to seek God more fervently. Impersonal marketing efforts generally have limited impact in persuading the unchurched to break their normal Sunday morning habits.”

Barna also cited earlier research he had described in his book, Grow Your Church From the Outside In, which showed the unchurched have a different set of objectives when they return to a church than many church leaders might expect. “These people tend to be less turned on by the music or preaching than by a sense of God’s presence – even though they don’t quite know how to explain or understand it – and by the feeling that they are visiting a group of people who are a genuine community of loving and accepting individuals. We found that the sermon has less to do with their return to a church than their emotional experience with God and the people gathered.”

Research Description and Definitions

The data in this report are based on interviews with 1003 adults from across the nation. These telephone surveys were conducted by The Barna Group, during January 2006, based upon a random sample of people 18 years of age and older living within the 48 continental states. The maximum margin of sampling error associated with the aggregate sample of adults is ±3.2 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. In the research, the distribution of survey respondents corresponded to the geographic dispersion of the U.S. population. Multiple callbacks were used to increase the probability of including a reliable distribution of qualified individuals.

“Born again Christians” are defined as people who said they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in their life today and who also indicated they believe that when they die they will go to Heaven because they had confessed their sins and had accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. Respondents were not asked to describe themselves as “born again.”

The Barna Group, Ltd. (which includes its research division, The Barna Research Group) is a privately held, for-profit corporation that conducts primary research, produces media resources pertaining to spiritual development, and facilitates the healthy spiritual growth of leaders, children, families and Christian ministries.


TOPICS: Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: catholiclist; unchurched
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To: Chi-townChief
I've known a few "born agains" who said that church is only for hypocrites.

My usual response to this is, where are the hypocrites supposed to be?

41 posted on 03/22/2006 5:25:53 AM PST by N. Theknow (Kennedys - Can't drive, can't fly, can't ski, can't skipper a boat - But they know what's best.)
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To: cripplecreek
My mother has been a pillar of her small Presbyterian church for several decades...always organized the dinners, picnics, and organized meals and visits for the people who needed support during funerals, illnesses etc.
She served her time as a deacon....but the church was short a treasurer and looking for a volunteer, so she offered.
A woman took her aside and said they were looking for "new blood" and wanted to recruit a man who had been attending...he is married, separated not divorced but living out of wedlock with a woman who has two illegitimate children to him, and is not a member of the church. Oh and he has a history of skipping out on his rent and leaving landlords high and dry (they want to let him manage the churches' money?
Mom was unspeakably hurt. I asked her if she considered going to the Lutheran church and she said the minister there is a lesbian who skipped out on the congregation during Christmas season to go on a cruise with her live in female lover. So, no.

I thought she would flip when I told her I was converting to Catholicism but she admitted that at age 80, she understands and would consider it herself.
42 posted on 03/22/2006 5:57:33 AM PST by silverleaf (Fasten your seat belts- it's going to be a BUMPY ride.)
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To: Salvation; dukeman

I attend service every week. I'm also a Catholic in a small rural, southern town so I have a choice of Methodist, Southern Baptist and Episcopal Churches; the nearest Catholic church is 30 miles away. I attend the Episcopal Mass.


43 posted on 03/22/2006 6:07:26 AM PST by DoctorMichael (The Fourth-Estate is a Fifth-Column!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
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To: Salvation

I'm Catholic. When we had an orthodox priest the church was packed. 625 in the pews and people standing. Now that he has moved on and we have a less orthodox priest, there are a lot of empty seats. It's disappointing.


44 posted on 03/22/2006 7:11:00 AM PST by Jaded (The truthshall set you free, but lying to yourself turns you French.)
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To: Jeff Chandler
I've been an active member of a 12 step group for more than 18 years, and for most of those years, I kind of looked down on religion. As though the 12 steps had given me more insight to spirituality than what they offered.

And though I attended mass with my family on Christmas and Easter, I felt a bit superior, thinking I knew more than they did about God.

Then, many factors caused me to reconsider. One of them was the thought that if I knew so much about God, I should be sharing it with my neighbors and community.

So last year I signed up for RCIA classes and have been amazed at how little I knew about God, and about how much there was for me to learn from them! So,now I'm nearing Holy Week, and my entry into the church, and I feel more spirtiually invigorated than I have in years. I continue to attend my 12 step meetings, and they have been greatly enhanced because of my new RCIA experience.

45 posted on 03/22/2006 7:19:22 AM PST by TravisBickle (Are you talkin' to me?)
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To: dukeman

We were not very active Catholics and joined a PCA church when we moved about 2 years ago. I love it, we hear the gospel everytime we go, and I look forward to service rather than dreading them. As for being spiritual and not attending a church, I'm sure it's possible, however for a Christian, it's not just about the individual, but about fellowship, and it's difficult to have that by yourself. I can see a HUGE difference in my spiritual life now that I am attending regularly and interacting with other Christian brothers and sisters.
susie


46 posted on 03/22/2006 7:33:09 AM PST by brytlea (I'm not a conspiracy theorist....really.)
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To: Chi-townChief

Chrisit, the great physician, came for those who were sick (are sick) not for those who are healed!

Check out the scripture. He wanted to reach the hypocrites of his day. Remember the cleansing of the Temple?


47 posted on 03/22/2006 7:39:27 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Jaded

So true. Time to start praying for guidance in your parish and a return to the truth! I will pray!


48 posted on 03/22/2006 7:41:07 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: TravisBickle

Your story brings tears to my eyes! Welcome home!

May God bless you and your family during the Easter Vigil Mass and throughout the new year as a neophyte!


49 posted on 03/22/2006 7:42:45 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: brytlea

You can always come home to the
One
Holy
Catholic
and
Apostolic
Church!


50 posted on 03/22/2006 7:43:53 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: dukeman
Catholic Parishes Flourish in Southern U.S.

Bible-belt Catholics

Number of Catholics Rises by 15 Million (Diocesan Priests Increase; Religious Decrease)

Spanish Catholicism still very robust (3 shrines and The Sagrada Familia)

Catholics outsource praying to India

Catholic Priests in India 'Outsourced' to Meet Clergy Shortage in West

Christian Coalition head (in Ala.) becomes Catholic

Church growth continues for Catholic and Pentecostals; six mainline denominations decline

Young people turn against their parents' 'church lite'

Pope calls US Church to repentance and renewal

A father for the 11th time - Widower becomes Catholic priest

Number of Adults Who Don't Attend Church Service Doubles

Huge Christian growth shocks China's leaders

Church Attendance Increased : Protestants have now clearly overtaken Catholics in church attendance

Catholics Trail Protestants in Church Attendance [Gallup]

Church Attendance Linked to Longer Life

Church Growth and Eveangelism

Dozens of Episcopalians Follow Leader into Catholic Church

Thousands prepare to join U.S. Catholic Church this Easter

Where Have All the People in the Pews Gone?

More Than 150,000 People to Join Catholic Church Holy Saturday

Spirituality on the rise on college campuses

Analysis: Rome up, Protestantism down?

Benedict's Logic: A Church Contracting & Expanding Simultaneously

CHRISTIANITY EXPLODING WORLDWIDE; 3RD WORLD SENDING MISSIONARIES [V ENCOURAGING DOC]

Christianity taking over the planet?

Local pews straining to hold increasing Catholic population

Catholic Church is losing sway in Europe (Opinion from Ireland)

Has the Catholic Church given up the Ghost?

Statistics Reveal Africa Is (Catholic) Church's New Hope

Chicago Ordains Largest Class of Priests in a Decade

Foreign priests want to fill a need- if Americans let them

Reviving a dream: Big hopes of little congregation growing for Orthodox church

Ancient rhythm: Converts to Orthodoxy growing in America

Catholic Church Prepares for Cold War With Evangelists

IS THE CHURCH LIKELY TO SHRINK--AND SHOULD IT?

Church Attendance in Germany Experiences Huge Growth after Pope Benedict Elected

A Church That Packs Them In, 16,000 at a Time

(Catholic) Church Growing Everywhere Except Eurpoe

Scranton former Anglicans to be received as a body into the Catholic Church

A Letter from a Former Episcopalian

Catholic Sanctuaries Expand as Available Priests Decrease (Catholic MegaChurches Alert!)

In Brazil, Signs of Reconversions - Bishop Says Evangelicals Are Returning to Church

Where Have All the Protestants Gone?

Thousands take final steps toward joining church

Spirituality May Be Hot in America, But 76 Million Adults Never Attend Church

51 posted on 03/22/2006 7:44:32 AM PST by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: N. Theknow
Reminds me of one of the few things Dear Abby said that I liked.

"Church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners."

Or something to that effect.

We can all have our excuses for not congregating with others of our faith (before I was saved I said virtually the exact same things as others here have said). Instead of excuses why we don't do it, we most likely should involve ourselves and effect change, or even more radically, move to start our own group.

If people don't want to go to church, they should just say so, instead of feeling they have to denegrate all churches in order to justify themselves.

I have honestly found a church that feels like home when I walk in though, so I suspect everyone can.

susie

52 posted on 03/22/2006 7:48:13 AM PST by brytlea (I'm not a conspiracy theorist....really.)
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To: Salvation

I attended Catholic services in Jan for my inlaws funerals. I had not been to one in about 3 years.
It was a beautiful service, however, even my lifelong Catholic husband who now attends a PCA church mentioned that the gospel was never mentioned. I don't have a problem with Catholics, and most of my family is, but it just doesn't seem to fit for me.
Bless you tho!
susie


53 posted on 03/22/2006 7:54:27 AM PST by brytlea (I'm not a conspiracy theorist....really.)
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To: dukeman
***I grew up in the United Methodist Church as well. I never really heard the gospel preached until I visited a Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) congregation in my early 30's. I'm a member there now and I've never looked back. I thank God for His patience with me.***

Almost the same story here, except I grew up in the PC(USA). We moved to a new city and visited a PCA church and my jaw just dropped. I've been PCA for 11 years now and it is the second best thing that ever happened to me.
54 posted on 03/22/2006 7:58:09 AM PST by Gamecock (I’m so thankful for the active obedience of Christ. No hope without it. (Machen on his deathbed.)
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To: brytlea

Very nice post.


55 posted on 03/22/2006 8:01:24 AM PST by Gamecock (I’m so thankful for the active obedience of Christ. No hope without it. (Machen on his deathbed.)
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To: dukeman
..post-modern thinking
Man centered rather than God centered theology--
some of the sad elements which have crept into the 21st century church...
56 posted on 03/22/2006 8:10:58 AM PST by WalterSkinner ( ..when there is any conflict between God and Caesar -- guess who loses?)
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To: Jaded
"I'm Catholic. When we had an orthodox priest the church was packed. 625 in the pews and people standing. Now that he has moved on and we have a less orthodox priest, there are a lot of empty seats. It's disappointing"

Same story here. :-( I attend mass every Sunday and all the holy days, but I always leave in tears. I found a website where there's a group who want to learn Latin. I joined. I want to be ready just in case our Bishops come to their senses and bring our Catholic churches back where they should be: i.e., Christ-centered and reverent!

57 posted on 03/22/2006 8:15:08 AM PST by sneakers
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To: brytlea
It was a beautiful service, however, even my lifelong Catholic husband who now attends a PCA church mentioned that the gospel was never mentioned.

The Gospel is proclaimed throughout the entire Mass. Specifically, the Gospel reading for the day is the culmination of the "Liturgy of the Word."

58 posted on 03/22/2006 10:35:31 AM PST by frogjerk (LIBERALISM: The perpetual insulting of common sense.)
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To: brytlea

The whole fellowship thing is why I don't want to go to church.

Not everyone can handle groups. For some, it's more disturbing snd like taking a bath in a room full of strangers.

My literal Ah HA! momement was when minister started talking about the community, fellowship that you have to have and I thought "So THAT's the problem."


59 posted on 03/22/2006 10:39:28 AM PST by najida (I hate bullies- God, man or beast, it doesn't matter.)
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To: dukeman

I'm not surprised that a large number of that 'unchurched' group is young unmarried adults. Folks will sometimes drift away from attending church when they're in college, or if they've moved away from their families. When they start having kids, they start thinking again in terms of church and a solid moral foundation for them.


60 posted on 03/22/2006 11:16:12 AM PST by SuziQ
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