Every few years, headlines exclaim that the belief in God is on the decline in the United States. The claims often stem from polls conducted by the Pew Research Center, which for some time have shown a gradual increase in those who are classified as “nones,” those who have no religious affiliation.
At the same time, those who identify as Christian have been on the decline for the last few decades. Even more, we’ve begun seeing a net decrease in churches, with more churches closing than opening each year.
It’s no wonder why so many then think that the loss of faith is at an all-time high, that in a short while, atheists will outnumber theists, and Christianity and the church will be a thing of the past. The truth is much more complicated though.
While religious affiliation is in steep decline, and churches are closing, belief in God has largely remained stable. People aren’t turning their back on God, but they are turning their back on the institutions and ideology associated with God.
This is very concerning, as they aren’t simply turning away from religion. Those who identify as nones tend to vote less, they volunteer less, they receive less education, and are just less socially engaged.
Yet, a majority of these nones still believe in God. What is the disconnect then?
When questioned why they identified as nones, the biggest reasons have to do with skepticism and questions. That or they’ve had bad experiences when it comes to religion. And because of these bad experiences, they don’t feel safe within religious institutions, and with that, the doubts they have simply grow.
Questions that Need Answers
With the largest reason for identifying as a none revolves around questioning, where can these individuals go to find answers? It’s a difficult situation. Going to traditional churches is not an option for many of these individuals. They have had negative experiences there, they already question that faith, and they have no want to be preached at.
The other side of the coin is often filled with even more anger towards religion, and answers that only serve to justify that anger and encourage even more separation from faith. Often, it also feels like being preached at.
A different path needs to be taken. One that acknowledges their doubt, their questions, their history.
It’s not a matter of pulling them along a path, of hitting them with a hammer while trying to nail down their faith. Instead, it’s a matter of shining a light, so they can find the path on their own.