A Light to the Path
Every few years, headlines proclaim that belief in God is declining in the United States. The claims often stem from polls conducted by the Pew Research Center, which have for some time shown a gradual increase in the number of people classified as “nones,” those with 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 to see a net decrease in churches, with more closing than opening each year.
It’s no wonder that so many 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, volunteer less, 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 asked why they identified as nones, the most common reasons were 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
The primary reason for identifying as a none revolves around the question: 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 desire 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.
