Here is my weekly column over at Engaging Church Blog. This week was focused on something I posted on last week: the Pew Forum report on the Nones. It also engages with a fantastic new book by Time Keller called Center Church.
32, 21,15, 9.
No, these are not some newly discovered set of numbers from the hit TV show LOST. They represent one of the fastest growing religious groups in America: Nones, people who self-report as having no religious affiliation.
Last week Tuesday the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life reported that Nones are on the rise, now encompassing 19% of adults, up from 16% in 2007. Read that again: Now nearly 1 in 5 adults have no religious affiliation.
The numbers at the top represent percentages by age who are None: 9% of the Silent Generation, those over 65; 15% of Boomers, 50-64; 21% of GenXers, 30-49 are None; and fully 1 in 3 (32%) Millennials, 18-29, have no religious affiliation at all.
Read those numbers again, especially that last one. 1 in 3 young adults are None when it comes to religious affiliation. If that number or the others weren’t enough here’s the kicker: 88% of Nones aren’t even looking to be part of any religious group, including your church.
What do you make of these numbers? What’s your reaction? Your response?
