Reaching the Religiously Disaffiliated
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The book addresses the growing number of Americans who no longer identify with any religious tradition, or the Nones. By 2022 Nones reached 27% of the population. They constitute 31 % of the millennials between 25 and 40, and 33% of the adults in Generation Z between 18 and 25. The author examines survey data on the growth of the Nones and the reasons they give for leaving, or never joining churches. Their exodus has caused concern by religious leaders since the future viability of organized Christianity is at stake given the large numbers of young Americans leaving religion. The author analyzes strategies to engage the Nones by recruiting efforts of Evangelical Christian megachurches, educational initiatives by the US Catholic Bishops, and methods of the Nuns & Nones movement which include dialogs, meals, meditations and shared living experiences between Catholic sisters and the religiously unaffiliated. This approach involves spiritually accompanying Nones rather than efforts to proselytize or educate them. The concluding chapter explores ways for churches to engage Nones based on spiritual accompaniment approaches of the Nuns & Nones movement.
Brian H. Smith is Professor Emeritus of Religion at Ripon College where he taught from 1987-2020.