“ I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4
The Nones
By Shannon Pederson
Unbelief is everywhere and it’s rising! People who check “none” for their religious affiliation are now nearly 1 in 5 Americans (19 percent). This is the highest documented level in history, according to the ‘Pew Center for the People and the Press.’ People taking the survey feel very few are just marking the “none” box due to privacy reasons because when questioned, they defend their selection.
When the survey was first taken in 1990, the “Nones” were 6% of U. S. adults. By 2008 the number was up to 15%. Researchers expect this number to keep rising at this alarming rate.
The rapid rise of the “Nones”, experts say, is due to young people being resistant to the authority of institutional religion, older people being turned off by politicization of religion, and people not being “into theology” anymore.
A large percent of the “Nones” are young, single, and highly educated. More than 10% of the “Nones” are labeled switchers, American adults who grew up part of a religious group. Additionally, survey officials believe the number would be higher/growing at a more rapid rate if it wasn’t for the large number of immigrants from religious nations, especially Catholics from Hispanic countries, that offset the numbers.
Can we do anything to slow down the growth of the “Nones?” Every one of us can impact this statistic. Invite a “None” to attend church with you. Let a “None” know how wonderful it is having a church family. Pray for all the “Nones” that they will want to seek the Lord through joining us in church.
“Then the leaders of Judah will say in their hearts, 'The people of Jerusalem are strong, because the LORD Almighty is their God.'” Zechariah 12:5
The Nones
By Shannon Pederson
Unbelief is everywhere and it’s rising! People who check “none” for their religious affiliation are now nearly 1 in 5 Americans (19 percent). This is the highest documented level in history, according to the ‘Pew Center for the People and the Press.’ People taking the survey feel very few are just marking the “none” box due to privacy reasons because when questioned, they defend their selection.
When the survey was first taken in 1990, the “Nones” were 6% of U. S. adults. By 2008 the number was up to 15%. Researchers expect this number to keep rising at this alarming rate.
The rapid rise of the “Nones”, experts say, is due to young people being resistant to the authority of institutional religion, older people being turned off by politicization of religion, and people not being “into theology” anymore.
A large percent of the “Nones” are young, single, and highly educated. More than 10% of the “Nones” are labeled switchers, American adults who grew up part of a religious group. Additionally, survey officials believe the number would be higher/growing at a more rapid rate if it wasn’t for the large number of immigrants from religious nations, especially Catholics from Hispanic countries, that offset the numbers.
Can we do anything to slow down the growth of the “Nones?” Every one of us can impact this statistic. Invite a “None” to attend church with you. Let a “None” know how wonderful it is having a church family. Pray for all the “Nones” that they will want to seek the Lord through joining us in church.
“Then the leaders of Judah will say in their hearts, 'The people of Jerusalem are strong, because the LORD Almighty is their God.'” Zechariah 12:5