Sunday, October 06, 2024
Sunday Reflection: the flight from church
Three years ago, an important threshold was crossed: fewer than half of Americans were affiliated with a church, mosque or synagogue. The 47% of people who were was way down from 70% in 1999.
Of course, some people identify as an adherent of a faith but don't go to services. That number is way down, too: This year, the percentage of Americans who choose "none" when asked about their faith is up to 28%, making them the largest of the groups identified-- in comparison, the number identifying as Catholics was 23%. The number of "nones" has nearly doubled since 2007, which is not that long ago!
There is, of course, a lot of hand-wringing and commentating on why this has happened. Right-wingers assert that it is because churches are insufficiently conservative. People on the left usually point to "culture" or kids using screens or the like. But they are all bleeding members.
It might be relevance to people's lives that is at the core of the problem. Churches traditionally provided not only answers to peoples' questions about life, but gave their lives meaning. Now, as people find meaning in online communities and other kinds of "third places," perhaps church is losing that role.
It's just my gut on this, but I think political polarization has a lot to do with it, too. It seems like there are a lot of people who find meaning and identity in politics. And the perception of Christians as Trumps probably drives a lot of people away.
I don't have an answer. But it could be that humility has something to do with that answer.
