Jan

13

How Do Unchurched Americans View Christianity?

January 13, 2008 |

The Christian Post reports on a survey of the “unchurched” in America. The study found that most are willing to hear what people have to say about Christianity but a majority also sees the church as a place full of hypocrites.

LifeWay Research studied 1,402 adults who were unchurched - those who had not attended a religious service at a church, synagogue or mosque in the previous six months - last spring and summer. Some of their findings included:

72 percent said they think the church ‘is full of hypocrites.’

71 percent said they believe Jesus ‘makes a positive difference in a person’s life.’

78 percent said they would ‘be willing to listen’ to someone who wanted to share what they believed about Christianity.”

64 percent think “the Christian religion is a relevant and viable religion for today.”

72 percent of unchurched adults said they believe God, a higher or supreme being actually exists.

48 percent agree there is only one God as described in the Bible.

61 percent believe the God of the Bible is no different from the gods or spiritual being depicted.

22 percent of Americans say they never go to church - the highest ever recorded by the General Social Survey.

79 percent think that Christianity today is more about organized religion than about loving God and loving people.

86 percent believe they can have a good relationship with God without being involved in church.

44 percent said Christians “get on my nerves.”

89 percent of the unchurched have at least one close friend who is Christian.

While turned off by church, 78 percent are willing to listen to someone who wanted to talk about their Christian beliefs. The number rose to 89 percent among adults 18-29 years of age.

78 percent of adults 30 years and older said they would enjoy an honest conversation with a friend about religious and spiritual beliefs, even if they disagreed with the friend.

Only 28 percent of adults 30 years and older said they think Christians they know talk to them too much about their beliefs.


Comments

2 Comments so far

  1. Steve Richards on February 19, 2008 4:21 pm

    These are very intersting statistics. However, the following item seems to be an incomplete sentence: “61 percent believe the God of the Bible is no different from the gods or spiritual being depicted.” Being depicted how? Where? Please explain if you can.

    Thanks!

    Steve

  2. patsikora on February 19, 2008 8:06 pm

    Steve, You’re right. It’s confusing. I went back to the original article and that’s what it says. I assume they mean any other gods, spiritual beings, or “higher powers” that are being discussed and believed in in the culture. Bottom line is that the unchurched can’t or don’t differentiate Jesus, Yhwh, from any other “god.” Bad news for us. Thanks for stopping by.

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