Unbelief Isn’t the Most Common Reason for Avoiding Church
Survey sheds light on why many don’t attend services
Most non-churchgoers aren’t staying away from services because of a lack of faith, according to a new report from Pew Research Center.
Of the 3 in 10 U.S. adults who seldom or never attend religious services, only 28 percent describe themselves as unbelievers.
Meanwhile, 38 percent eschew church because they dislike it for some reason: 23 percent haven’t found a house of worship they like; 18 percent don’t care for the sermons; and 14 percent don’t feel welcome.
Of the 3 in 10 U.S. adults who seldom or never attend religious services, only 28 percent describe themselves as unbelievers.
Nearly a quarter (22 percent) of non-attenders cite logistical reasons, including lack of time (12 percent); poor health or difficulty getting around (9 percent); and no local access to a church representing their religion (7 percent). (Respondents could pick more than one “very important” reason for not attending.)
Among self-described Christians who seldom or never attend services, 38 percent point to dislikes as a key reason for their absence from the pews, compared to 29 percent who cite logistics. Some 28 percent haven’t found a church that pleases them, 18 percent dislike the sermons, and 15 percent don’t feel welcome.
More than 4 in 10 non-attending Christians (44 percent) say they practice their faith in other ways.
Among religiously unaffiliated non-attenders, 14 percent cited not feeling welcome in church as a major reason for staying away.
Overall, slightly more women than men say they skip church because they don’t feel welcome (16 versus 13 percent). Blacks are also more likely to say this (22 percent), compared to Hispanics (15 percent) and whites (13 percent).
Influence Magazine & The Healthy Church Network
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