New University of Chicago Report on Religious Change

October 28, 2009 – 9:56 am

Tom Smith at the University of the Chicago recently completed and summarized a study of religious trends called Religious Change Around the World. The study has been commented on by both the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune as well as by the U of Chicago itself in its article. In this commentary, the author states:

“Americans’ attitudes toward religion are growing more complex,” said study author Tom W. Smith, Director of the General Social Survey at the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. “While fewer people identify with a particular religion, belief in God remains high.

“When asked simply about belief in God, most people include a range of God images, from a personal God to believing in a ‘higher power’ or a ‘spirit or life force,’” he said. People who don’t believe in a personal God but in a higher power of some kind rose from 5 percent in 1964 to 9 to 10 percent in recent surveys, the study found.

The report is the latest product of the General Social Survey, the nation’s longest, most scientifically reliable source of information on American attitudes and behaviors. Supported by the National Science Foundation, the survey is widely used by social scientists for their research.

How should we respond to such a report? From an American church perspective, it is relatively easy to see how many churches are responding, and the aforementioned articles concur: “Sociologists of religion say the rise in people who are spiritual but religiously uncommitted is prompting churches to repackage their services into more contemporary offerings with fresh, livelier music and less of the usual liturgies.” Some churches see the trends and respond to them, but in my opinion, tending to follow the trends rather than confront and change them.

What should be our response to people who seem to be interested in spiritual things but not interested in established religion? Paul encouraged Timothy, in the face of shifting spirituality, to “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself and example of those who believe. Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:12,13,16).

Spiritual interest was still running high in Ephesus, but true biblical spirituality was under attack. Paul told Timothy, you must live out your faith and you must continue to teach the truth. In other words, we need not only “Life Touching Life” but also “Truth Confronting Life” if we are to protect our churches from following societal trends.

There is much more regarding foreign missions in this report. Hopefully I can comment on that later in the week.