The eCrozier

In their new book, American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us, Robert D. Putnam and David E. Campbell share the results of their extensive research into the contemporary religious practices of Americans. In many ways, their work builds on the excellent work done by the Pew Forum on Religion and other research groups.

Putnam and Campbell describe a growing group in American religious life that they call Nones, as in no formal religious affiliation at all (“none of the above”). But these folks are not atheists or agnostics. They believe in God, and they seem to want a meaningful spiritual life. Putnam and Campbell have followed this group closely and have interviewed many of them twice or more. What is actually happening, they contend, is that about one third of these Nones are moving in and out of religious traditions. They call these folk Liminal Nones because they are partly in and partly out of a particular faith tradition. And these Liminal Nones are disproportionately under 30 years of age. So, if you ask them one week they might say: “I’m probably a Methodist.” But the following week, they might say: “I’m not sure I am anything right now.”

The authors argue that this is a rapidly growing demographic cohort in our culture. And they suggest that the Episcopal Church might appeal to the Liminal Nones, but these people just don’t know what the Episcopal Church is all about. These Liminal Nones do know that they are turned off by what they perceive to be secular, partisan politics in church, whether it be of the liberal or conservative brand. Putnam and Campbell suggest from their research that what might well attract these folks back to church is an evangelical style of religion but without the politics of fear mongering, blaming others, or a more righteous-than-thou attitude toward one’s neighbors. That is what has turned away this group of people from their most recent church affiliation.

Our tradition at its best is most certainly evangelical. But it’s a humble and gracious type of evangelicalism. We Episcopalians have rightly shied away from arrogant pronouncements that claim our way of discipleship is the only way to be a Christian. We have resisted partisan politics. Our leaders do not instruct church members on how they must vote in elections. At our best, we have not scapegoated immigrants or blamed particular ethnic groups for the problems our society faces. Again, at our best, we steadfastly avoid claiming that our faith tradition makes us morally superior to others.

What Putnam and Campbell have identified is a growing trend among many people in our culture who are tired of religion being used to baptize prejudice, greed, and indifference to other people’s suffering. These people believe in God and want to have a spiritual life. They just don’t want it with the religious experience they are leaving. They might want to live out their discipleship in the Episcopal Church. But first they would have to know that such a church as ours exists. That means we will need disciples in our church who are willing to go out and tell them and then show them. God is giving us this opportunity to evangelize many people who have found their previous experience of church toxic. I hope we are paying attention.

+Scott