Have you ever looked around a sacred space during worship and observed that those gathered look quite a bit older than the general population? If so, your anecdotal observation is linked to a broader reality: The average American in worship is significantly older than the average American across the entire population. And, it is also correct to assert that while the both the worshipping folks and Americans in general are aging populations, the average age among the worshipping group has risen Read More …
General Social Survey
Will Mainline Protestantism Disappear by 2039? (#1684)
A week rarely passes when one or more of my colleagues doesn't share with me some new bit of news about the poor health of American Christianity. Some of these pieces are based on nothing more than personal opinion or inappropriate generalizations from very small samples while others are reflections on richer data sets alongside more thoughtful reasoning. In my very informal review of the last dozen pieces of news others shared with me about the future of the American church a total Read More …
Worship Swap (#1038)
Earlier this month, the Pew Research Center reported that data from the General Social Survey shows a role reversal in worship attendance when comparing Catholics and Protestants. More specifically: In 1974, Catholics were more likely than Protestants to report attending religious services at least once a week (47% vs. 29%). By 2012, the situation had reversed: Protestants overall were more likely than Catholics to say they attend church weekly or more often (38% vs. 24%). So Read More …
The Happiest Job (#0569)
Steve Denning's article on Forbes is one of many that report on the ten happiest jobs, based on the recent General Social Survey by the National Organization for Research at the University of Chicago. The top five are #5 - special education teachers #4 - authors #3 - physical therapists #2 - firefighters #1 - clergy So What? The original article in the Christian Science Monitor notes that psychologist, firefighter, and clergy all make the top ten: Since experts say that social Read More …
Review of American Religion (#0505)
Meet the Author Mark Chaves is professor of sociology, religion and divinity at Duke University. In addition to teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, Chaves directs the National Congregations Study. He is the author of three books: American Religion: Contemporary Trends (2011), Congregations in America (2004), and Ordaining Women: Culture and Conflict in Religious Organizations (Harvard, 1997). While most of his Read More …
Review of American Grace (#0227)
Robert D. Putnam and David E. Campbell. American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us. Simon & Schuster, 2010. ISBN: 9781416566717. Meet the Authors Robert D. Putnam (shown in the yellow shirt) is the Peter and Isabel Malkin Professor of Public Policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He has written a dozen books, translated into seventeen languages, including the best-selling Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of Read More …