I bet Seldom Attenders are the best bets for evangelism. They see some value in church, but don't know much about it and are lazy. A bit of education and love could make a big difference.
Qualifying "seldom attend religious services" -- what about people who are not religious but attend a funeral held in a house of worship? That would surely qualify has having experienced a religious service -- and they could "check the box."
The reason I mention this is that it seems that fewer and fewer people, at least in my area, have religious funeral services. I know this because I read the local obituaries. I love history, especially personal history, and obituaries are those very things. If a funeral were held at a house of worship, this would oblige a nonreligious person to attend a religious service.
Ryan - thanks so much for both the shout-out, the very thoughtful self reflection and the "attitude" information at the end of today's episode. I have to remind myself that the intensity of people's feelings, both positive and negative, to religion tend to be more extreme in the US compared to here in the UK where a cordial ambivalence is the norm.
As someone who until very recently sang in a choir I often found myself in church singing for religious services despite not being a believer myself. I also go to friend's religious wedding, baptism and funeral services. I wonder if there's a way to have more nuanced questions about whether someone is attending a place of worship "on their own spiritual motivation" or because they are going there for a community reason or have been invited for a specific event?
Synagogue may be a little different than the churches. While the finances depend on the religious equivalent of gym memberships in January, people who pay dues to get their Rosh HaShanah tickets each year, a lot of effort goes into planning events that take place during worship times. People of all types attend Bar Mitzvahs, teachers of students, work colleagues of parents irrespective of what their usual chuch attendandce is. That's how atheists don't score zero on the survey, perhaps. There are guest speakers, including our Senator once. People who are nominal members will come their birthday sabbath when names are announced or come for the naming of a neighbor's new daughter. They are not there to worship, but to engage in programming linked to worship. People who despise the concept of religion will still have the civility to maintain good relations with people who are more fully engaged.
It is hard to infuse this reality with a survey question. Somebody consenting to the survey will likely interpret the question as one of worship, not physical presence in a place where worship happens to be part of the program that got them in the sanctuary.
I bet Seldom Attenders are the best bets for evangelism. They see some value in church, but don't know much about it and are lazy. A bit of education and love could make a big difference.
Qualifying "seldom attend religious services" -- what about people who are not religious but attend a funeral held in a house of worship? That would surely qualify has having experienced a religious service -- and they could "check the box."
The reason I mention this is that it seems that fewer and fewer people, at least in my area, have religious funeral services. I know this because I read the local obituaries. I love history, especially personal history, and obituaries are those very things. If a funeral were held at a house of worship, this would oblige a nonreligious person to attend a religious service.
Loopholes!
I read this fascinating post and wonder if there is any data about religious involvement in birth, death and marriage rites of passage.
Ryan - thanks so much for both the shout-out, the very thoughtful self reflection and the "attitude" information at the end of today's episode. I have to remind myself that the intensity of people's feelings, both positive and negative, to religion tend to be more extreme in the US compared to here in the UK where a cordial ambivalence is the norm.
As someone who until very recently sang in a choir I often found myself in church singing for religious services despite not being a believer myself. I also go to friend's religious wedding, baptism and funeral services. I wonder if there's a way to have more nuanced questions about whether someone is attending a place of worship "on their own spiritual motivation" or because they are going there for a community reason or have been invited for a specific event?
Synagogue may be a little different than the churches. While the finances depend on the religious equivalent of gym memberships in January, people who pay dues to get their Rosh HaShanah tickets each year, a lot of effort goes into planning events that take place during worship times. People of all types attend Bar Mitzvahs, teachers of students, work colleagues of parents irrespective of what their usual chuch attendandce is. That's how atheists don't score zero on the survey, perhaps. There are guest speakers, including our Senator once. People who are nominal members will come their birthday sabbath when names are announced or come for the naming of a neighbor's new daughter. They are not there to worship, but to engage in programming linked to worship. People who despise the concept of religion will still have the civility to maintain good relations with people who are more fully engaged.
It is hard to infuse this reality with a survey question. Somebody consenting to the survey will likely interpret the question as one of worship, not physical presence in a place where worship happens to be part of the program that got them in the sanctuary.