Ethics and Religion: Is Less Religion Better?

According to the Pew Research Center: Depending on whether religious switching (beginning mostly in the late teen years) continues at recent rates, speeds up, or stops entirely, the projections show Christians of all ages shrinking from 64% to just above one-third (35%) of all Americans by 2070. Over that same period, “nones” would rise from the current 30% to somewhere between 34% and 52% of the U.S. population 

If this trend continues, and assuming most of the “nones” are secular humanists, would the US society be improved and the U.S. be better off? In other words, is it possible that less “religion” in the U.S. could result in a better society? If no, and assuming the trend continues, then how do you think society will be different?

Linda Knieriemen, Senior Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Holland, responds:

I believe that Christianity is undergoing a major overhaul which scholars observe has happened about every 500 years.

Christianity suffers from the crisis that much of organized Christian religion does not reflect the words and actions of Jesus of Nazareth. My sense is that most of those who no longer call themselves Christian do so because of the rampant hypocrisy, judgment, racism and sexism in organized churches. The organized church may not see them in their pews, but they may nevertheless continue to identify with the teachings of Jesus, and not necessarily consider themselves secular humanists.

Less bad religion (judgmental, hypocritical, violent) could very well improve society. However, a society which embraces the gist of the teachings of religion,(because I speak from the Christian perspective, those of Jesus), could be better, that is, prioritizing individual and community wellbeing rather than serving the whims of the rich and powerful. The words of the Magnificat in Gospel of Luke 1 come to mind:

“God has scattered the proud in their conceit, cast down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up the lowly, filled the hungry with good things and sent away the rich.”

Fred Stella, the Pracharak (Outreach Minister) for the West Michigan Hindu Temple, responds:

I would not assume offhand that most of the future nones will be secular humanists. I don’t think that’s true now. My observation (and research) indicates that many of them have deep spiritual needs, but don’t seem to be fed by institutional religion.

Like every religious reformation (and this is what it is), we in the trade of providing spiritual consolation, growth and maturity to our nation’s ever so hungry population must adapt to current needs or risk being redundant. This does not mean watering down theology or replacing liturgy with a sideshow, but it does prove to us that today’s generation is looking for honesty, transparency, inclusion and the retirement of harsh judgementalism.

Will we be better off if houses of worship close and denominations fold up their tents? As with most social trends, there are pluses and minuses.  One of the things that I would miss about Christian churches in particular is how many of them provide services for so many in the community who are not members. They really are highly engaged, and are an integral part of the local landscape. I do hope that they can hang on for the time being, and flourish in the future.

The Reverend Colleen Squires, minister at All Souls Community Church of West Michigan, a Unitarian Universalist Congregation, responds:

Unitarian Universalists have large numbers of secular humanists among our ranks. Many have left the traditional religions but they still seek community. They  have strong moral and ethical beliefs without the division caused by religious beliefs. I think all of society would improve if all people would treat one another with respect. We can treat others respectfully with or without having religious beliefs. 

Father Kevin Niehoff, O.P., a Dominican priest who serves as Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Grand Rapids, responds:

Discussing the “nones” and how to reach them is a frequent topic of discussion at the dinner table of my Dominican Community. The nones exist because no one has ever introduced them to God or given them the experience of the nonmaterial world.

If one puts “ministry to the nones” in a search engine, one will quickly discover these individuals are a topic of discussion for many religious traditions. Evangelization is the common theme for strategies to reach out to the nones. The goal is not to force religion upon them but to introduce them to God.

I do not question the statistics about future Church attendance. Unlike others, I do not allow the statistics to get me down. Instead, I believe there is much hope for the future of all religious traditions. God is in charge of Churches. We who minister need only witness the presence of God among us.

We assist the nones on a faith journey by teaching them a spiritual language they have never learned. This action is only the beginning of helping them realize there is a world beyond their current understanding. This world is vast, and given the opportunity to recognize it is ever-present, we may lead them to God through a prayerful relationship that is much more than simply following rules.

Rev. Ray Lanning, a retired minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America, responds:

Not being a prophet or the son of a prophet, I am not in a position to answer your questions, at least in terms of where these trends might take us as a nation. I do know that in former days, Christianity exercised far more influence over the life of our nation when professing Christians were a decided minority in the general population. As a minority Christians were compelled to live more consistently with the faith they professed, practicing what they preached, and preaching it more whole-heartedly, rather than rely on societal privilege or political clout, real or imagined. Paul’s advice sums it up well: “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof” (Romans 13:14). One of the lusts of the flesh is to exercise lordship over others, in a raw exercise of political power or armed force.

This column answers questions of Ethics and Religion by submitting them to a multi-faith panel of spiritual leaders in the Grand Rapids area. We’d love to hear about the ordinary ethical questions that come up in the course of your day as well as any questions of religion that you’ve wondered about. Tell us how you resolved an ethical dilemma and see how members of the Ethics and Religion Talk panel would have handled the same situation. Please send your questions to [email protected].