We Americans value independence, exploration and going out on our own... unless you're one of those new college grads who have moved back in with mom and dad because you don't want to get an unpleasant job and live in a small apartment and pay your dues. What was I talking about? Oh yeah, Americans like to do things their own way. We always have, and that doesn't seem to be changing. In fact it continues to impact new areas of American life - like faith and spirituality.

A recent nationwide Barna survey points out that while Americans are tiring of traditional church forms and experiences, they continue to see themselves as deeply spiritual, open to religious experience.

The study showed that,

-88% of American adults say that "my religious faith is very important in my life."
-75% say they sense that "God is motivating people to stay connected with Him, but in different ways and through different types of experiences than in the past."
-50% say "a growing number of people I know are tired of the usual type of church experience."
-64% say they are "completely open to carrying out and pursuing [their] faith in an environment or structure that differs from that of a typical church."
-45% say they are "willing to try a new church."

Don't miss that one. The Barna Group notes,

A staggering number of Americans - almost half of the nation's 230 million adults - are open to changing their church home, demonstrating their lack of connection with their present community of faith and their desire to have a more significant connection. It may also be a reflection of people's increasing lack of loyalty to both organizations and personal relationships, and the growing sense that there is always something better available if you can simply find it.

71% say they are "more likely to develop my religious beliefs on my own, rather than to accept an entire set of beliefs that a particular church teaches."

People often call this approach to religious belief "buffet theology," where individuals simply pick and choose what they believe based on personal preference. "I'll take a little of this, none of that, some of this over here, I can't tell what that is so I'll leave that alone..." While that criticism is valid, we should also be asking why Americans are so distrustful of organized religion, systems, and meta narratives.

This recent survey offers a lot of interesting data, so check it out, but I'll point out one more thing.

Across the board, the research showed that women are driving these changes. This is particularly significant given prior research from Barna showing that women are more spiritually inclined, are the primary shapers of family faith experiences, and are the backbone of activity in the typical conventional church. Specifically, Barna discovered that women were more likely than men to pursue their faith in a different type of structure or environment (68% of women, 59% of men); to sense that God is motivating people to experience faith in different ways (79% vs. 60%, respectively); and to be willing try a new church (50% vs. 40%).

Check out the article and come back here to discuss.

How does the church respond to these trends? What should churches and church leaders do, do different, or so the same?

LifeWay Research just released some new research on parenting, particularly the role of faith in parenting. (If you did not see our recent release on parenting, it might be good to take a look at that data as well.)

There are some additional resources here but I have posted the full story below. Feel free to comment below.

LifeWay Research looks at role of faith in parenting

NASHVILLE, Tenn., 3/17/09 - The vast majority of parents hope their children grow up to live good lives, but for many, parental success does not include faith in God - even among parents who are evangelical Christians, according to a new study from LifeWay Research.

Continue reading New Research on Faith and Parenting.

Terry Mattingly does his usual good job covering religion. He writes a weekly column for Scripps Howard news that is then run in papers around the world.

Terry writes:

The trend is clear. Vague talk is safer than clear action. Personal beliefs are good, but not if these doctrines lead to actions that indicate that some beliefs are right and others wrong.

Seeking is good, but finding is bad. Judging is even worse.

My personal favorite "Terry Mattingly" location is his web site, getreligion.org, an important location on my Bloglines reader. I have mentioned them twice before on the blog.

You can read his coverage of two recent research projects here.

My contribution was:

"There is a sense in our culture that is acceptable to believe in anything spiritual, as long as it makes you a better person and helps you find peace," said Ed Stetzer, leader of the LifeWay Research team. "One's faith only becomes a problem when that belief actually makes claims that contradicts the faith of others."

In an age of "I'm OK, You're OK" spirituality, he added, "American spirituality has glorified 'searching' for spiritual meaning, but de-emphasized 'finding.' In other words, it is good to be looking for spirituality, but it is intolerant to actually believe you have found a right faith. ... Intolerance is defined to mean actually believing that your faith is the correct one."

Terry always moves beyond research to analysis and I was impressed.

Here are my full answers to his questions.

On there being one way.

The change between the "higher or supreme being" question and "the God described in the Bible," would seem to say that Americans want "God," but they are not as sure they want to say God is the exclusive biblical God of Christianity.

For that matter, there is a sense in our culture that is acceptable to believe in anything spiritual, as long as it makes you a better person and helps you find peace.

One's faith only becomes a problem when that belief actually makes claims that contradicts the faith of others. Since Christianity (and other faiths) make exclusive truth claims, it becomes controversial when Christians (and others) start to actually believe and propagate the claims of their faith.

On generic faith.

As best I can tell, those who are not a regular part of a faith community still want to be "spiritual" people, but without a clear faith.

As an evangelical Christian, I would say that many fashion a tame God in their own image-- a generic god for a generic spirituality, not a God who actually intervened in the world through the death of Christ and calls us to follow and live differently.

For many, they want to get all the benefits of spirituality without any of the truth claims of a rigorous faith.

On Spirituality

I think the Oprah-ization of American spirituality has glorified "searching" for spiritual meaning but de-emphasized "finding." In other words, it is good to be looking for spirituality, but it is intolerant to actually believe you have found a right faith and want to invite others to such.

In "I'm O.K., You're O.K. Spirituality," the only sin is intolerance... and intolerance is defined to mean actually believing your faith is the correct one.

On why conservative churches grow even when the majority of Americans lean toward a universalistic faith.

Non-attendees want to ignore a generic God, but when/if they follow a faith, they want one that has robust beliefs and is worth following.

Since growing churches tend to have more defined belief systems, when people start a journey to faith, they want something they see as worth believing and giving their life to. A generic god is hardly one worth committing to.