Number of ‘unchurched’ adults substantially higher
The Layman Online, July 12, 1999
A new study by Barna Research of Ventura, Calif., shows a substantial increase in “unchurched adults” in America during an 18-month period.
The Barna study indicates almost one-third of the nation’s adults (31 percent) can be deemed “unchurched.” That translates into 60 million to 65 million unchurched adults.
Barna says the number represents a “significant increase” from the 27 percent measured just 18 months earlier. The additional 4 percentages points is the equivalent of 8 million unchurched adults.
Barna says unchurched segment has some unique attributes that distinguish it from the churched sector of the population. Four out of ten residents of the Northeast and the West are unchurched, compared to one out of four among those residing in the South and Midwest. Men are 67% more likely to be unchurched than are women. Adults who are politically liberal are more than twice as likely to be unchurched as those who call themselves politically conservative.