The Unstuck Church Podcast with Amy Anderson

The State of Religious Participation in American Life with Alan Cooperman of Pew Research Center - Episode 360

Aug 7, 2024

Alan Cooperman, a representative from the Pew Research Center specializing in religious participation data, shares surprising insights into church attendance trends. Contrary to the common belief of decline, recent studies show a 17% year-over-year increase among certain churches. The discussion also explores the growing demographic of 'nuns,' individuals identifying as religiously unaffiliated, and the nuanced nature of their beliefs. Cooperman emphasizes the need for church leaders to adapt engagement strategies to connect with this evolving group in American spirituality.

43:24

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Episode guests

Alan Cooperman

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Despite prevailing narratives of decline, recent data indicates a 17% increase in church attendance among engaged churches, highlighting their unique growth factors.

The rise of the 'nuns' demographic emphasizes the need for churches to connect with individuals who possess diverse views on spirituality, rather than viewing them as adversaries.

Deep dives

Growing Participation Amidst Decline Headlines

Recent data indicates a surprising increase in church attendance, contradicting persistent headlines about declining religious participation in America. The Unstuck Church Report shows an average annual attendance increase of 17% across numerous churches, revealing a significant difference between churches that engage with support groups and those that don't. This data suggests that factors unique to these engaged churches contribute to their growth and vitality. The podcast emphasizes that understanding these differences between 'stuck' and 'unstuck' churches is crucial for adapting strategies that foster spiritual engagement.

Intro

5min

Understanding the Unaffiliated: Insights into America's 'Nuns'

3min

Trends in Religious Affiliation: Potential Stabilization of the 'Nuns'

2min

Shifting Spiritual Landscapes in America

30min

Understanding the 'Nuns' and Church Engagement Strategies

3min

New data, same headlines. The surveys and studies always seem to repeat the same refrain: Church attendance is in decline. Religious participation is phasing out of American life. Except…our data shows the opposite. In our most recent edition of The Unstuck Church Report, the average year-over-year attendance increase was 17% across churches of all sizes. There’s clearly something different about the churches engaging with our surveys.

In this series, we’re going to try to explain what’s so different about unstuck churches and give you some practical ways to make sense of the things contributing to church growth or decline.

We have our own data and observations from the work we do that we will share in the next two episodes, but we wanted to start out with an exploration of recent data and trends from an authority on religion in American life. So, we invited Alan Cooperman from Pew Research Center to join us for a conversation about the broader trends happening in the U.S.

For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode360.

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The Unstuck Church Podcast with Amy Anderson

The State of Religious Participation in American Life with Alan Cooperman of Pew Research Center - Episode 360

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Growing Participation Amidst Decline Headlines

Understanding the 'Nuns' Amidst Rising Spirituality

Changing Dynamics of Religious Identity

Perceptions of Religion and Spiritual Growth

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts