wfn.org | Episcopalians: Religious revival on its way, Gallup says

[dmack@episcopalchurch.org]

February 28, 2002

2002-048

Episcopalians: Religious revival on its way, Gallup says

by Matthew Greco

(ENS) The good news is that Americans are feeling more religious 
and spiritual. The bad news is theyre not sure who gave the 
Sermon on the Mount. 

This situation, and the coming religious revival that will arise 
out of it, presents "remarkable challenges and opportunities" 
for faith communities, said eminent pollster George Gallup, Jr., 
speaking recently at the annual symposium of the Henri Nouwen 
Society at a New York City church.  

The revival will be led by three groups: African-Americans, 
those aged 50-64 and millennials, said Gallup, an Episcopalian, 
who offered his personal thoughts and reflections based on his 
firms ongoing survey work on religious and spiritual life in 
America.

Interest in religion and spirituality in America has not 
diminished--in fact, just the opposite, Gallup said. In the last 
decade, the number of Americans who believe in heaven and hell 
is up from 6 in 10 to 8 in 10. 

Indeed, this concern about going from the seen to the unseen 
world presents the church with an incredible challenge, said 
Gallup, speaking to an interdenominational audience at 
Manhattans St. Ignatius Church. "It is a moment to be seized by 
the faith community." 

Part of the challenge is that people say they believe in God, 
but theyre not sure what they believe. "Americans are hard 
pressed to say why theyre Christians. They dont know what they 
believe or why," he observed.

Americans have a high level of credulity and believe in 
everything from the devil to haunted houses, extraterrestrials 
and witches. Many hold traditional and non-traditional beliefs 
simultaneously as they create "a la carte" homemade religions, 
Gallup said. 

Some 54% of Americans say theyre religious, while 30% say 
theyre spiritual and not religious. These percentages are about 
the same for teenagers. 

But whats worrisome in Episcopal congregations is the neglect 
of youth programs. "Were very remiss at engaging youth," he 
said. As with other mainline traditions, the Episcopal Church 
has been losing membership for the last 30 years, a trend Gallup 
blamed on the lack of youth programsand the fact that 
Episcopalians "dont believe" in evangelism. 

Gallup noted that some people think that American religion is 
3000 miles wide and three inches deep. "Theres much to that. 
Religion is not primary, not at the center. Americans are stuck 
in between disbelief and the security of knowing God." 

All of this is not true of African-Americans, who are probably 
the most religious people of any group in the world. "Youd be 
hard pressed to find even one African American who doesnt 
believe in a personal God," he said. It is the power of that 
bedrock faith that will lead the coming spiritual renewal, he 
said. 

While there is a concern over the lack of depth in American 
religious belief, contrary to expectations, church attendance 
stays high among those with higher education, an anomaly of 
American society not true in other countries. 

Reflecting on the post-September 11 religious climate, Gallup 
noted the well-documented initial rush to churches and the 
tremendous increase in Bible sales. However, three weeks later, 
church attendance was back down to normal as well as what people 
said was the importance of religion in their lives. Curiously, 
people continued to say that the impact on society of religion 
is up enormously, a perception not matched by their own reality. 
Still, Gallup said, "My guess is in the long run these 
experiences will intensify the spiritual search going on now."

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--Matthew Greco is a journalist attending Union  Seminary in New 
York.