America's Unchurched are willing to hear what people have to say about Christianity, but a majority also sees the church as a place full of hypocrites, finds a LifeWay Research study.
- 72% of those interviewed think the church "is full of hypocrites."
- Yet 71% said they believe Jesus "makes a positive difference in a person's life"
- 78% would "be willing to listen" to someone who wanted to share what they believed about Christianity.
- 64% think "the Christian religion is relevant and viable for today"
- 72% of un-churched adults believe God, a higher or supreme being actually exists.
- Only 48% agree there is only one God as described in the Bible
- 61% believe the God of the Bible is no different from gods or spiritual beings depicted in non-Christian religions.
- 22% of Americans say they never go to church (highest ever recorded by the General Social Survey), up from 17% in '04.
- 79% of unchurched Americans think Christianity today is more about organized religion than about loving God and loving people;
- 86% believe they can have a good relationship with God without being involved in church
- 44% said Christians "get on my nerves."
- Yet, 89% of the unchurched have at least 1 close Christian friend
- And while turned off by church, 78% are willing to listen to someone who wants to talk about their Christian beliefs. The number rose to 89% among adults ages 18-29.
- Additionally, 78% said they would enjoy an honest conversation with a friend about religious and spiritual beliefs, even if they disagreed.
- Only 28% think Christians they know talk to them too much about their beliefs.
(BP News 1/9/08)
Excerpt from a February 2008 Mission America Newsletter
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