The influence of Christianity on the US is waning. The number of folks who qualify as post-Christian according to the metrics used by the Barna Group has gone up 7% in just the last two years. The Group tracks 15 faith-related metrics to chart the rise in irreligious attitudes in the population. To qualify as post-Christian a person has to reach 60% of the metrics. At 80% they qualify as highly post-Christian. Some cities in the US are becoming post-Christian more quickly than others. These are the metrics;
- Do not believe in God
- Identify as atheist or agnostic
- Disagree that faith is important in their lives
- Have not prayed to God (in the last year)
- Have never made a commitment to Jesus
- Disagree the Bible is accurate
- Have not donated money to a church (in the last year)
- Have not attended a Christian church (in the last year)
- Agree that Jesus committed sins
- Do not feel a responsibility to “share their faith”
- Have not read the Bible (in the last week)
- Have not volunteered at church (in the last week)
- Have not attended Sunday school (in the last week)
- Have not attended religious small group (in the last week)
- Do not participate in a house church (in the last year)
The graph is from the Barna Group website; www.barna.org
Read more about the research at the Barna Group.