Barna: The Most Post-Christian Cities in America: 2019

[redleghunter]

From Barna Research:

Over the past year, Barna research has unpacked faith trends in the U.S. including a general reluctance to engage in spiritual conversations, an aversion to evangelism and the erosion of religious belief and practice. These stories and more continue to point to an increasingly secularized nation made up of increasingly secularized cities. Based on data compiled from FaithView, Barna’s new subscription-based online database of city, state and national spiritual profiles, let’s take a look at the changing religious makeup of American cities using our “post-Christian” metric.

Learn more about the capabilities and subscription options for Barna’s new FaithView tool.

To qualify as “post-Christian,” individuals must meet nine or more of our 16 criteria (listed below), which identify a lack of Christian identity, belief and practice. These factors include whether individuals identify as atheist, have never made a commitment to Jesus, have not attended church in the last year or have not read the Bible in the last week. These kinds of questions—compared to ticking the “Christian” box in a census—get beyond how people loosely identify themselves (affiliation) and to the core of what people actually believe and how they behave as a result of their belief (practice). These indicators give a much more accurate picture of belief and unbelief in America.

Here are this year’s top 10 post-Christian cities in America:

According to Barna’s most recent data, which includes the addition of a number of new cities since the 2017 rankings, the most post-Christian city in America is Springfield-Holyoke, MA (66%). This Northeast city is the first of eight (in a row) from this region that makes the top 10. These include Portland-Auburn, ME (60%), Providence, RI-New Bedford, MA (59%), Burlington, VT (59%), Boston, MA-Manchester, NH (58%), Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY (56%), Hartford-New Haven, CT (56%) and Rochester, NY (55%). The two non-Northeast cities to make it into the top 10 are Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-San Luis Obispo, CA (54%) and Seattle-Tacoma (54%).

As you’ll see below, the rest of America’s cities fall somewhere along the spectrum between Springfield-Holyoke, MA and Charleston-Huntington, WV (32%). To get a more in-depth look at how Barna compiled this list, let’s break down some of the key metrics for these two top and bottom cities, as well as one of the cities that falls toward the middle of the ranking: Waco-Temple-Bryan, TX (43%). Using Barna’s FaithView tool, here are some of the key metrics for each city that make up the post-Christian definition:

Have not read the Bible (in the last week):

• Springfield-Holyoke, MA: 87%
• Waco-Temple-Bryan, TX: 67%
• Charleston-Huntington, WV: 58%

Have not attended a Christian church (in the last 6 months):

• Springfield-Holyoke, MA: 65%
• Waco-Temple-Bryan, TX: 45%
• Charleston-Huntington, WV: 37%

Have never made a commitment to Jesus:

• Springfield-Holyoke, MA: 60%
• Waco-Temple-Bryan, TX: 37%
• Charleston-Huntington, WV: 22%

Have not prayed to God (in the last week):

• Springfield-Holyoke, MA: 47%
• Waco-Temple-Bryan, TX: 27%
• Charleston-Huntington, WV: 25%

Disagree that faith is important in their lives:

• Springfield-Holyoke, MA: 41%
• Waco-Temple-Bryan, TX: 25%
• Charleston-Huntington, WV: 13%

Do not believe in God:

• Springfield-Holyoke, MA: 11%
• Waco-Temple-Bryan, TX: 6%
• Charleston-Huntington, WV: 6%

• 
  More at link: https://www.barna.com/research/post-christian-cities-2019/?mc_cid=27d825c292&mc_eid=04180cc2e2

 

[redleghunter]

Charleston-Huntington, WV: 6%

Almost heaven, West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads

All my memories gather round her
Miner's lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads

I hear her voice, in the morning hour she calls me
The radio reminds me of my home far away
And driving down the road I get a feeling
That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, mountain mama
Take me home, country roads

Take me home, down country roads
Take me home, down country roads

 

[Cimorene]

I think the way that Christianity in American in particular is viewed has dramatically changed. It's become more about tribalism than faith. This forum def. doesn't help with that perception!

 

[dzheremi]

May the bright light of the monastery of St. Shenouda the Archimandrite and the affiliated churches of the Diocese of NY and New England attract many who are now lost to the degree that they have stopped searching. When I was there several years ago, I met many people of all different backgrounds, from Europe (NL), Africa (well, Copts themselves are from Africa, but the woman in question was Togolese), from the Middle East (Kuwait), etc. It truly felt like a gathering place for all nations to praise our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and I did also notice that the youth who were there (18-25 or so; I am older, but I was there to conduct scientific research, so I interviewed them) were completely committed to their Church and learning its traditions and rites at a time when most young people in the West begin to leave their faith. I did think that seeing the good example of these young men and others like them might at leastremove some of the stigma there might be attached now in the area (they are in Rochester, NY, which is on the list in the OP) to openly proclaiming without shame "I am Christian". All of my friends are atheists or agnostics (except for the ones I met in church, obviously), but they all know I am Christian, and I live in very secular and post-everything California, where every wacky idea tends to not only originate but be blessed with a fervor that would otherwise be associated with religiousity.

It's a brave new world we're living in, folks. Buckle your seatbelts and protect yourselves with the holy cross, because it's not going to get any easier. As the comedy video below puts it, we're going to need a whole lot more outreach if we want to see any change to this general trend.

 

[redleghunter]

I think the way that Christianity in American in particular is viewed has dramatically changed. It's become more about tribalism than faith. This forum def. doesn't help with that perception!

Was there tribalism in the metrics?

 

[dzheremi]

From the apostates themselves, it seems that it is the association of Christianity with politics -- particularly right wing politics -- in the United States that has caused many youth to turn away.

See, for instance, this think piece produced several years ago entitled "How to win a culture war and lose a generation". It is the kind of thing that you might expect, but phrased in a way that generated much discussion (509 comments before the comment thread was closed). An excerpt:

So my question for those evangelicals leading the charge in the culture wars is this: Is it worth it?

Is a political “victory” really worth losing millions more young people to cynicism regarding the Church?

Is a political “victory” worth further alienating people who identify as LGBT?

Is a political “victory” worth perpetuating the idea that evangelical Christians are at war with gays and lesbians?

And is a political “victory” worth drowning out that quiet but persistent internal voice that asks—what if we get this wrong?

Too many Christian leaders seem to think the answer to that question is “yes,” and it's costing them.

Because young Christians are ready for peace.

We are ready to lay down our arms.

We are ready to stop waging war and start washing feet.

And if we cannot find that sort of peace within the Church, I fear we will look for it elsewhere.​

 

[redleghunter]

From the apostates themselves, it seems that it is the association of Christianity with politics -- particularly right wing politics -- in the United States that has caused many youth to turn away.

Were there any political issues mentioned in the survey metrics?

 

[dzheremi]

I don't know because I don't know the particular Barna study cited in the blog post (it's obviously not the more recent one posted in the OP), but I just posted that in reply to the other idea voiced in this thread that it is the tribal nature of Christianity in America that is driving people away from it. It seems like from the answers given at that time (2012), it was/is the perceived anti-LGBT stance of Christianity that has done the most damage with the millennial generation (who I imagine make up a large percentage of many major cities, given the fact that millennials are not really buying homes, so they're probably not living in suburban tract housing like what they may have grown up in; source: am a older millennial; rent an apartment in a major US city not on the list ).

 

[redleghunter]

I don't know because I don't know the particular Barna study cited in the blog post (it's obviously not the more recent one posted in the OP), but I just posted that in reply to the other idea voiced in this thread that it is the tribal nature of Christianity in America that is driving people away from it. It seems like from the answers given at that time (2012), it was/is the perceived anti-LGBT stance of Christianity that has done the most damage with the millennial generation (who I imagine make up a large percentage of many major cities, given the fact that millennials are not really buying homes, so they're probably not living in suburban tract housing like what they may have grown up in; source: am a older millennial; rent an apartment in a major US city not on the list ).

Ok, but I think the "tribalism" comment by another poster was not addressing the OP research topic. As a matter of fact the metrics used in this study do not address political affiliation.

 

[Jamsie]

Were there any political issues mentioned in the survey metrics?

It seems the survey does not really address particular reasons as to the lack of "religious" involvement. Interesting, that the percent that do NOT believe in God is quite low as compared to other questions. It would be interesting to have a study done with well placed "Why" questions.

 

[redleghunter]

It seems the survey does not really address particular reasons as to the lack of "religious" involvement.

I could not post all of the study. However the link does give the metrics used in coming to the study's conclusion. None are political in nature.

 

[redleghunter]

Interesting, that the percent that do NOT believe in God is quite low as compared to other questions. It would be interesting to have a study done with well placed "Why" questions.

I think that would be a straight forward question. There are some who believe in the existence of God but don't trust in Him or want to follow Him.

Or was your point that some behavior turned people off from being a believer in God?

 

[Jamsie]

I could not post all of the study. However the link does give the metrics used in coming to the study's conclusion. None are political in nature.

I did go through the link but aside from the "Do not think the Bible is accurate" which might be one Why type question, most do not address a person's basis. Perhaps it would be beyond the scope of such a survey … it is just curious what contributes to the ambivalence or downright rejection, especially when the belief in God is seemingly quite high. Anyway, interesting...but quite sad.

 

[Jamsie]

I think that would be a straight forward question. There are some who believe in the existence of God but don't trust in Him or want to follow Him.
Or was your point that some behavior turned people off from being a believer in God?

Sorry, was posting before I saw this...and yes, your last point as to what "turned people off"? Obviously there would be many and various responses but it would be interesting...enlightening. I believe we all might be able to suggest a number including but certainly not limited to the political arena.

 

[redleghunter]

I did go through the link but aside from the "Do not think the Bible is accurate" which might be one Why type question, most do not address a person's basis. Perhaps it would be beyond the scope of such a survey … it is just curious what contributes to the ambivalence or downright rejection, especially when the belief in God is seemingly quite high. Anyway, interesting...but quite sad.

Here's the longer list from the link:

Post-Christian Metrics
To qualify as “post-Christian,” individuals had to meet nine or more of the following factors. “Highly post-Christian” individuals meet 13 or more of the factors (out of these 16 criteria).

• 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 week)
• 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 6 months)
• 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)
• Bible engagement scale: low (have not read the Bible in the past week and disagree strongly or somewhat that the Bible is accurate)
• Not Born Again

 

[redleghunter]

Sorry, was posting before I saw this...and yes, your last point as to what "turned people off"? Obviously there would be many and various responses but it would be interesting...enlightening. I believe we all might be able to suggest a number including but certainly not limited to the political arena.

I would think "Do not believe in God" would need some look at. I am assuming the survey took the point of the "God of the Bible" or "Judeo-Christian God YHWH." But given the large disparity in the other categories, it seems many responded to their understanding of a general Deity rather than the God revealed in Holy Scriptures.

 

[Halbhh]

From Barna Research:

Over the past year, Barna research has unpacked faith trends in the U.S. including a general reluctance to engage in spiritual conversations, an aversion to evangelism and the erosion of religious belief and practice. These stories and more continue to point to an increasingly secularized nation made up of increasingly secularized cities. Based on data compiled from FaithView, Barna’s new subscription-based online database of city, state and national spiritual profiles, let’s take a look at the changing religious makeup of American cities using our “post-Christian” metric.

Learn more about the capabilities and subscription options for Barna’s new FaithView tool.

To qualify as “post-Christian,” individuals must meet nine or more of our 16 criteria (listed below), which identify a lack of Christian identity, belief and practice. These factors include whether individuals identify as atheist, have never made a commitment to Jesus, have not attended church in the last year or have not read the Bible in the last week. These kinds of questions—compared to ticking the “Christian” box in a census—get beyond how people loosely identify themselves (affiliation) and to the core of what people actually believe and how they behave as a result of their belief (practice). These indicators give a much more accurate picture of belief and unbelief in America.

Here are this year’s top 10 post-Christian cities in America:

View attachment 258627

According to Barna’s most recent data, which includes the addition of a number of new cities since the 2017 rankings, the most post-Christian city in America is Springfield-Holyoke, MA (66%). This Northeast city is the first of eight (in a row) from this region that makes the top 10. These include Portland-Auburn, ME (60%), Providence, RI-New Bedford, MA (59%), Burlington, VT (59%), Boston, MA-Manchester, NH (58%), Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY (56%), Hartford-New Haven, CT (56%) and Rochester, NY (55%). The two non-Northeast cities to make it into the top 10 are Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-San Luis Obispo, CA (54%) and Seattle-Tacoma (54%).

As you’ll see below, the rest of America’s cities fall somewhere along the spectrum between Springfield-Holyoke, MA and Charleston-Huntington, WV (32%). To get a more in-depth look at how Barna compiled this list, let’s break down some of the key metrics for these two top and bottom cities, as well as one of the cities that falls toward the middle of the ranking: Waco-Temple-Bryan, TX (43%). Using Barna’s FaithView tool, here are some of the key metrics for each city that make up the post-Christian definition:

Have not read the Bible (in the last week):

• Springfield-Holyoke, MA: 87%
• Waco-Temple-Bryan, TX: 67%
• Charleston-Huntington, WV: 58%

Have not attended a Christian church (in the last 6 months):

• Springfield-Holyoke, MA: 65%
• Waco-Temple-Bryan, TX: 45%
• Charleston-Huntington, WV: 37%

Have never made a commitment to Jesus:

• Springfield-Holyoke, MA: 60%
• Waco-Temple-Bryan, TX: 37%
• Charleston-Huntington, WV: 22%

Have not prayed to God (in the last week):

• Springfield-Holyoke, MA: 47%
• Waco-Temple-Bryan, TX: 27%
• Charleston-Huntington, WV: 25%

Disagree that faith is important in their lives:

• Springfield-Holyoke, MA: 41%
• Waco-Temple-Bryan, TX: 25%
• Charleston-Huntington, WV: 13%

Do not believe in God:

• Springfield-Holyoke, MA: 11%
• Waco-Temple-Bryan, TX: 6%
• Charleston-Huntington, WV: 6%

• 
  More at link: https://www.barna.com/research/post-christian-cities-2019/?mc_cid=27d825c292&mc_eid=04180cc2e2

It shows the known modern tendency that there are many that believe in God but avoid churches, which we know from surveys they see as hypocritical and/or judgemental. Like Gandhi, many like and admire Jesus, but not the 'Christians' they've encountered.

 

[Not David]

I think the way that Christianity in American in particular is viewed has dramatically changed. It's become more about tribalism than faith. This forum def. doesn't help with that perception!

What do you mean by tribalism? I see the Early Church maintained a really close connection among believers.

 

[redleghunter]

It shows the known modern tendency that there are many that believe in God but avoid churches, which we know from surveys they see as hypocritical and/or judgemental.

An interesting observation. It would be interesting with regards to those studies to delve into the examples given for hypocrisy and judgmental attitudes.

 

[redleghunter]

What do you mean by tribalism? I see the Early Church maintained a really close connection among believers.

Yes indeed and why they were and are called a Church.