In this first session of “The Rise of the Nones” online class, I am joined by Ryan Burge, Tony Jones, and Sarah Lane Ritchie to introduce findings from the largest survey ever conducted on religiously unaffiliated Americans—over 15,000 participants. The research, funded by the John Templeton Foundation’s Spiritual Yearning Research Initiative, used machine learning to identify four distinct categories of “Nones”: NINOs (Nones In Name Only, who are actually quite religious), Spiritual But Not Religious (the largest group), the Disengaged (content secular individuals far from any religious or spiritual practice), and Zealous Secularists (a small but vocal group actively encouraging others to leave religion). The conversation explores what these categories reveal about American religious identity, why traditional survey methods may be undercounting Christians, and the surprising finding that many “happy atheists” report life satisfaction comparable to religious Americans. Join us for the remaining sessions of this class, where we’ll dive deeper into each category with special guests—registration is donation-based, including $0, at www.AmericanNones.com.
ONLINE CLASS: The Rise of the Nones
One-third of Americans now claim no religious affiliation. That’s 100 million people.
But here’s what most church leaders get wrong: they’re not all the same. Some still believe in God. Some are actively searching. Some are quietly indifferent. Some think religion is harmful.
Ryan Burge & Tony Jones have conducted the first large-scale survey of American “Nones”, which reveals 4 distinct categories—each requiring a different approach. Understanding the difference could transform everything from your ministry to your own spiritual quest.
Get info & join the donation-based class (including 0) here.
Dr. Ryan Burge is a professor of practice at the Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University in St. Louis. He is the author or co-author of four books including The Nones, The American Religious Landscape, and The Great Dechurching. He has written for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and POLITICO. He has also appeared on 60 Minutes, where Anderson Cooper called him, “one of the leading data analysts of religion and politics in the United States.” He was a pastor of an American Baptist Church for over seventeen years. He is currently working on “Making Meaning in a Post-Religious America” – funded by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation.
Previous Visits from Ryan Burge
Tony Jones is the author of The God of Wild Places and contributing writer to several outdoors periodicals. He’s written a dozen books, including Did God Kill Jesus? and The Sacred Way: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Life, hosts the Reverend Hunter Podcast, and teaches at Fuller Theological Seminary and The Loft Literary Center. He writes a weekly newsletter on Substack.
Previous Episodes with Tony Jones the Dazzing Darkness & Wild Places * Wild Places with Israel’s God * Homebrewed Christianity’s 15th Birthday Party * Pete Enns & Tony Jones Love Baseball * Camp Games & a Little Theology * The Future of Evangelicalism is (NOT) David Brooks * the Post-Emergent Church * Tony Jones & Peter Rollins on #TheGreatDebacle * Devilpalooza * There are tons… you can scroll them here Dr. Sarah Lane Ritchie received her B.A. in Philosophy & Religion from Spring Arbor University, an M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, and an M.Sc. in Science & Religion from the University of Edinburgh. She obtained her Ph.D. at the University of Edinburgh in Science & Religion with a thesis on divine action and the human mind, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of St. Andrews. a Minimally Viable God Concept * Staff Lounge Shenanigans * Can Scientists study gods, souls, and rituals? * an Integrated Physicality and the Sacred * Trilogies, Atonement Power Rankings, & Sex Work at Happy Hour * Everyone You Ever Loved Will Die, so Merry Christmas! * Kombucha, Meditation, Tarot, and Stink Bombs This podcast is a Homebrewed Christianity production. Follow the Homebrewed Christianity, Theology Nerd Throwdown, & The Rise of Bonhoeffer podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 75,000 other people by joining our Substack – Process This! Get instant access to over 50 classes at www.TheologyClass.com
Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community.