The Churching of America, 1776-2005: Winners and Losers in Our Religious Economy

by Roger Finke (Editor), Rodney Stark, Rodney Starke

Although many Americans assume that religious participation has declined in America, Finke and Stark present a different picture. In 1776, fewer than 1 in 5 Americans were active in church affairs. Today, church membership includes about 6 out of 10 people.

But, as Finke and Stark show, not all denominations benefited. They explain how and why the early nineteenth-century churches began their descent, while two newcomer sects, the Baptists and the Methodists, gained ground. They also analyze why the Methodists then began a long, downward slide, why the Baptists continued to succeed, how the Catholic Church met the competition of ardent Protestant missionaries, and why the Catholic commitment has declined since Vatican II. The authors also explain why ecumenical movements always fail

In short, Americans are not abandoning religion; they have been moving away from established denominations. A "church-sect process" is always under way, Finke and Stark argue, as successful churches lose their organizational vigor and are replaced by less worldly groups.

Some observers assert that the rise in churching rates indicates increased participation, not increased belief. Finke and Stark challenge this as well. They find that those groups that have gained the greatest numbers have demanded that their followers accept traditional doctrines and otherworldliness. They argue that religious organizations can thrive only when they comfort souls and demand sacrifice. When theology becomes too logical, or too secular, it loses people.

Genres: Religion, History, Nonfiction, Church, Church History, Sociology, American History

348 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1992

Reviews

[Susie Meister · Rating 5 out of 5]

This game-changing book sought to reconstruct what the authors see as glaring systematic biases in the field of general American religious history. They argue repeatedly that religious organizations can thrive only to the extent that they have a theology that can comfort souls and motivate sacrifice. Between the Revolution and the Civil War the churched rose from 17% to 37% and by 1906 it was over 50%. Their argument is based upon the idea of religious economies and that the primary market weakness that has caused the failure of many denominations is a matter of doctrinal content (or lack of it). In an unregulated economy, they argue, pluralism will thrive (monopoloies are lazy). On the American frontier, religion floundered because: transcience, disorder, too many men, too many scoundrels, and too few clergy. In 1776, the Congregationalists, Episcopalians, and Presbyterians were dominant by 1850, it was the Methodists and Baptists (and Catholics). Methodists and Baptists were democratic and could better respond to the market. F&S subscribe to theories of urbanization. Over time "respectable" denominations were losing members to emotional sects. The authors believe when a religious body becomes too worldy, the rewards are few.

[Greg Coates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is a text guaranteed to offend the refined sensibilities of academic elites, which is precisely why I so enjoyed reading it. Bold, assertive, and hard-hitting in its claims, Finke and Stark demolish popular ways of telling the story of American religious history. Read why mainline churches are headed for the sidelines, why during Vatican II the Catholic Church shot itself in the foot, why conservative sects in tension with the culture grow, and why a professionalized, seminary-educated clergy is sure to kill your denomination. While I certainly disagree with plenty, I must admit I admire the authors for trampling on the sacred cows of the intelligentsia -- and using hard statistics to do so. Unfortunately, they do not pause to question their own pragmatism and utilitarian ethics, but here is a fun ride through American church history nonetheless.

[Daniel Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE book to read about how churches work, why people join churches, and why different denominations rise and fall.

Episcopalians, Congregationalists, Methodists, Baptists, Catholics, Evangelicals - the big groups all show up. The central thesis regards sect vs church - that religious movements naturally begin as high sacrifice high reward sects with distinct practices and then soften to become generalized mainstream churches. As they do this they lose their fervor and attractive power, while new sects emerge to fill the gap. The authors use reasonable and well-researched statistics to evaluate the rise and fall of denominations and to explain WHY certain groups were successful at different times. The authors explore message, clergy, distinctive practices, organization strategies, marketing, and how all of these changed over time.

Here are a few passages that resonated with me.


“It may be that secularization ensues whenever religion is placed in a formal academic setting, for scholars seem unable to resist clearing up all logical ambiguities. Rather than celebrate mysteries, religious scholars often seek to create a belief system that is internally consistent. Finding that things do not fit exactly, they begin to prune and revise and redefine. Whether or not this corrosive effect if scholarship on religion is inevitable . . .” (p. 45)

"Perhaps the contrast btwn faith and theology best conveys the vivid differences btwn called and educated clergy. Does the religious method address matters of faith that are directly relevant to the experience and concerns of the laity, or is it a discourse on abstruse theological matters? Put another way, is it a message of conversion or a message of erudition?" (p. 83 - 84).

"We agree that rigorous scholarship is required of those who would be scholars. We do not agree that standards appropriate for evaluating secular academic institutions are necessarily appropriate for judging institutions organized around a confession of faith . . . Who says that the only proper mission of seminaries is to function as research centers? Is it wrong for seminaries to regard it as their entire mission to help young clergy learn how to spread and sustain the faith?" (p. 185).

“When quantitative claims are involved, the opinions of people who fail to count shouldn’t count” (p. 242).

Not only is this great for American religion, but this book can be generalized to almost ANY religious studies due to the applicability of the central thesis. I highly recommend.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting social study about the explosion of different religions in America and the pull of fundementalism. The authors posit that the unique circumstances of America, with no state sponsored religion, provided an atmosphere where charismatic, pentecostal and fundamentalist religions thrived in freemarket economy of religion. Using an impressive amount of charts and data, they show how the old main line religions (lutheran, congregational and angelican) had trouble competing with newer religions such as Baptists and Methodists. Faced with choices, people chose more rigid, energetic religions that require more from them, but give more back. Using the Methodists as a prime example, they show how it started as a backwoods religion, garnering new adherents via traveling tent show revivals where 20,000 souls might be saved over the course of a week. Preachers were itenerant and honed their preaching skills with a new audience each week. Members attended weekly prayer groups and most permanent ministers were lay ministers. Their numbers exploded from the 1820s to the 1860s. But as the religion grew older and the congregations more wealthy, they began building grander buildings, requiring ministers trained at seminaries and dispensed with many of the practices that had swelled their numbers. Their share of the population began to drop precipitiously as more charismatic religions starting competing in the freemarket economy of religion.

[Stephen Cranney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stark and Finke overturn so much conventional wisdom in this book it's hard to know where to start. Suffice it to say, required reading for anybody with an interest in religious history in the US or just religion in general. I myself wasn't too interested in general US religious history (being something of a navel gazer, I was primarily interested in Mormon history specifically), but this book shows that "there's nothing new under the sun," and that all religions deal with many of the same issues.

[Gina Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. Denominations are stronger when there is a certain amount of sacrifice involved and less worldliness. Local control of the church vs hierarchy also helps maintain decreased secularism. Once the denomination becomes more secular, the commitment and membership declines.The Churching of America reminds me of points made in Eric Hoffer's True Believer, but with a lot of research and citations. I would like to see more information on the Lutheran Churches and of the LDS.

[Jim Butcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting history of American Christianity. Main idea was all denominations start high commitment and highly different from culture but gradually assimilate.

[Gregory Strong · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this study of religious ebbs and flows in the history of America to the present, the authors challenge many of the conventional historical assessments of religion in America. While I remain uneasy and perhaps not totally convinced about some of their analysis and interpretation of the stuff of American religious history, I commend the book for anyone interested in American religious history. Truthfully, this should mean just about everyone in America, for our religious history has played and continues to play a powerful role in American political, social, and personal life. I think it’s not really possible to understand our history and our contemporary socio-political situation without a good understanding of the role of religion in our American context. The analysis and interpretation presented by the authors should be read, pondered, and absorbed, even if it makes us uncomfortable in some respects.

[Kirsten Schlewitz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gotta love it when a book quotes a Confederate general for no reason whatsoever. Outdated -- says 1990 but the stats go to 1980 -- and sends a poor theological message. Seminaries have to stop assigning this.

[Jonathan Drnjevic · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear articulation of the religious history and sociology in America.

[Matt Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a dry read, but the content is great.

[Daniel Silliman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A grand theory of religious history, issued with more than a little bit of hubris, this is a book you have to wrestle with, if you're studying 20th c. American religion. My sense is that the theory is wrong. That it's wrong, however, is less interesting and less important than the conversation about how.

For me, I think one problem is the narrowness of the question the book is asking. The grand theory works, when it works and to the extent it works, when focused very specifically on an exact formulation of a question.

Another serious issue is they can't explain some of the things they think they should be able to explain (like why some upstart sects DON'T win in our religious economy). The theory stops working so smoothly if you push a little ...

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

READ MAY 2010

Well written depiction of religion in the nineteenth and twentieth century using the Methodist, Catholic, and Baptist as a case study to show the sect-church theory. Best quote, "religious economies...depend upon their polity, their clergy, their religious doctrines, and their evangelization techniques" (p. 17).

[Jorden · Rating 4 out of 5]

What part did religion play in the founding of our nation? This book is an in-depth look to the nation's religious history.

A very interesting read: the cycle and nature of religion from an economic perspective.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting history of Christianity in America. I don't know that it's something you'd just casually pick up, though.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting look at how the main religions in the US have grown, declined, and changed over the past 230+ years and the causes for those successes or failures.

[Denny Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of the religious history of the US. Excellent writers and fun to read, really.