Are more or less people going to church than in the past?

Question

Are MORE or LESS people going to church in 2007 than in the past?
The reason I ask is because the non-denominational/contemporary churches in the area are always talking about having to have extra services, growing, etc (these are even small churches, around 200-300 maybe each), and this seems the same way everywhere else....but then again from what I understand, a lot of the more conservative/'old fashioned' churches like traditional Southern Baptist (not contemporary like some of them are now), Fundamental Ind. Baptist, Church of God, Presbyterian (not contemporary) seem to be slowly declining, I know mine has. The older people are dying out and the younger people just don't go or go to a more contemporary church. Actually, most people I know dont go to church.

the question- are more people in the US going to church because of the more contemporary services, or are fewer going still? The mega-churches like you see on TV don't seem to be hurting.

Answer 1

in general, fewer are going, but the fundy mega-churches are growing.

we're seeing two things (1) the fundies are using the "cutlure wars"-type attitude for recruitment, while (2) traditional denomination members are shifting towards decentralized, non-authoritarian, non-church paths.

Answer 2

Less every year. These are the latest figures. Note how many Christians were found to lie about church attendance.

Church attendance
Gallup International indicates that 41%[7] of American citizens report they regularly attend religious services, compared to 15% of French citizens, 7% of UK citizens, and 25% of Israeli citizens.

However, these numbers are open to dispute. ReligiousTolerance.org states, "Church attendance data in the U.S. has been checked against actual values using two different techniques. The true figures show that only about 21% of Americans and 10% of Canadians actually go to church one or more times a week. Many Americans and Canadians tell pollsters that they have gone to church even though they have not. Whether this happens in other countries, with different cultures, is difficult to predict."

In, a 2006 online Harris Poll of 2,010 U.S. adults (18 and older) found that only 26% of those surveyed attended religious services "every week or more often," 9% went "once or twice a month" 21% went "a few times a year," 3% went "once a year," 22% went "less than once a year," and 18% never attend religious services. An identical survey by Harris in 2003 found that only 26% of those surveyed attended religious services "every week or more often," 11% went "once or twice a month" 19% went "a few times a year," 4% went "once a year," 16% went "less than once a year," and 25% never attend religious services.

Answer 3

Only about half the people that claim to go actually do. I forget the exact numbers, but I think 40% of americans claim to go once a week while only 20% do. With population always increasing attendance should still be going up though. I'm sure it depends where you live too. If it weren't for all the military bases around here I wouldn't see anything but the elderly and minorities in church parking lots on Sunday.

Answer 4

Young people are going to contemporary churches because those are churches of convenience. Those churches leave out parts of the Bible to make sure they don't offend anyone. They tell people they don't have to change their ways, and they can live how they want. They play music that is an abomination to the Lord, just to make the young people happy. They are bad and should be avoided.

200-300 is small? My church only has about 40

Answer 5

Maybe more going or at least the same percentage as the past (according to Barna, if you trust those guys, and it's usually safe not to trust them). There's certainly less actually saved than used to be. Sitting in a building doesn't mean they know the Lord Jesus. Just find out what they believe, and many of them don't qualify as true Christians, according to the Bible's definition of a Christian.

Answer 6

definately less attending. notice matt. 24:12 where jesus describes the last days (our day) "and because of the increasing of lawlessness the love of the greater number will cool off." love is essential for an avid "church goer". although i don't agree with most religions i would rather see you go to your church then none at all. humans were created with a spiritual need, to ignore that is foolish.

Answer 7

Less.

Only in the US has church-going still maintained a healthy attendance record. But you would expect nothing else in that God-fearing madhouse, would you?

Answer 8

I cannot speak about the USA, only about here in europe and churches are getting emptier. Religion is dead here.

Except for Islam, that seems to be growing here.

Answer 9

Less.
The church growth you see actually reflects a shift of people from one church to others.

Answer 10

less and less people are going.

teenager's, like myself, don't really go to church unless their parent's make them. even when they do go, all they do is text. haha. :] sitting in a building doesn't make you christian anyway.