View source for Baylor University researchers on American Christianity

== Miscategorization of nondenominational Christians as having "no religion" ==

''See also:'' [[Nones]]

Research shows that a significant amount of American nondenominational church members are checking "unaffiliated" or "no religion" on surveys.

Based on research done by [[Baylor University]], a February 2011 article entitled ''Good News about Evangelicalism'' declares: 
{{cquote|Nondenominational churches, almost exclusively [[evangelicalism|evangelical]], now represent the second-largest group of Protestant churches in America, and the fastest growing section of the American religious market...

This trend has affected popular statistics and has also served to exaggerate the loss of religious faith and evangelical influence in America. Most previous research missed a new phenomenon: that members of nondenominational churches often identify themselves on surveys as unaffiliated or even as having “no religion.” Because traditional surveys do not provide categories that adequately describe those who attend nondenominational congregations, their members often check “unaffiliated” in typical surveys and questionnaires...

Similarly, claims that Americans, including evangelicals, are falling away from the faith contradict seven decades of survey research confirming that only 4 percent of Americans are atheists.,,

...We found no statistically significant difference between younger and older evangelicals on other moral and political issues, however. Younger evangelicals were, in fact, sometimes more conservative than their elders.

...The number of evangelicals remains high, and their percentage among practicing Christians in America is, if anything, rising.<ref>[http://www.firstthings.com/article/2011/02/the-good-news-about-evangelicalism  ''Good News about Evangelicalism''], First Things</ref>}}

A review of Rodney Stark's book ''Why the World is More Religious Than Ever'' declares:
{{cquote|...it is argued that the percentage of Americans who say they have no religion is skyrocketing. But, all that reflects is an increase in the percentage who have no denominational preference. They are not irreligious. Most of them pray and say they believe in God. In 1944, the Gallup Poll was the first to ask about belief in God, and four percent of Americans said, “No.” When asked that question today, four percent say, “No.” In fact, actual church membership is at an all-time high, and 66 percent now tell Gallup that “religion is important in my daily life."<ref>[http://www.movements.net/2015/11/03/rodney-starks-next-book-the-global-religious-awakening.html Rodney Stark: Why the World is More Religious Than Ever] By Steve Addison, 3 November, 2015</ref>}}