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Quitting Church: Why the Faithful are Fleeing and What to Do about It | 
 enlarge | Author: Julia, Duin
Publisher: Baker Books
Category: Book
List Price: $17.99
Buy New: $12.23
You Save: $5.76 (32%)
New (36) Used (9) from $8.83
Avg. Customer Rating:  12 reviews
Sales Rank: 27657
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 192
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.8
ISBN: 0801068231
Dewey Decimal Number: 277.3083
EAN: 9780801068232
ASIN: 0801068231
Publication Date: September 1, 2008
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Product Description
A Journalist Investigates Why Christians Are Leaving Church Several recent studies reveal that churches across America are hemorrhaging--they are losing members at a life-threatening rate. Intrigued and disturbed by what appears to be an epidemic, Julia Duin, a religion reporter for the Washington Times, amassed research on the issue, interviewed many who have left church, and attended numerous churches in hopes of making sense of this phenomenon. Quitting Church reveals the startling findings of her research. It explains to church leaders why this mass exodus is happening--and what can be done to reverse it. Beginning with the cold, hard facts, Duin then takes readers through a number of issues that influence a person's decision to leave the church, including irrelevancy, hidden suffering, family-centric programming that leaves singles out, impersonal or bland worship services, a lack of biblical literacy, and much more. This eye-opening book will be essential reading for pastors, ministry leaders, and churchgoers who wish to bring these disenchanted Christians back into their midst.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 7 more reviews...
 Among the No-Longer-Churched January 4, 2009
As one who fled the church some time ago, I was interested to see why so many others had, too. I found myself on most every page.
As a "Pentecostal Calvinist," my self-designation, I find myself unwelcome in any church unless, of course, I just shut up and tithe. Little is done in or out of the mainstream to instruct, counsel, or attract anyone past John 3:16. Most of today's sermons don't even get that far. Anyone whose experiences are beyond Act 2 finds themselves cast adrift by churches today. The daily miracles in life that brought me to the alter are now an embarrassment to the church.
Sunday School is even worse. Anyone with a passing understanding of how to study the Bible is encouraged to just shut up. Mainly because most of the teachers have little or no acquaintance with the subject.
Ministry to singles is abysmal. It fails even to begin to consider the real life challenges facing single parents or the just plain single. The emphasis on 'family values' habitually ignores families not consisting of working husbands, stay at home and home school mothers, and 2.23 kids. We can only be ignored by the "family values" crowd for so long before the message finally registers. Our families are not "family values" families, so don't expect support from the church. Why, exactly, should we support a church that simply refuses to support us?
This book really has little to offer for fixing the problem. It does an outstanding job of identifying the church quitters, and why we quit.
Are People Becoming More Religious... Or Less? January 1, 2009
A few months ago, against the backdrop of the presidential primaries, a friend posited that the United States is becoming "more religious". I countered by saying that my experience has led me to believe that the U.S. is becoming "less religious". [Mike Huckabee's presidential candidacy, the Texas polygamy raid, and religious extremism vis-a-vis terrorism were also hot topics at the time.] I ended the conversation by saying, "I don't care who is right, but I genuinely want to find the answer to this question."
Well, I still haven't found a definitive answer to this question; but this book helped further my knowledge of the subject.
This book primarily focuses on evangelical churches in the United States, and why some of its followers are leaving. The author cites 'Feelings of Exclusion' and 'Irrelevant, Boring Sermons' as just some of the reasons why people are fleeing organized religion.
The author cites several efforts to stem the tide. She also offers some of her own recommendations and suggestions.
At the end of the book, a reader is led to believe that there are larger forces at work. While it appears that the author would genuinely welcome a mass return to organized religion, she does not appear to be entirely optimistic.
A good start at identifying an epidemic of a problem December 28, 2008
This book is a good start at defining the problems that lead many otherwise faithful people to quit church. Based on a gathering of statistical data and interviews with many people, the author identifies seven of the biggest reasons people give for leaving church. This is truly an eye-opening read, and I hope that pastors, ministers, priests, and other spiritual leaders will read this and take heed. I'm not sure the author knows what the potential solutions are in detail, but I hope that recognizing the problems will be the first step in seeking the solutions that are so desperately needed.
 Charismatic Bias December 1, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Although Duin writes about church matters at large, and focuses most of her attention on evangelicals, she is clearly coming from the perspective of a charismatic Christian. As such, I'm afraid she's guilty of applying a bit too much of her charismatic experience to the rest of evangelicalism, although she shares non-charismatic anecdotes and some "research", relying heavily on Barna.
She and I share many similarities having grown up in the charismatic movement of the 70's, but it's something I ultimately rejected after seeing far too much emphasis on unbiblical elements within "spirit-filled" churches. Undoubtedly, the non-charismatic evangelical church has it's share of problems that need to be addressed too, and Duin covers much of this ground as well. The over reliance on small groups in the larger churches for starters. Yet, she's chosen to ignore many positive signs as well. My denomination is successfully planting churches throughout the country that appeal to young and old alike. I honestly think this book reflects the author's gloomy spiritual condition. Most of us realize that our churches are less than ideal, but I'm not ready to start worshiping on Sunday in someone's living room!
A second opinion November 12, 2008
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
The book is well written and gives several views on the cause of why people are absent from worship services. The author points to cultural differences but stops short of referring to this time as a "post christian" era. The author confirms what many in the church have suspected for some time. Worth reading.
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