Four Ways to Reach the “Nones”

When churches rediscover their core mission, they naturally turn outward with the Gospel. In today’s culture, many of the people outside our walls identify as “Nones” — people who say they are atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular.” Who are these neighbors of ours, and how can we reach them with Christ’s love?

• New research funded by the John Templeton Foundation’s Spiritual Yearning Research Initiative tells us that not all Nones are the same. There are actually four distinct groups, each with its own way of relating to questions of faith, spirituality, and meaning. This new finding has huge implications for church renewal leaders who are seeking to love people in their communities well.

Understanding the different types of Nones will help us meet our neighbors where they are. Below are four portraits of the groups and some practical ways our churches can engage them.

Four types on “nones” and how to reach them

Group 1: Spiritual but not religious

• The largest group (36 percent of Nones) are skeptical of organized religion but deeply invested in spirituality. They might seek to experience transcendence through yoga, meditation, or nature. The vast majority — about 93 percent — say they seldom or never attend worship, and nearly 9 in 10 say they hardly ever pray.
• To reach this group, the church can start conversations around meaning, beauty, and transcendence. When we create opportunities for them to experience wonder and awe through art, music, or enjoying God’s creation, we are opening the door for them to experience Christ’s presence in a way that connects with their spiritual longing.

Group 2: The Dones

• About one-third of Nones are tired of church and religion, and they have checked out. Nearly all of them (99 percent) say they never pray, and 77 percent say that when they die, they expect that their existence will simply end.
• To reach them, we should prioritize building genuine friendships through acts of service. Demonstrating God’s love in tangible ways may soften their hearts more than theological arguments and heated debates ever could.

Group 3: Nones in name only

• This group makes up about 21 percent of the non-religious. They don’t identify with a particular religious group, but many still believe in God and regularly pray. In fact, more than half report praying daily! They are spiritually open, but they are wary of institutions.
• Reaching this group requires creating welcoming spaces that emphasize community and belonging over labels. They would respond well to an invitation to be part of a service project, social gathering, or small group — any opportunity to experience the Christian community without pressure. Their main question is, “Do I fit here?”

Group 4: Zealous Atheists

• The smallest group (11 percent of Nones) are people who aren’t just non-religious but actively anti-religious. About three-quarters of them say they have actively tried to persuade other people to leave faith behind in the past year. Interestingly, about 17 percent of them attend a house of worship at least once a year, and a similar share say they have prayed at some point in the past year.
• Reaching this group starts with patient and respectful listening. Unless our dialogue is characterized by humility, their defenses will shut out any chance of connection. Over time, we may see that beneath their arguments are deep wounds or unmet longings that only God’s grace can heal.

For church renewal efforts to thrive, we cannot treat all Nones as though they are the same. However, there are some commonalities. Across every group, the way forward is through genuine relationships marked by compassion, respect, and humility. Renewal comes only as we both proclaim Christ with our words and embody his love with our lives.