Attracting the suspicious

THE RISE OF THE NONES
Understanding and Reaching the Religiously
Unaffiliated
By James Emery White
Baker Publishing. 221 pages. £9.99
ISBN 978 0 801 016 233

The blurb on the back says ‘The single fastest-growing religious group of our time is those who check the box next to the word none on national surveys. In America, this is 20 percent of the population [25% in the UK 2011 census]. And most churches are doing virtually nothing to reach them.’

This book seeks to address that challenge – reaching and engaging those who profess no religious affiliation. James Emery White is a US pastor, and the temptation would be to dismiss the book as irrelevant to the UK scene. However White’s analysis rings true of our culture and our churches too, which makes it essential reading for those serious about reaching the emerging culture.