USA Today is reporting on a major study of American’s religious preferences today. There are some neat graphics and lots of data to pour over.

A couple of key take-aways:

• All denominations are losing ground in terms of percentage of the US population
• There are more “no preference” people than there are pretty much any other denomination.

• Religion is not terribly important for most people.
  

  “Kosmin concluded from the 1990 data that many saw God as a ‘personal hobby,’ and that the USA is ‘a greenhouse for spiritual sprouts.’

  Today, he says, ‘religion has become more like a fashion statement, not a deep personal commitment for many.'”

Read the full article here.

I’ve certainly noticed the “religion as a hobby” thing. I’m not sure though that it’s the worst possible thing to learn. I’d rather have a shot at introducing people to a living faith in Jesus even if they’re coming in the door because they’re there for the music or the liturgy than not have a chance to connect with them at all.

But all in all it does point out the seriousness of the situation in which we find ourselves.

(The Washington Post has an article on the same study here.)