Homebrewed Christianity Ryan Burge: Distrust & Denominations
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Mar 13, 2025 
Ryan Burge, a political scientist and assistant professor at Eastern Illinois University, dives into the intriguing data on religious trends in America. He discusses the decline of traditional denominations and the explosive rise of non-denominational Christianity, fueled by growing distrust in institutional religion. Burge shares insights about megachurches and the evolving dynamics of American faith, including the importance of community in the shift towards individualized spirituality. The conversation is lively, combining serious insights with humor and engaging analysis.
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Non-Denominational Growth
- Non-denominational Christianity has grown from 3% to 35% of Americans since 1972.
- This growth is under-discussed due to the difficulty of studying a group defined by what they are not.
Small Denominational Growth
- While some small denominations are growing (ACNA, PCA), their growth is insignificant.
- They don't notably impact the broader trends in American Protestantism.
Distrust of Organized Religion
- Non-denominational Christians historically distrusted organized religion.
- This distrust has spread, with Methodists and Baptists now exhibiting similar levels.
