Are People Losing Faith? | Video

Sarahbeth Ackerman | 10/11/2012

According to a recent Pew Research survey, one in five Americans are not affiliated with any religion. And the biggest group of people turning their backs on religion are young people.

"I still go to church, but I know lots of people who say they didn`t really think it was worth it it and like it, so they didn`t go," said Minot State University student, Chris Reinemann.

A recent nationwide study said one in five Americans do not have a religious affiliation. However here in Minot, that`s not always the case.

"I see young adults are very spiritual. They have a lot questions about God and faith and their purpose is. They`re asking those deeper profound questions," said Minot State University Campus Pastor, Kari Williamson.

"I think the Minot area is really an exception to the rule in a lot of things right now. We`re bucking a lot of national trends. I think that`s even true with church affiliations, we and the other churches really see a bit of a surge in the church participation and growth right now," said First Baptist Kent Hinkel.

Pastors in the community have seen growth however, the study showed that the largest group of people without a religion were people who are 18 to 29 years old. And we`ve received some mixed reviews.

"I would say that a lot of them would say i didn`t necessarily affiliate with a luteran or a catholic or baptist or Jews, I would say that they definitely are spiritual and i defiantly think they would also in the next sentence probably say but I don`t claim a denomination or a religion it`s kinda my own spirituality," said Williamson.

"I mean I go every Sunday, but a lot of people I know don`t go just because a lot of don`t don`t have a fixed religion or anything," said Minot State University student Kristen Mundhal.

The Pew study also found that 68 percent of religiously unaffiliated believe in God, while 37 percent describe themselves as spiritual and one in five say they even pray every day.

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