From Nones to Dones

Just as churches, seminaries and congregational consultants began to wrap their heads around the concept of the “nones” in religious life, another category of Americans abandoning the church emerged—the “dones.”

The first group denotes the growing number of Americans with no religion affiliation. “Nones,” who may represent as much as 38 percent of the population, are known for generally having had no or very little in the way of religious upbringing.

But sociologists, church historians and congregational coaches realized another subset of Americans are answering “none” on surveys about religious affiliations: Those who have grown up in the church and remained active in adulthood—at least until getting tired of church life.

They have been included in other names created by researchers, including the “unchurched” and the “dechurched,” and they have been the target of evangelistic efforts now and then. But the newer term, “dones,” captures a fact about them other monikers didn’t—they’re finished with church.

“There’s not a whole lot of hope of them coming back,” said Thom Schultz, a Colorado-based blogger and co-author of Why Nobody Wants to Go to Church Anymore.

‘Done’ with church but not God

Schultz posted a blog recently that introduced the term “dones” for Christians turned off by their church experiences. In an interview, he explained it doesn’t mean they are done with God.

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