The Secularization of Sunday: Real or Perceived Competition for Churches

• Published in: Review of religious research Vol. 55; no. 1; pp. 43 - 59
• Main Author: McMullin, Steve
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England Springer 01.03.2013; SAGE Publications; Springer-Verlag; Religious Research Association; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Anthropology; Attendance; Canada; Children; Christianity; Church Attendance; Churches; Clergy; Congregations; Contemporary period; Cult and liturgy; Economic competition; Focus groups; General subjects; History and sciences of religions; Original Paper; Pastors; Polls & surveys; Protestants; Religious congregations; Religious Education; Religious sociology; Religious Studies; Respondents; Secularization; Social conditions & trends; Social Sciences; Sociological studies; Sociology of Religion; Sports; Studies in religion; Sunday legislation; Worship; Worship services; Canada; United States of America; Church decline; Congregation; Secularization; Sunday; Attribution; Worship; Religious sociology; Pastor; Religious feast; Protestantism
• ISSN: 0034-673X; 2211-4866
• DOI: 10.1007/s13644-012-0089-7

In a survey of pastors and members of 16 declining congregations in the US and Canada, respondents most commonly identified competing Sunday activities as the primary reason for the decline in Sunday worship attendance. The repeal of "blue laws" that kept stores closed on Sundays has resulted in many more people working or shopping on Sundays, and children's athletic activities are often scheduled on Sunday mornings at the very time when many churches traditionally have provided religious education. Based on a study of 16 mainline and conservative Protestant congregations in decline, this article considers the effect—both real and perceived—of the secularization of Sunday on congregations with declining worship attendance.