Reviews
"The 'Nones'-the religiously unaffiliated-popped into public consciousness a decade ago, and have attracted attention ever since. Yet they remain largely unknown and misunderstood, especially when viewed as indifferent to, if not hostile toward, religion. Drescher's research focuses not on who they aren't but on who they are-and she finds them a remarkably diverse and fluid segment of our society, some, of course, negative toward organized religion, but most trying to find meaning in life experience... A good and informative read." --Wade Clark Roof, J.F. Rowny Professor of Religion and Society Emeritus, University of California at Santa Barbara "As the rate of religious disaffiliation nears 25% of the American population, the importance of understanding the 'Nones'-from roving seekers to settled nonbelievers-has risen correspondingly. Drescher offers a splendidly variegated account of the religious practices and engagements that continue to flourish among the unaffiliated. The spiritual voices of the 'Nones' emerge with unusual clarity and resonance in these pages." --Leigh E. Schmidt, author of Restless Souls: The Making of American Spirituality "This book is a...significant contribution. Ranging widely across a variety of literatures (anthropology, cultural studies, sociology, media studies, congregational studies, theology and so on) Drescher has put together a stunning reframing of the experiences of people who claim no religious affiliation...Drescher's exploration of the ways in which prayer is experienced, or her discussion of how an ethics of care emerges among Nones, will both be sections I will draw upon in my classes. I'm also certain that her 'four Fs of contemporary American spirituality - Family, Fido, Friends and Food' will prove to be an enduring meme within my classes. I highly recommend this book." --Mary Hess, Professor of Educational Leadership, Luther Seminary "This is an intriguing and welcome contribution to literature on the rapidly changing and always fascinating landscape of religion in the US."--CHOICE, "The 'Nones'-the religiously unaffiliated-popped into public consciousness a decade ago, and have attracted attention ever since. Yet they remain largely unknown and misunderstood, especially when viewed as indifferent to, if not hostile toward, religion. Drescher's research focuses not on who they aren't but on who they are-and she finds them a remarkably diverse and fluid segment of our society, some, of course, negative toward organized religion, but most trying to find meaning in life experience... A good and informative read." --Wade Clark Roof, J.F. Rowny Professor of Religion and Society Emeritus, University of California at Santa Barbara "As the rate of religious disaffiliation nears 25% of the American population, the importance of understanding the 'Nones'-from roving seekers to settled nonbelievers-has risen correspondingly. Drescher offers a splendidly variegated account of the religious practices and engagements that continue to flourish among the unaffiliated. The spiritual voices of the 'Nones' emerge with unusual clarity and resonance in these pages." --Leigh E. Schmidt, author of Restless Souls: The Making of American Spirituality, "The 'Nones'-the religiously unaffiliated-popped into public consciousness a decade ago, and have attracted attention ever since. Yet they remain largely unknown and misunderstood, especially when viewed as indifferent to, if not hostile toward, religion. Drescher's research focuses not on who they aren't but on who they are-and she finds them a remarkably diverse and fluid segment of our society, some, of course, negative toward organized religion, but most trying to find meaning in life experience... A good and informative read." --Wade Clark Roof, J.F. Rowny Professor of Religion and Society Emeritus, University of California at Santa Barbara "As the rate of religious disaffiliation nears 25% of the American population, the importance of understanding the 'Nones'-from roving seekers to settled nonbelievers-has risen correspondingly. Drescher offers a splendidly variegated account of the religious practices and engagements that continue to flourish among the unaffiliated. The spiritual voices of the 'Nones' emerge with unusual clarity and resonance in these pages." --Leigh E. Schmidt, author of Restless Souls: The Making of American Spirituality "This book is a...significant contribution. Ranging widely across a variety of literatures (anthropology, cultural studies, sociology, media studies, congregational studies, theology and so on) Drescher has put together a stunning reframing of the experiences of people who claim no religious affiliation...Drescher's exploration of the ways in which prayer is experienced, or her discussion of how an ethics of care emerges among Nones, will both be sections I will draw upon in my classes. I'm also certain that her 'four Fs of contemporary American spirituality - Family, Fido, Friends and Food' will prove to be an enduring meme within my classes. I highly recommend this book." --Mary Hess, Professor of Educational Leadership, Luther Seminary "This is an intriguing and welcome contribution to literature on the rapidly changing and always fascinating landscape of religion in the US."--CHOICE "Choosing Our Religion is an informative, even handed look into the lives of nones in the United States. I am enthusiastically recommending it to anyone interested in the changing landscape of religion."--Portland Book Review, "This work will be helpful to ministry leaders who are interested in reaching out to individuals who find their religious practice to be both within and outside the walls of a traditional congregational setting. ... The stories that emerge from Drescher's skillfully conducted interviews provide rare opportunities to listen to candid descriptions of why many Nones are no longer affiliated with religious groups..."--Theology Today "The 'Nones'-the religiously unaffiliated-popped into public consciousness a decade ago, and have attracted attention ever since. Yet they remain largely unknown and misunderstood, especially when viewed as indifferent to, if not hostile toward, religion. Drescher's research focuses not on who they aren't but on who they are-and she finds them a remarkably diverse and fluid segment of our society, some, of course, negative toward organized religion, but most trying to find meaning in life experience... A good and informative read." --Wade Clark Roof, J.F. Rowny Professor of Religion and Society Emeritus, University of California at Santa Barbara "As the rate of religious disaffiliation nears 25% of the American population, the importance of understanding the 'Nones'-from roving seekers to settled nonbelievers-has risen correspondingly. Drescher offers a splendidly variegated account of the religious practices and engagements that continue to flourish among the unaffiliated. The spiritual voices of the 'Nones' emerge with unusual clarity and resonance in these pages." --Leigh E. Schmidt, author of Restless Souls: The Making of American Spirituality "This book is a...significant contribution. Ranging widely across a variety of literatures (anthropology, cultural studies, sociology, media studies, congregational studies, theology and so on) Drescher has put together a stunning reframing of the experiences of people who claim no religious affiliation...Drescher's exploration of the ways in which prayer is experienced, or her discussion of how an ethics of care emerges among Nones, will both be sections I will draw upon in my classes. I'm also certain that her 'four Fs of contemporary American spirituality - Family, Fido, Friends and Food' will prove to be an enduring meme within my classes. I highly recommend this book." --Mary Hess, Professor of Educational Leadership, Luther Seminary "This is an intriguing and welcome contribution to literature on the rapidly changing and always fascinating landscape of religion in the US."--CHOICE "Choosing Our Religion is an informative, even handed look into the lives of nones in the United States. I am enthusiastically recommending it to anyone interested in the changing landscape of religion."--Portland Book Review, "Selections of this book could be effectively incorporated into undergraduate and graduate-level courses in religious studies, anthropology, and sociology Choosing Our Religion is a versatile, accessible, and novel text that lends much to our understanding of the complexity of religious and spiritual life in America today."-Kate Yanina DeConinck, Reading Religion"This work will be helpful to ministry leaders who are interested in reaching out to individuals who find their religious practice to be both within and outside the walls of a traditional congregational setting. ... The stories that emerge from Drescher's skillfully conducted interviews provide rare opportunities to listen to candid descriptions of why many Nones are no longer affiliated with religious groups..."--Theology Today"The 'Nones'-the religiously unaffiliated-popped into public consciousness a decade ago, and have attracted attention ever since. Yet they remain largely unknown and misunderstood, especially when viewed as indifferent to, if not hostile toward, religion. Drescher's research focuses not on who they aren't but on who they are-and she finds them a remarkably diverse and fluid segment of our society, some, of course, negative toward organized religion, but most trying to find meaning in life experience... A good and informative read." --Wade Clark Roof, J.F. Rowny Professor of Religion and Society Emeritus, University of California at Santa Barbara"As the rate of religious disaffiliation nears 25% of the American population, the importance of understanding the 'Nones'-from roving seekers to settled nonbelievers-has risen correspondingly. Drescher offers a splendidly variegated account of the religious practices and engagements that continue to flourish among the unaffiliated. The spiritual voices of the 'Nones' emerge with unusual clarity and resonance in these pages." --Leigh E. Schmidt, author of Restless Souls: The Making of American Spirituality "This book is a...significant contribution. Ranging widely across a variety of literatures (anthropology, cultural studies, sociology, media studies, congregational studies, theology and so on) Drescher has put together a stunning reframing of the experiences of people who claim no religious affiliation...Drescher's exploration of the ways in which prayer is experienced, or her discussion of how an ethics of care emerges among Nones, will both be sections I will draw upon in my classes. I'm also certain that her 'four Fs of contemporary American spirituality - Family, Fido, Friends and Food' will prove to be an enduring meme within my classes. I highly recommend this book." --Mary Hess, Professor of Educational Leadership, Luther Seminary"This is an intriguing and welcome contribution to literature on the rapidly changing and always fascinating landscape of religion in the US."--CHOICE"Choosing Our Religion is an informative, even handed look into the lives of nones in the United States. I am enthusiastically recommending it to anyone interested in the changing landscape of religion."--Portland Book Review, "Selections of this book could be effectively incorporated into undergraduate and graduate-level courses in religious studies, anthropology, and sociology Choosing Our Religion is a versatile, accessible, and novel text that lends much to our understanding of the complexity of religious and spiritual life in America today."-Kate Yanina DeConinck, Reading Religion"This work will be helpful to ministry leaders who are interested in reaching out to individuals who find their religious practice to be both within and outside the walls of a traditional congregational setting. ... The stories that emerge from Drescher's skillfully conducted interviews provide rare opportunities to listen to candid descriptions of why many Nones are no longer affiliated with religious groups..."--Theology Today"The 'Nones'-the religiously unaffiliated-popped into public consciousness a decade ago, and have attracted attention ever since. Yet they remain largely unknown and misunderstood, especially when viewed as indifferent to, if not hostile toward, religion. Drescher's research focuses not on who they aren't but on who they are-and she finds them a remarkably diverse and fluid segment of our society, some, of course, negative toward organized religion, but mosttrying to find meaning in life experience... A good and informative read." --Wade Clark Roof, J.F. Rowny Professor of Religion and Society Emeritus, University of California at Santa Barbara"As the rate of religious disaffiliation nears 25% of the American population, the importance of understanding the 'Nones'-from roving seekers to settled nonbelievers-has risen correspondingly. Drescher offers a splendidly variegated account of the religious practices and engagements that continue to flourish among the unaffiliated. The spiritual voices of the 'Nones' emerge with unusual clarity and resonance in these pages." --Leigh E. Schmidt, author ofRestless Souls: The Making of American Spirituality"This book is a...significant contribution. Ranging widely across a variety of literatures (anthropology, cultural studies, sociology, media studies, congregational studies, theology and so on) Drescher has put together a stunning reframing of the experiences of people who claim no religious affiliation...Drescher's exploration of the ways in which prayer is experienced, or her discussion of how an ethics of care emerges among Nones, will both be sections Iwill draw upon in my classes. I'm also certain that her 'four Fs of contemporary American spirituality - Family, Fido, Friends and Food' will prove to be an enduring meme within my classes. I highlyrecommend this book." --Mary Hess, Professor of Educational Leadership, Luther Seminary"This is an intriguing and welcome contribution to literature on the rapidly changing and always fascinating landscape of religion in the US."--CHOICE"Choosing Our Religion is an informative, even handed look into the lives of nones in the United States. I am enthusiastically recommending it to anyone interested in the changing landscape of religion."--Portland Book Review, "The 'Nones'-the religiously unaffiliated-popped into public consciousness a decade ago, and have attracted attention ever since. Yet they remain largely unknown and misunderstood, especially when viewed as indifferent to, if not hostile toward, religion. Drescher's research focuses not on who they aren't but on who they are-and she finds them a remarkably diverse and fluid segment of our society, some, of course, negative toward organized religion, but most trying to find meaning in life experience... A good and informative read." --Wade Clark Roof, J.F. Rowny Professor of Religion and Society Emeritus, University of California at Santa Barbara "As the rate of religious disaffiliation nears 25% of the American population, the importance of understanding the 'Nones'-from roving seekers to settled nonbelievers-has risen correspondingly. Drescher offers a splendidly variegated account of the religious practices and engagements that continue to flourish among the unaffiliated. The spiritual voices of the 'Nones' emerge with unusual clarity and resonance in these pages." --Leigh E. Schmidt, author of Restless Souls: The Making of American Spirituality "This book is a...significant contribution. Ranging widely across a variety of literatures (anthropology, cultural studies, sociology, media studies, congregational studies, theology and so on) Drescher has put together a stunning reframing of the experiences of people who claim no religious affiliation...Drescher's exploration of the ways in which prayer is experienced, or her discussion of how an ethics of care emerges among Nones, will both be sections I will draw upon in my classes. I'm also certain that her 'four Fs of contemporary American spirituality - Family, Fido, Friends and Food' will prove to be an enduring meme within my classes. I highly recommend this book." --Mary Hess, Professor of Educational Leadership, Luther Seminary, "Selections of this book could be effectively incorporated into undergraduate and graduate-level courses in religious studies, anthropology, and sociology Choosing Our Religion is a versatile, accessible, and novel text that lends much to our understanding of the complexity of religious and spiritual life in America today."-Kate Yanina DeConinck, Reading Religion "This work will be helpful to ministry leaders who are interested in reaching out to individuals who find their religious practice to be both within and outside the walls of a traditional congregational setting. ... The stories that emerge from Drescher's skillfully conducted interviews provide rare opportunities to listen to candid descriptions of why many Nones are no longer affiliated with religious groups..."--Theology Today "The 'Nones'-the religiously unaffiliated-popped into public consciousness a decade ago, and have attracted attention ever since. Yet they remain largely unknown and misunderstood, especially when viewed as indifferent to, if not hostile toward, religion. Drescher's research focuses not on who they aren't but on who they are-and she finds them a remarkably diverse and fluid segment of our society, some, of course, negative toward organized religion, but most trying to find meaning in life experience... A good and informative read." --Wade Clark Roof, J.F. Rowny Professor of Religion and Society Emeritus, University of California at Santa Barbara "As the rate of religious disaffiliation nears 25% of the American population, the importance of understanding the 'Nones'-from roving seekers to settled nonbelievers-has risen correspondingly. Drescher offers a splendidly variegated account of the religious practices and engagements that continue to flourish among the unaffiliated. The spiritual voices of the 'Nones' emerge with unusual clarity and resonance in these pages." --Leigh E. Schmidt, author of Restless Souls: The Making of American Spirituality "This book is a...significant contribution. Ranging widely across a variety of literatures (anthropology, cultural studies, sociology, media studies, congregational studies, theology and so on) Drescher has put together a stunning reframing of the experiences of people who claim no religious affiliation...Drescher's exploration of the ways in which prayer is experienced, or her discussion of how an ethics of care emerges among Nones, will both be sections I will draw upon in my classes. I'm also certain that her 'four Fs of contemporary American spirituality - Family, Fido, Friends and Food' will prove to be an enduring meme within my classes. I highly recommend this book." --Mary Hess, Professor of Educational Leadership, Luther Seminary "This is an intriguing and welcome contribution to literature on the rapidly changing and always fascinating landscape of religion in the US."--CHOICE "Choosing Our Religion is an informative, even handed look into the lives of nones in the United States. I am enthusiastically recommending it to anyone interested in the changing landscape of religion."--Portland Book Review
