Is the pulpit in America meeting the needs of men and women in the 21st century? I spoke with Mandisa Thomas, President of Black Nonbelievers, about the efficacy of the pulpit in the American church. I asked Mandisa if the church has failed to address contemporary topics. Mandisa replied,

“When we’re talking about issues, especially as it pertains to health – HIV and AIDS – when you have pastors that may not necessarily discuss what can be done as far as preventive measures, because it isn’t in their Bible, or the Scripture doesn’t talk about that – it becomes a problem when the teachings aren’t in line with what’s going on in the community at present.  And things are – it isn’t – it may not necessarily be addressing, you know, how to progress in ways that don’t involve divine intervention.  There is a – and that’s the stranglehold that we talk about – staying, you know, staying locked in to a tradition where people are just doing the same things over and over again, and it isn’t producing any results.  And that is a result of a sense of fear that people may have, and a sense of loyalty to an institution that has been historically significant, but not necessarily addressing what needs to be changed for the future.”

The none percentage is rising. Many church leaders are oblivious to the crisis, but the hope of Cristie Jo and I is that our upcoming 2017 documentary will awaken leaders to the vital questions of men and women around the world.

Mandisa Thomas is the President of Black Nonbelievers.

Researchers, Drs. Jerry and Cristie Jo Johnston, are Executive Producing a quick-paced film via trans continental, staccato interviews documenting the shocking rise of the non-religious.