In America today, there are more people than ever before who no longer affiliate with a religious tradition. How might these institutions address individuals who have left religion or who were never a part of it to begin with? Empty Churches studies the growing number of non-affiliated individuals through a multi-disciplinary collection of essays from leading scholars in the fields of sociology, developmental psychology, gerontology, political science, history, philosophy, and pastoral theology. Co-editors Jan Stets, a social psychologist, and James Heft, a historian of theology, set out to explore the complex impact that non-affiliation has on individuals and society more broadly, as well as what the future looks like for religion in America. Featuring insightful perspectives from professionals in the field on how we might address the trend of non-affiliation, particularly among young adults, Empty Churches is a crucial guide to maintaining the commitment and community at the heart of organized religion. Book jacket.