A 4-Week Course for Leaders Navigating a Changing Spiritual Landscape
The fastest-growing “religious group” in America is the one with no religious affiliation at all. These are the nones—people who check “none” when asked about religion, yet still hold complex beliefs, values, and spiritual longings.
For pastors, leaders, and the curious, this shift raises urgent questions:
- Who are these people really?
- Why are they leaving?
- What do they believe?
- And how can the Church meaningfully connect with them today?
This four-week class, grounded in the insights and research of The Nones Project, is designed to help Christian leaders understand the culture, motivations, and spiritual imaginations of the nones—so you can minister in ways that are informed, compassionate, and faithful.
Watch the Preview Livestream
ASYNCHRONOUS CLASS: You can participate fully without being present at any specific time. Lectures and livestream replays are available on the Class Resource Page.
CHURCH GROUPS: You are welcome to use this class for your Sunday School class or small group! More details available below in our FAQs.
COST: A course like this is typically offered for $250 or more, but we invite you to contribute whatever you can to help make this possible for everyone!
What to Expect
In the first large-scale survey of American Nones, The Nones Project found that non-religious Americans generally fall into one of four categories. NiNOs look a lot like religious Americans in their beliefs and practices. SBNRs are interested in alternative forms of spirituality. Disengageds want to live their lives without any connection to religious elements. Zealous Secularists think that religion is bad for the world and want others to know it.
In each 90 minute livestreamed session, Ryan Burge and Tony Jones will share a 30 minute presentation followed by an engaging conversation with Tripp and a special guest. We'll continue with a Q&A session with the live YouTube audience where you can ask your questions on the spot!
Overview of the Nones Project
Monday, January 5th
10am PT / 1pm ET
Special Guest: Sarah Lane Ritchie
NiNOs
Monday, January 12th
10am PT / 1pm ET
Special Guest: Casper ter Kulie
SBNRs
Monday, January 19th
10am PT / 1pm ET
Special Guest: Gerardo Marti
Dones and Zealous Secularists
Monday, January 26th
10am PT / 1pm ET
Special Guest: Phil Zuckerman
ASYNCHRONOUS CLASS: You can participate fully without being present at any specific time. Lectures and livestream replays are available on the Class Resource Page.
CHURCH GROUPS: You are welcome to use this class for your Sunday School class or small group! More details available below in our FAQs.
COST: A course like this is typically offered for $250 or more, but we invite you to contribute whatever you can to help make this possible for everyone!
What You'll Learn
Across four weeks, you’ll explore...
- Who the nones actually are.
Move beyond stereotypes and discover the four distinct types of nones, their stories, and the different ways they relate to belief, community, and the sacred. - Why affiliation is declining—but spiritual curiosity isn’t.
Understand why many people walk away from church structures yet still seek purpose, transcendence, and moral grounding. - How nones make meaning without institutional religion.
See how practices, values, and identity formation work outside the church—and what that reveals about people’s deeper longings. - What this means for ministry.
Reflect on how congregations can respond with wisdom:
- Re-imagining hospitality.
- Communicating the gospel in a post-affiliation culture.
- Recognizing the difference between disbelief and disconnection.
- Building bridges rather than barriers
Who This Course Is For
This class is designed for...
- Pastors and ministry staff
- Church planters and missional leaders
- Faith-based nonprofit leaders
- Anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the spiritual “soil” of today’s America
If you want to engage your community with clarity, empathy, and grounded insight, this course will give you the tools to do so.
Why It Matters
The “nones” are not simply “unchurched.” They are a diverse, growing population whose stories reveal something essential about our cultural moment. To minister well in today’s world, pastors need more than assumptions—they need understanding.
Meet Our Hosts
RYAN BURGE
Ryan Burge is professor of practice at the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University in St. Louis. Before that he was an associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University, and was also the graduate coordinator. He has authored over thirty peer-reviewed articles and book chapters alongside four books about religion and politics in the United States. He has written for the New York Times, POLITICO, and the Wall Street Journal. He has also appeared in an NBC Documentary, on the CBS Evening News, as well as 60 Minutes which called him, “one of the country’s leading data analysts on religion and politics.” He served as a pastor in the American Baptist Church for over twenty years, leading First Baptist Church of Mount Vernon, IL for 17.5 years until its closure in July 2024. He has been married to his wife Jacqueline for over eighteen years. They have two boys.
TONY JONES
Tony Jones has been elbow-deep in the church world for decades, most notably in the leadership of the Emerging Church Movement, which attempted to reshape and even revolutionize the Protestant church in America at the beginning of the twenty-first century. That was an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to catalyze a change in organized religion that would take account of the millions of Americans who were growing disillusioned with the politics and theology of both the liberal and conservative wings of the church -- meanwhile centrist churches virtually disappeared. Now, Jones has turned his attention to the 100 million Americans who have checked out of religion altogether, and he's particularly interested in how those non-religious Americans continue to make meaning in their lives, and even to seek transcendence.
TRIPP FULLER
Luther Theological Seminary
Homebrewed Christianity
Theology Class
Tripp recently moved back to North Carolina and started as Visiting Professor of Theology at Luther Theological Seminary after three years as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Theology & Science at the University of Edinburgh. He recently released Divine Self-Investment: a Constructive Open and Relational Christology, the first book in the Studies in Open and Relational Theology series. For over 15 years Tripp has been doing the Homebrewed Christianity podcast (think on-demand internet radio) where he interviews different scholars about their work so you can get nerdy in traffic, on the treadmill, or doing the dishes. Last year it had over 4 million downloads. It also inspired a book series with Fortress Press called the Homebrewed Christianity Guides to... topics like God, Jesus, Spirit, Church History, etc. Tripp is a very committed and (some of his friends think overly) engaged Lakers fan and takes Star Wars and Lord of the Rings very seriously.
What People Are Saying
"As a minister these classes and conversations have enriched how I read and engage with our sacred texts, as well as for the community I help shepherd. As an individual person of faith I'm always amazed at the resources and friends Tripp helps curate and connect with on a deeper and authentic level."
Will Rose - Parish Pastor, Holy Trinity Lutheran and Lutheran Campus Ministry (Chapel Hill, NC)
“Grad-school level classes with incredible teachers in a fun, accessible and engaging online experience for even an exhausted working pastor/parent to participate in and enjoy!”
Rachel Haxtema - Associate Pastor, Keystone UCC (Seattle, WA)
“I’ve taken several Homebrewed classes over the years, from a couple of Black theology classes, to Kierkegaard to Bonhoeffer, to Tolkien and many others I’ve heard episodes from. From the episodes and the readings I’ve learned things I wouldn’t have otherwise had access to, from some of my favorite scholars or about some of my favorite topics. From some of the readings I’ve bought books I wouldn’t have otherwise read, and further deepened what I was able to think with. It’s been a treasure to be part of them.”
Jonathan Stegall - faith-rooted organizer, abolitionist, designer, and coder
“Homebrewed Christianity is, in my opinion, the best open and interactive community I’ve ever been apart of. I’ve learned so much from people who are not only brilliant but kind and fun."
Ednaldo Elme - the drummer who doesn’t tell his minister what he’s really thinking
“HBC classes have been an absolute lifeline for allowing me to have continuing education outside of the adult Sunday School setting. Many people have limited exposure to the entire spectrum of Christianity as well as other world religions in the church setting, and these classes are a wonderful resource in that regard. Also, as someone who is getting a theology degree, the HBC classes have provided a super helpful avenue for learning."
John Pohl, MD - Pediatric Surgeon (University of Utah)
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the class meet?
The class is asynchronous and you can participate fully without being present at any specific time. You can watch the livestreams on YouTube and replays on the Class Resource Page.
LIVESTREAM QnA SESSIONS:
Mondays, January 5th-26th (10am PT / 1pm ET) - available to watch via YouTube and the Class Resource Page.
How do I get access to the class content?
The complete class content collection will be available on the password protected Class Resource Page. The downloadable audio and video of each session will be uploaded there and available for at least a year.
What happens after I sign up?
The email you enter when signing up will receive an email from classinfo[at]homebrewedchristianty[dot]com. The email will include access to the Class Resource Page, details on how to join the class Facebook group, and more.
Do I have to have Facebook?
No. Facebook is not required to participate, but an additional way to connect with other class members and interact throughout the class.
How can we use this with our church group?
We would love for you to use this online class for your Sunday School class or small group! If people will be watching the livestreams (approximately 90 minutes) on their own, we encourage every person to sign up and receive access to the Class Resource Page and Facebook group. Each person is welcome to make a donation on their own, or the church can designate one person to make a donation on behalf of the group. If the church is making the donation, feel free to make a donation in the amount of whatever you have budgeted for a curriculum of this quality. If you have further questions, please email classinfo[at]homebrewedchristianty[dot]com.