Faith Driven Consumer emerges despite shrinking religious faith in America

March 7, 2012 by Leave a Comment

By Shea Northcut

Religious beliefs are shrinking in America as church attendance slowly drops, according to a recent Duke study regarding American religion.

In the 2011 study, “American Religion: Contemporary Trends”, author Mark Chaves says religious beliefs in America are “softening” as belief in God is shrinking and a large number of Americans said they do not identify with any religious group.

Chaves found that congregations across America are shrinking as there is a growing dissatisfaction with religious leaders and more people who do not think about faith.

The study revealed that 92 percent of Americans still profess belief in God, but do not acknowledge religion as part of their identity.

Despite all of the religious discussion we hear within the political arena, the media continues to paint a negative image of those who share their faith.

According to the study, Americans agree that religion should stay out of politics. It revealed that from 1991 to 2008, the percentage of Americans who strongly agreed that religious leaders should stay out of politics rose from 20 percent to 44 percent.

As our culture is slowly drifting away from religion and belief in God, the Faith Driven Consumer market becomes more distinct. FDC is a rapidly emerging and powerful group that remains anchored to Christ, despite what our culture is churning out.

We look around and see everything but Christ in today’s culture. As Faith Driven Consumers, now is the time more than ever to remain anchored to Christ. This makes our movement that much more apparent and prominent as we are distinct from the rest of America.

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Where Americans spend their time

October 6, 2011 by 4 Comments

Time is a precious commodity when you consider the busyness that consumes our life in America. Unlike other cultures, Americans value every moment they get to work, rest, play, sleep, or just spend time with their families.

A recent survey by the Wall Street Journal asked Americans how they spend their day. The study concluded that Americans spend the most time sleeping at approximately eight hours and 23 minutes and the least time in call, mail and email at approximately 11 minutes. According to the study–besides work and work-related activities–Americans spend the a large majority of their time mostly involved in leisurely activities:

  • Watching television: 2 hr. 31 min.
  • Leisure and sports (excluding TV watching): 2hr. 9 min
  • Eating and Drinking: 1 hr. 12 min.
  • Personal Care: 49 min.

Christians in America are bombarded daily with messages to spend time on the things of this world. These messages come from the shows we watch and the places we go–telling us to pursue the American dream, ultimately detracting our time spent focusing on God.

Americans have been so affected by these messages that approximately 16 minutes are spent in organizational, civic, and religious activities. These 16 minutes may not be limited to religious activities.

Faith Driven Consumer believes the amount of time spent on religious activities is too low for a person who wants to seek and pursue God, especially in comparison to the time spent watching television and participating in leisure and sports.

As Faith Driven Consumers, we need to be purposeful with our time and encourage companies whose messages align with our values. If Americans are going to be spending most of their time watching television, eating and drinking, let’s hold companies accountable for the content it uses to advertise its products and the messages it sends on television shows.

Graphic from Department of Labor

 

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Consumer spending in America

October 5, 2011 by 3 Comments
Ever thought about what you spend most of your money on each year? For many Americans, the answer is probably yes. But considering the effects of your purchases is most likely a different answer.
The U.S. Department of Labor conducted a survey asking Americans how they spend their paycheck throughout the year:
  • Housing: 34.1 %
  • Transportation: 17.6 %
  • Food: 12.4%
  • Insurance, Pensions: 10.8 %
  • Utilities, fuels, public services: 7%
  • Healthcare: 5.7%
  • Entertainment: 5.4%

All of the purchases we make affect the marketplace. We buy houses through certain retail companies, buy fuel from a gas station, buy food from a specific grocery store and go to the movie theater to see a movie on any given Friday night.

But, what happens when the companies we buy from support things contrary to what God has called us to value?

Modern day companies are primarily concerned with the customer–they seek to please and accommodate to the needs and wants of the customer. Many Christians do not know the companies they buy from everyday give to charities and organizations that should grieve the heart of a Christian.

Faith Driven Consumer strives to be an online gathering point and an information resource for making faith-conscious decisions. We provide a company reviews tool to allow you to do this. These company reviews are seen through a Biblical lens to give Christian consumers the chance to see what their favorite companies are supporting. Through these Christian consumer, we are able to let companies know how they can improve to be more faith-friendly.

If Americans are spending all of their money in the marketplace and companies aim to please the consumer, we need to make sure our voice is heard and our values are respected by companies.

We know that no company is perfect, but as Faith Driven Consumers, we want companies to engage the Christian consumer based upon their needs, wants and preferences just like they do for consumers with other worldviews.

By doing this, we hope Christians can feel comfortable spending their money in the marketplace, knowing it will not compromise their morals.

Graphic from Department of Labor

 

Filed Under: Culture, Study report

Environmental Stewardship as a Faith Driven Consumer

September 22, 2011 by 4 Comments

In the past decade, global warming has risen to the top in political issues. Global leaders have debated and discussed ways to combat the issues that would come with this looming threat.

A 2011 Sustainability Study by Nielsen asked consumers how ‘concerned’ they are about the following environmental issues:

  • Air Pollution
  • Water Pollution
  • Packaging Waste
  • Water Shortages
  • Use of Pesticides
  • Climate Change/ Global Warming

The study found that global warming is lower in concern for people, with air pollution having the highest concern. In fact, the study concluded that climate change/ global warming concerns have fallen since 2007.

Whether you believe in global warming as a cycle, that it is human made, or maybe you don’t believe in it at all, it has affected your purchases. Americans have watched as products they buy are labeled “green” or “eco-friendly.”

According to the Nielsen study, Americans believe purchasing these sustainable products are having a positive impact on the environment. These products include:

  • Energy efficient products or appliances
  • Products in recycling packaging
  • Products with little or no packaging
  • Organic Products
  • Products bought from the farmers market
  • Ethically produced or grown products
  • Products that haven’t traveled long distances to get to the stores
  • Locally made products
  • Fair Trade Products
  • Products that have not been tested on animals

Nielsen concluded that, globally, people find energy efficient products or appliances are having the most positive impact on the environment, with products that have not been tested on animals having the lowest positive impact. The study also found that people in North America believe that buying local products has the most positive impact.

So, what does this mean to a Faith Driven Consumer?

As Christians, we know that ‘The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof’ Psalm 24:1. However, we become conflicted when we know that the Lord has given the earth for man to use.

Faith Driven Consumer believes the conscious efforts of companies that practice environmental stewardship should be rewarded and encouraged. These companies are making obvious strides to please their consumers by making their products more sustainable.

The environmental movement has had a major impact on the marketplace. It has not only impacted our purchases, but the way we think about the environment.

As Faith Driven Consumers, our voices can also be heard in the marketplace–Christians have influence and can change worldview, much like the environmental movement has done environmentalists.

Look for our company reviews coming soon as we will include a section about companies that practice environmental stewardship.

Filed Under: Environmental Stewardship, Study report Tagged With: , , ,

Beliefs and values influence consumers

September 15, 2011 by 3 Comments

When you walk into a store, many brands scream your name in hopes you will purchase that specific product. These brands have successfully reached you as the consumer by honing in on your likes, preferences and wants.

Or have they? The study “How Values and Beliefs Influence Consumers” conducted by Faith Driven Consumer in 2009 found that 28 percent of consumers’ values and beliefs are not being respected by most companies.

These beliefs include a variety of worldviews, including Christians. As Christians, we are called to make choices with a different mindset. We are just like all consumers in many ways, but are set apart because of our Biblical worldview. This might explain why some feel their beliefs and values are not respected by everyday companies, as most cater to a secular audience.

The study also found that 49 percent of all U.S. adults “specifically shopped in a store or retailer because they know it provides products and services that are consistent with their values and beliefs.”

Take Chick-Fil-A for instance. When people choose to dine at this family-friendly restaurant, they may know that their experience may include hearing Christianmusic in the background, having a family-fun night with activities for their children, as well as other activities. Perhaps this is why Christians choose to eat there rather than another chain restaurant.

Your beliefs and values effect many aspects of your life, more than you may think. Nearly half of the consumers in the study (46 percent) strongly agreed that their belief system has an effect on what they read, watch and listen to. Forty-four percent agreed that it is important to strongly express their moral views in order to influence the direction of the community.

So how do we influence the marketplace with our worldview?

It is all about making incremental change. If we make small alterations in our consumer lives by shopping at companies that support the things we choose to support according to our values, the marketplace can strongly be impacted over time.

Where does your worldview or faith fit in when choosing what you buy? What will you do about this? Join with Faith Driven Consumer as we commit to making purposeful choices in our consumer lives.

You can read this past article to see how Christians feel about impacting the marketplace.

Click here to see the full study.

Other Statistics:


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Study says Christian faith matters in the marketplace

August 30, 2011 by 5 Comments

Christian beliefs and buying decisions—these two subjects showed a strong connection in a study released in February.

The Barna Group released the study “Do Americans Support Christian Businesses and Brands?” showing the likeliness of Americans to support a Christian business or brand. The study found that 27 percent of Americans are more likely to support “a company that manages its business according to Christian principles.”

This shows the breakdown of Americans who would support a company with Christian principles. Source: Barna Group

Out of the total American population from the 2010 Census Bureau report, this means approximately 83 million people in the United States are more likely to buy from companies that act according to Christian beliefs. Although this may seem like a small number, this population matters and over time can make an incremental change in the marketplace.

You may be asking yourself, “Where does this leave the other portion of Americans?”  The study showed a definite trend toward people favoring businesses with Christian principles. Only 3 percent of the population was opposed (only 1 percent was strongly opposed) to doing such type business.

The study also indicated that 22 percent of Americans were a lot more likely to support “a company that embraces and promotes the Christian faith,” with only 2 percent less likely to do so.

The concept of having influence in the marketplace is not new. We have watched as environmental activists changed the products we buy, with “environmentally-friendly “or “green” labels.

So, why do many Christians feel they have no position in the marketplace or shy away from taking a stand?

Many Christians are not aware of their community—a community that feels the current marketplace does not share the values God has placed in their hearts. This community also lacks a national voice through which they can channel their consumer demands.

But that is changing. An emerging advocate for this group is Faith Driven Consumer. Read more about what we have found in our research of this audience by clicking here.

What Christians need to realize is the potential of their voice and their spending power because the American population is demanding a greater want of traditional and Biblical principles. Consumer spending accounts for 70 percent of economic activity in the United States, making it especially important for Christian consumers to make smart decisions with their wallet.

Faith Driven Consumer believes that through positive and proactive encouragement of companies currently adhering to Biblical principles, this 27 percent of the population will become a major driving force in the marketplace. This can create a shift in our worldview to one that honors God in all of our actions, including our consumer lives.

Click here to read the full Barna study article.

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