As the faithful participate in another Lenten season, a new study from Lifeway is showing that most Americans have no plans to participate. The survey involved 1,200 Americans interviewed between August 14 through the 30^th. The results showed that 74% of Americans stated they do not observe Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter that have traditionally been used as a time of fasting in preparation for the holiest day of the Christian calendar. However, only 26% of Americans have any plans to participate in Lent in any meaningful way.

The study found, unsurprisingly, that Catholics were the biggest percentage of those who observe Lent (59%). Also, unsurprisingly, those who rarely or never attend church services make up the biggest number of those who don’t participate in Lent (89%). Lifeway Executive Director, Scott McConnell, stated that despite the lack of religious affiliation in non-believers, “nothing prevents non-Christians from participating in Lent as they do in other cultural trends that call for refraining from an activity such as Dry January or No Shave November.”

For those who do participate in fasting, 50% reported fasting from a favorite food or beverage. Nearly that same amount (49%) participate in Lent by attending religious services, while 37% fast from a bad habit. McConnell noted that the act of fasting is shared by other faiths, such as Muslims who fast during Ramadan and Jews who fast during Yom Kippur. He stated, however, that in Christianity, “self-denial does not earn someone heavenly favor but redirects the believer’s thoughts and priorities toward the one they proclaim as their Lord, Jesus Christ.”

The history of Lent dates as far back as some time after the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. Fasting during that time was mainly for new converts, who were baptized at Easter time. Pope Gregory I later established the 40-day period and the practice of ashes on Ash Wednesday. The 40 days is generally believed to reflect the 40 days Jesus fasted in the desert before starting his public ministry. The Reformation brought about a split in whether Lent should be observed amongst Christ followers, with John Calvin stating that Lent “was therefore merely false zeal, replete with superstition, which set up a fast under the title and pretext of imitating Christ…” This split between Protestants and Christians (amongst other things), has led to many evangelicals not even noticing the Lenten season. “For Christians attending non-liturgical churches, they may not even notice the season of Lent has arrived,” said McConnell. “It is not that they look down on the practices of fasting, prayer and charity. But if they participate, they may be exchanging additional time with God for other forms of self-denial.”