The Nones

Pollsters tell us that in a few years the Nones will be the largest religious denomination in the United States. They have already taken over Europe. Who are they? They are your next door neighbors, co-workers and even members of your family. They are the folks who say, “None” when asked about their religious affiliation. Now most religious folks will find this unsettling. Not me, because I have found the Caramelrolians.

A few miles west of Arena, the Caramelrolians meet on Sunday at around 10 o’clock in the morning. I am not sure but I think they are mostly Nones. We ended up there because friends of ours invited us to stop by on Sunday morning. The couple who host us have a spice shop at this location (they also bake great breads!) – but on Sunday it’s turned into a kind of church that serves coffee and caramel rolls. Those who come and eat are, therefore, Carmel-roll-ians!

This is a group of folks that live in the general area of the Wisconsin River valley from Spring Green all the way up to Mazomanie. They come together because they have found that they like each other and in liking (loving?) one another they find comfort, support and friendship. When one is sick, all offer help. When Sabine went through her stem cell transplant and was recovering at home, one of the women came by and taught her how to knit. I am sure some even prayed for her.

Last Sunday I was reminded of something I recently heard -- a theologian who has stopped talking about God; instead of telling, he now asks. He asks people talk about where they have experienced God in their lives. Very few of us have not experienced God in our lives – even most Nones. God is not in any way absent from the lives of Nones. Most of them tell me that they don’t go to a “regular” church because they don’t experience God in such a setting. Most of the Caramelrolians live in the beautiful unglaciated area which surrounds us, some have farmed this region for many years, and they have a deep love of the land and continually marvel at the wondrous creation which surrounds them – a God-filled creation.

On any given Sunday, there are three or four tables of Caramelrolians, some are mixed and some happen to be gender specific. I have sat with the mixes but I have to admit I find the women’s table more interesting: livelier conversations and more attentive to group process. The guys? Well, when the guys get together at the same table the conversation is rather tedious, you know, “guy talk” --- cautious conversation; no feelings, no sharing. So, I tend to sit with the ladies.

Sabine and I still go to the “regular” church, but then we head west to the Caramelrolians on most Sunday mornings. They are good people. They have their burdens to share and others who listen and give support. They die, they are grieved, and their friends often end up going to their funeral which, more often than not, is held at a church. There is something to be said about building community, engaging in generous listening, sharing our lives, and supporting one another. Because when that happens, God is present and experienced. Maybe most of the Caramelrolians will check “None” when queried about their religious affiliation, but I have a sneaking suspicion that if you asked any of them if they experienced God in their lives it would be in that little shop on Highway 14 on Sunday mornings.