Editor's note: For research purposes, Dr. Thom Rainer classified unchurched people into five categories, U1 through U5. U1 is the most receptive group to the gospel, and U5 is the least receptive.

The higher one moves on the Rainer scale, the greater the likelihood that the unchurched person believes in the existence of heaven and hell. Once again, Christians have a great opportunity to talk with unchurched persons because of their widespread acceptance of an afterlife. But be forewarned. Almost all of the U3s had views of the afterlife that were anything but biblical.

Listen to just a couple: Michelle R. of Vermont said that "heaven is not a place you can physically go to. It is the mind-altered state that lives forever. It is like the most restful sleep ever with the most pleasant dreams. You know, the kind of sleep that you never want to wake up from."

We asked, "And what is your view of hell, Michelle?"

"I have come to the conclusion that hell is a real place. I kind of believed that before September 11, but that sealed it for me. I'm not sure how it will work, but I believe those terrorists will suffer forever."

Then there is Mike G. of West Virginia, interviewed by researcher Bland Mason. For Mike, heaven is real, "but not the traditional model." We never did learn what the traditional model looks like. Mike was about as precise as anyone on his understanding of hell.

"Yes, I believe in hell," he said. "It is a place reserved for really bad people. Here's how it works. About 80 percent of people are normal and live a good life. Another 10 percent are extra good, and 10 percent are extra bad. Those are the people who will go to hell."

Maybe with Mike's statistical precision, he can one day get saved and become one of our researchers.

— Excerpted from "The Unchurched Next Door," by Thom S. Rainer, Zondervan, 2003.