The Church’s Next Generation
Posted on Tuesday, March 6th, 2007 at 11:47 am
Should we be worried about the spiritual life of the young people that we see all around us? You be the judge. One in five 18-25 year-olds say they have no religious affiliation, are atheist or agnostic, nearly double the percentage of the late ‘80s. Just 32% attend church at least once a week vs. 40% of those over age 25. Only 4% say people in their generation view becoming more spiritual as their most important goal in life. 63% of Nexters believe all life, including humans, evolved over time, while only 33% say all living creatures have existed in their present form since the beginning of time. 14% say they most admire an entertainer rather than a political leader; only 6% named spiritual leaders. Theirs is the most tolerant generation on social issues such as immigration, race and homosexuality.
Statistics come from Pew Forum Weekly Update 1/11/07
Compare this to University of Texas research reports 38% of young people say they are able to remain abstinent because of their religious or moral beliefs and we come to realize that these kinds of statistics are very difficult to interpret, particularly when we do not know the questions that were being asked.
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Comments
1c.perry:Wednesday, March 7th, 2006 at 8:48 pm
I wonder if these statistics reflect young peoples feel of disconnect with the church. Most young people are overlooked by the majority of congregations or just plain ignored. They get the shaft when it comes to facilities, church planning and so on. Maybe insted of pushing them away, the church should stop and hear them out. One never knows where or with whom reformation might start.
2b. haring:Thursday, March 8th, 2006 at 2:36 pm
Perry, are you speaking of the youth themselves or the people that work with youth?
3Smitty:Tuesday, June 19th, 2006 at 6:28 pm
Perhaps, just perhaps, there is a golden opportunity here. Certainly the stats outlined here are to say the least, grim, but the stats don’t reflect the hopelessness waiting this generation. Entertainers and evolution only lead to Nihilistic despair. My prediction will be that this generation will be the most depraved and therefore ultimately the most open to a new image of the gospel. Will the church embrace such an image? Could that image just be a whore who becomes a bride?