Recent research suggests that younger Americans are less likely than their older counterparts to be involved in religion. They are not necessarily atheists, but view organized religion with skepticism.
I have a few observations about these trends.
First, so what else is new? Young people often return to the Church when they have children, not when they are finding themselves in their 20′s.
Second, although the article questions what this trend means for America as a Christian nation (an idea I don’t adhere to), I prefer to question the meaning for the Church. If we are losing a whole generation (which could be possible, although see my first point), that is certainly a huge problem. But, see number 3.
Third, it may be an opportunity, as the article suggests, for the Church to find creative ways to bring younger people in. Although most on this blog would uphold traditional forms of worship (as I do), I think we would agree that creative and unique extra-Church activities may be necessary to bring young people into our parishes. The big question: what should they be?
David Bennett
Jennifer
asimplesinner
Fr. J.
Chad T.
Jorge Flores
Jonathan B
carmelbennett
nicenehobbit
Jason S
jaybird68
papaz
Dave Hartline
faceman
Well, it shouldn’t be Lifeteen, i know that much! The youth are searching for Truth.
The public school brainwashing of course makes them skeptical
It’s likely true that younger Americans ARE turning away from organized religion. Frankly, I actually hear comments about how “bogus”, “pointless” etc. religion is even from Catholic kids. I also overhear comments to that effect on the street, in cafes et al. OK…it is as it is.
Most folks don’t realize that at the time of the American Revolution, only 30% of Americans professed ANY religious beliefs. And of them, few belonged to any Church. The idea of a “Christian America” has been true only some times in our history and it wasn’t very deep Christianity. America was Christian only in that most people were vaguely Protestant…sort of. But America’s Christianity was not deep enough to avoid slavery…to welcome the Irish and Italians (among others)..or to not persecute Catholics. So, the question of America becoming less Christian doesn’t bother me.
That there IS a mission field out there, you bet! But let’s do it right. American young people are not stupid and certainly have access to all kinds of info. We need to evangelize them, yes, but with REAL Catholic Truth (not the watered down crap taught in most RCIA classes). We also need to have parishes that LIVE the Catholic Faith…not trying to be so “relevant” and “faddy”…that’s “bogus”. Kids can tell Truth from the mere attempts at relevance, I think.
I’ll tell you what I DO hear young folks say they admire by way of religion or spirituality…Buddhism, Baha’i, and yes, Islam. Also, there ARE sections of Catholicism where the youth presence is remaining, is growing in faith, and is vibrant…one of these is the Maronite Catholic Church. Why? Because the Maronites teach the Faith (not some dumbed down semblance of it), their Liturgy is simple yet beautiful, and the adults are usually pretty stable in the Faith. The Orthodox churches also are growing AND keeping their youth. Think we have things to learn? I do.
As a “youth” or “young adult”, I’m 21, I can tell you that people my age and younger are looking for truth. The thing is, we have a rather love hate relationship with the Church and religion in general.
I am a convert to Catholicism from Protestantism and from being in both worlds I see that both face the same obstacles. Young people are taught that they should believe but not really taught why they should, so some feel it is just blind faith in something that isn’t real. Since they are not taught why they should believe and parents still force them to go to Church they come to associate it with religion/faith equals oppression. So it is a slippery slope of sorts.
I agree with Nicene Hobbit, that real Truth and teachings needs to be taught instead of the watered down teachings and stories you find in Sunday school & some RCIA classes. The main reason I see is when kids my age and a little younger hit college and the real world they are plunging into the deep end where if they haven’t been properly taught & their faith formed it will be battered away by those that challenge them. I think that we are not doing a good enough job of preparing our children to be good Christians and teaching them to believe AND why and also to teach them how to defend their faith.
Want a good example of how this can work? Look at the process of becoming a Christian in the early Church when bishops directly taught catechumen. It took YEARS because each person had to be sculpted into a strong Christian to face the world. Christianity isn’t easy, and I think we’ve forgotten that.