I saw this article on Barna’s site about your peer group:
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Image courtesy of BarnaFilms. click for info |
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Most Twentysomethings Put Christianity on the
Shelf Following Spiritually Active Teen Years
September 11, 2006
(Ventura, CA) – Transitions in life are rarely simple. Some
of the most significant and complex shifts that people undergo occur
during the transition from adolescence to early adulthood. An important
part of that maturation is the refinement of people’s spiritual
commitment and behavior.
A new study by The Barna Group (Ventura, California) shows
that despite strong levels of spiritual activity during the teen years,
most twentysomethings disengage from active participation in the
Christian faith during their young adult years – and often beyond that.
In total, six out of ten twentysomethings were involved in a church
during their teen years, but have failed to translate that into active
spirituality during their early adulthood.
Teens Embrace Spirituality…
Teenagers thrive on fresh experiences and new perspectives. The
spiritual dimension gives teens a fertile ground for their
explorations. Half of teens attend a church-related service or activity
in a typical week. More than three-quarters discuss matters of faith
with peers and three out of five teens attend at least one youth group
meeting at a church during a typical three month period. One-third of
teenagers say they participate in a Christian club on campus at some
point during a typical school year. There is also a substantial amount
of unorthodox spiritual activity: three-quarters of America’s teenaged
youths have engaged in at least one type of psychic or
witchcraft-related activity during their teen years (not including
reading horoscopes).
Still, one of the most striking findings from the research is
the broad base of opportunities that Christian churches in America have
with to work with teenagers. Overall, more than four out of five teens
say they have attended a church for a period of at least two months
during their teenage years (81%). This represents substantial
penetration and significant prospects for influencing the nation’s 24
million teens.
…But Disengagement Happens
At the same time, the Barna research underscores how fleeting
that influence may be: twentysomethings continue to be the most
spiritually independent and resistant age group in America. Most of
them pull away from participation and engagement in Christian churches,
particularly during the “college years.” The research shows that,
compared to older adults, twentysomethings have significantly lower
levels of church attendance, time spent alone studying and reading the
Bible, volunteering to help churches, donations to churches, Sunday
school and small group involvement, and use of Christian media
(including television, radio and magazines).
In fact, the most potent data regarding disengagement is that
a majority of twentysomethings – 61% of today’s young adults – had been
churched at one point during their teen years but they are now
spiritually disengaged (i.e., not actively attending church, reading
the Bible, or praying). Only one-fifth of twentysomethings (20%) have
maintained a level of spiritual activity consistent with their high
school experiences. Another one-fifth of teens (19%) were never
significantly reached by a Christian community of faith during their
teens and have remained disconnected from the Christian faith.
For most adults, this pattern of disengagement is not merely a
temporary phase in which they test the boundaries of independence, but
is one that continues deeper into adulthood, with those in their
thirties also less likely than older adults to be religiously active.
Even the traditional impulse of parenthood – when people’s desire to
supply spiritual guidance for their children pulls them back to church
– is weakening. The new research pointed out that just one-third of
twentysomethings who are parents regularly take their children to
church, compared with two-fifths of parents in their thirties and half
of parents who are 40-years-old or more.
David Kinnaman, the director of the research, pointed out,
“There is considerable debate about whether the disengagement of
twentysomethings is a lifestage issue – that is, a predictable element
in the progression of people’s development as they go through various
family, occupational and chronological stages – or whether it is unique
to this generation. While there is some truth to both explanations,
this debate misses the point, which is that the current state of
ministry to twentysomethings is woefully inadequate to address the
spiritual needs of millions of young adults. These individuals are
making significant life choices and determining the patterns and
preferences of their spiritual reality while churches wait, generally
in vain, for them to return after college or when the kids come. When
and if young adults do return to churches, it is difficult to convince
them that a passionate pursuit of Christ is anything more than a nice
add-on to their cluttered lifestyle.”
Piecing Faith Together
While twentysomethings often disengage from traditional
religious expressions, faith and spirituality are hardly absent from
their lives. The research also examined a number of significant
realities about the spiritual journeys of young adults:
maintain outward allegiance to Christianity: 78% of twentysomethings
say they are Christians, compared with 83% of teenagers. Although they
are less likely than older generations to feel this way, most
twentysomethings describe themselves as “deeply spiritual.”
young adulthood: twentysomethings were nearly 70% more likely than
older adults to strongly assert that if they “cannot find a local
church that will help them become more like Christ, then they will find
people and groups that will, and connect with them instead of a local
church.” They are also significantly less likely to believe that “a
person’s faith in God is meant to be developed by involvement in a
local church.”
twentysomething spirituality. Much of the activity of young adults,
such as it is, takes place outside congregations. Young adults were
just as likely as older Americans to attend special worship events not
sponsored by a local church, to participate in a spiritually oriented
small group at work, to have a conversation with someone else who holds
them accountable for living faith principles, and to attend a house
church not associated with a conventional church. Interestingly, there
was one area in which the spiritual activities of twentysomethings
outpaced their predecessors: visiting faith-related websites.
young adults, but not as low as might be assumed. Among those in their
twenties and thirties, 6% have beliefs that qualify them as
evangelical. This is statistically on par with the level among today’s
teenagers (5%), but about half the rate of those over age 40 (12%).
One-third of young adults (36%) qualify as born again Christians, which
is slightly lower than the 44% of those over 40. (In the Barna survey,
evangelicals and born again Christians are defined based upon religious
beliefs and commitments, not based on the terms people use to describe
themselves.)
Research Perspectives
Kinnaman offered several insights about the data: “Much of the
ministry to teenagers in America needs an overhaul – not because
churches fail to attract significant numbers of young people, but
because so much of those efforts are not creating a sustainable faith
beyond high school. There are certainly effective youth ministries
across the country, but the levels of disengagement among
twentysomethings suggest that youth ministry fails too often at
discipleship and faith formation. A new standard for viable youth
ministry should be – not the number of attenders, the sophistication of
the events, or the ‘cool’ factor of the youth group – but whether teens
have the commitment, passion and resources to pursue Christ
intentionally and whole-heartedly after they leave the youth ministry
nest.”
The Strategic Leader of The Barna Group explained that, “it’s
not entirely surprising that deep, lasting spiritual transformation
rarely happens among teenagers – it’s hard work at any age, let alone
with the distractions of youth. And, since teenagers’ faith often
mirrors the intensity of their parents, youth workers face steep
challenges because they are trying to impart something of spiritual
significance that teenagers generally do not receive from home.
“Our team is conducting more research into what leads to a
sustainable faith, but we have already observed some key enhancements
that youth workers may consider. One of those is to be more
personalized in ministry. Every teen has different needs, questions and
doubts, so helping them to wrestle through those specific issues and to
understand God’s unique purpose for their lives is significant. The
most effective churches have set up leadership development tracks and
mentoring processes to facilitate this type of personalization.
“Another shift,” he continued, “is to develop teenagers’
ability to think and process the complexities of life from a biblical
viewpoint. This is not so much about having the right head knowledge as
it is about helping teens respond to situations and decisions in light
of God’s principles for life. Also, we have learned that effective
youth ministries do not operate in isolation but have a significant
role in training parents to minister to their own children.
“Above all, remember to keep a balanced perspective,” Kinnaman cautioned.
“Some have overstated the problem, while others minimize it. The fact is
millions of American teenagers and twentysomethings are alive to God and
devoted to His Kingdom. But the research is also clear that there are
significant issues related to the way young people experience and express
their faith. Without objectively and strategically addressing those
challenges, Christian leaders will miss the opportunity to awaken many more
young souls to a life-long zeal for God.”
