Multiple investigation projects, carried out by reputable research groups indicate that 60% of young people are disengaging from faith/Church community by the age of 15; up t0 80% by the age of 20.[1]
This disconnection seems to become apparent when leaving school and entering tertiary education or workplace, but the withdrawal and emotional disconnection has begun well before this transition.
Traditionally (up until about 20 years ago) 70% were assumed to return to faith/Church community at some time in the future. Studies since the early 2000’s show that this return percentage has dropped below 30%.
Some of us are tempted to dispute the research or to provide anecdotal experiences that do not follow this trend.
We may be wary that most of the research is based upon surveys in the USA. A nation that has a high proportion of nominal or cultural Christian people; so maybe they are rejecting a cultural expectation.
Maybe in more secular countries, the data looks different? Research carried out in other countries provides similar data. In Canada it is a similar tale[2] and Australian data seems to confirm the same story.[3]
The majority of research points to ages 14-17 being decisive for faith development decisions.
I am sure that we can all provide anecdotal stories about young people who have developed strong and active faith in their adult years – but this does not give us licence to ignore the realities of worrying research data.
However, the acknowledgement of this saddening picture should not lead us to despair. Instead, it should lead us to critique and review the ways that we disciple our young people.
A number of reasons for disengagement commonly appear in the research; we will look at some of them over the next few weeks. Then we’ll investigate some positive ways forward.
Blessings
Brian
[1] Much of this research is consolidated at https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/are-young-people-really-leaving-christianity/
[2] Haemorrhaging Faith – The Evangelical fellowship of Canada
[3] https://repository.divinity.edu.au/2093/1/Hemorrhaging_Faith_Cronshaw_Lewis_and_Wilson.pdf