David Kinnaman has analyzed the data in a new book, You Lost Me: Why Young Christians are Leaving the Church ... and Rethinking Faith," and reports the following:
- The good news: This generation's pre-20-somethings are not less active in church than in previous eras. In fact, 4 of 5 U.S. teens spend part of their childhood and/or teen years attending a congregation or parish.
- What happens is that the faith of these young adults erodes and disappears by the time they are 20 years old and during their 20s. This is true for both Protestants and Catholics.
- Even greater is the disconnect these young adults experience with the institutional church. They stop participating in the practice of their waning faith and, ultimately, become skeptical of faith, its practice, and the institution supporting both.
Kinnaman believes that one of the most important factors influencing this generation's 20-somethings is rapid cultural change---the media, technology, sexuality, and the economy---which has increased complexity, fluidity, and uncertainty in the culture in which the 20-somethings have grown up. In turn, these changes can be summed up in three realities:
- Access: While the new tools of the digital world offer immense opportunities for evangelization, increased access access to other cultural views and values invites 20-somethings to question their beliefs.
- Alienation: Skeptical about the institutions have shaped society in the past---especially marriage and family life---this generation's 20-somethings prize grassroots networks and collaborative efforts over hierarchical institutions.
- Authority: This skepticism evolves into a distrust of authority with pluralism---to the point of being willing to hold contradictory ideas rather than resolve them---taking precedence over accepting Scripture and moral norms.
Is all lost?
Kinnaman recommends starting a "conversation" to stem the loss of so many 20-somethings from the church, another of his recommendations comes straight form the playbook of Martin Luther: To assist 20-somethings to rediscover the theological concept of a "personal vocation" by encouraging a deeper consideration about what God is asking these young adults to accomplish through their lives.
The Motley Monk would note that rediscovering the theological concept of a personal vocation was a critical element of Blessed John Paul II's larger initiative called "The New Evangelization," as he described this in his 1994 book, Crossing the Threshold of Hope. The idea is pretty straightforward:
"The human being is single, unique, and unrepeatable, someone thought of and chosen from eternity, someone called and identified by name...." A "personal vocation" is how that individual freely responds to God's initiative by living that out in a singular, unique, and unrepeatable way in all of human history.
The challenge?
Where are the 20-somethings to hear this important message---the spiritual antidote to their skepticism and alienation---if they don't participate in a church?
Let the discussion begin...
They, first, should be hearing about the Church at home....
ReplyDeleteOf course, many, of the parents of the 20 somethings have been too busy living secular lifestyle that relegates religion to the 'feel good' level of moral principal.
Think of how many 'parents' take no stand on Abortion, Materialism, Stem Cell Research, the Homosexual agenda, etc...
Think of the child abuse scandal has been mishandled by the 'leaders' of the Church.
Think of how the media and anti-Church, anti-Christian, even anti-God forces have used the 'evil cloaked as good' scenario against the moral fiber of the Church and Society.
Then, think of the pap the 20 somethings hear most weeks from the pulpit. Couple that with the hypocrisy preached and practiced by the hierarchy of the Church. The American Bishops are the poster children for useless leadership! No one should be surprised that the 20 somethings are skeptical and feel alienated.
The poor, poor 20-something-year-olds! They feel skeptical about religion and alienated from the Church. What's a believing Catholic to do about it? How about so what? No one cared about me or my generation when we were 20-somethings! Yet many of us persevered in the Faith and went on to become adult Catholics. I'm just a little sick and tired of being asked to care about young people today and their Christian formation, as if it's everyone's fault except theirs that they don't care about the Faith. Blame the parents if you want, blame the hierarchy if that makes you feel better. Meanwhile I'll give a good share of the blame to the 20-something-year-olds themselves. Grow up! Get you ears and eyes away from the latest iToy in your hands and take some responsibility for your own lives, because you are very soon arriving at the age when no one is going to take care of you anymore!
ReplyDelete"Molly coddled," is that what those 20-somethings are? Wanting everything to be handed to them on a silver spoon?
ReplyDeleteSome generalizations:
No generation has had the material advantages that this generation of young adults has been given. Yet they appear not to appreciate much, if any of it, always wanting more...and more...and more. They believe that protesting and occupying will get them more of what they want without having to exert the effort needed in a capitalist economy to get everything one wants.
What they don't have is what they need: faith. That's a divine gift, of course, one freely given. But, one must work at it if one is to nurture that seed of faith into a vibrant life of faith. And, they're turning the backs and walking away from the one societal institution that can help them.
A random thought:
Maybe much of this has to do with the fact that most of this generation's 20-somethings were viewed by their parents as a "choice" rather a "gift."
Ultimately, every person makes their own choice, regardless of circumstances. 20 somethings and many of their parents have rationalized behavior for years. So, their take on the state of the Church is not surprising.
ReplyDeleteI do not blame the 20 somethings, their parents, the leaders of the Church. Molly coddled, spoiled, impatient, distracted.. these are all terms that describe the world. Therefore, people not going to Church should not come as a surprise given the forces at play.