Young People Moving Away from Christianity

[Steven E. Webster]

Friends,

This is intriguing information from a respected social research group with "evangelical" ties (The Barna Group). They are reporting that Christianity has developed such a negative image among young people that 40 percent consider themselves "outsiders" from the Christian faith. Christianity's image as being "anti-homosexual" is a big piece of the problem. (And probably also the link between "evangelicals" and the GOP.)

Here's the link:

http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?P...naUpdateID=280

Steven Webster

[u-dog]

Originally Posted by Steven E. Webster

Friends,

This is intriguing information from a respected social research group with "evangelical" ties (The Barna Group). They are reporting that Christianity has developed such a negative image among young people that 40 percent consider themselves "outsiders" from the Christian faith. Christianity's image as being "anti-homosexual" is a big piece of the problem. (And probably also the link between "evangelicals" and the GOP.)

Here's the link:

http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?P...naUpdateID=280

Steven Webster

Thanks for sharing this steven. I'm off to Amazon to order the book. this is GREAT news for those of us fighting in the trenches of the denominational wars because it is always thrown in our faces that our inclusive attitudes are driving people away from mainline Christianity. It will be nice to have some hard data to throw back!

[Gennee]

I read much of the report and really was not surprised by it. Young people really desire to know how Christianity relates to their world. I believe this is where we come in. LGBT issues are new to the church and it must address them.

One thing I have felt for a while is that there is a lot of cultural Christianity rather than biblical Christianity. I ignore comments like 'You can't be a real Christian if you are a Democrat'. That's tying someone's faith to a political party. I know Christians from a number of political persuasions.

With your annual bus tours, I believe that God is working in an area that is practically ignored on Christian colleges campuses. God is moving in a different direction and I want be a part of it. I will read the report again and comment further.

Gennee

[pnggrad79]

My oldest daughter who is 19 and will be 20 in December refuses to go to any church that denies access to glbt people. She feels that God loves everyone and that for the church to close its doors to certain people only shows prejudice, hatred and fear, nothing of which God is associated with. I applaud her stance, but at the same time, she doesn't go to church and is losing that fellowship with God.

[Zerbie]

Originally Posted by Steven E. Webster

Friends,

This is intriguing information from a respected social research group with "evangelical" ties (The Barna Group). They are reporting that Christianity has developed such a negative image among young people that 40 percent consider themselves "outsiders" from the Christian faith. Christianity's image as being "anti-homosexual" is a big piece of the problem. (And probably also the link between "evangelicals" and the GOP.)

Here's the link:

http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?P...naUpdateID=280

Steven Webster

This doesn't surprise me. I was a small child when I first saw how Christian churches treated, and taught about, gay people - which is THE reason why I refused ever to attend one.

[scott snedeker]

Fundamentally, what makes connection to one's inner spirit, desires, each other, and all living things?

I say love, empowerment, compassion are big. I know that I am connected when I feel good. I use my feelings as the indicator. I believe this to be the deepest desires of all living things. A belief system's purpose for me is a tool to feel good. A paradigm that accomplishes this is a good one.

Judgement, condemnation, predatory gratification and conditional sacrifice for forgiveness based on assumption of worthlessness all disconnect me from the love of my inner spirit, other souls, and all living things. A paradigm that accomplishes this is deadly poison.

I believe most people who subscribe to such a paradigm are driven by fear, threatened with damnation from an early age. This form of psychological child abuse creates a lifelong fear and a pattern. Adults abused as children are drawn to abusers in adulthood, sadly. In their own mind see themselves as unworthy of love. Stoning is abuse that even fundamentalists can faintly recognize. But the fear driving them blinds them to the other abuses used against gays.

I have no doubt that the perpetuation of fundamentalist christianity is dependent on the continuation of psychological child abuse to create more abusers and victims. As child abuse becomes less tolerated, fundamentalism loses its elemental base and weakens as fewer abusers and victims are generated.

Young people have clear perception. Child abuse is not tolerated as much today creating adults with a better sense of entitlement and independence and see abuse clearly for what it is. Stopping the abuse of children today will create a kinder, more rational adult tomorrow. Adults who were not spiritually/psychologically abused as children are more likely to recognize abuse for what it is despite clever disguises, and avoid it.

This is why I think fewer young people choose christianity

[Vanessa White]

Scotty: I really appreciate your perspective on this. I guess I never really thought of it as child abuse per se, but that is in no uncertain terms what it is. To basically tell a child, a young person, an adult, that who he/she is is sinful, flawed, diseased in some way. The damage done by that type of talk can be irreparable in some cases, as we have seen in many of our family members here. I know what saddens me the most in addition to this, is the fact that faith is such a sacred thing, and men and women are tampering with that which was created by God, not by man. Man (and woman, also) are exerting they supposed power in ways that I believe God and Jesus ABSOLUTELY do not intend. If I were a young person just reaching adolescence or adulthood at this point, I would really struggle with wanting to embrace many of the churches, and what they espouse.

[antiochian]

Well said, Scotty. I can remember as a child being terrified of hell and somehow "knowing" that I was going there. Sometimes those old "tapes" still play in my mind, it's as if the preacher I heard 15 years ago still has power over me at times.

I think younger people are more secularized in general because 1. They're on their own for the first time, esp. in college, and are discovering the wonders/pleasures of the world, doing lots of partying, and just don't give much thought to faith. 2. Because their upbringing in the church may have been nominal or lip-servicey, so it was never important to them anyway.

Just my thoughts, for what they're worth...

[BrentRichards]

Very very interesting ... the Barna Group, if you don't know them, holds sway as THE pollsters of the evangelical community ... wonder what the response to this has been/will be, if anything?

[Steven E. Webster]

Originally Posted by antiochian

I think younger people are more secularized in general because 1. They're on their own for the first time, esp. in college, and are discovering the wonders/pleasures of the world, doing lots of partying, and just don't give much thought to faith. 2. Because their upbringing in the church may have been nominal or lip-servicey, so it was never important to them anyway.

I think you miss the point of the Barna Group report. It's not that young people are INDIFFERENT to religion (the gist of your analysis), but among a high number of young people Christianity and evangelicalism has a very negative image.

Christianity has earned this negative image, according to the Barna Group, by appearing to be intolerant of LGBT persons and becoming over-identified with a discredited political party--go figure.

Is it any wonder that some evangelicals now want to get away from the image projected by Falwell and Dobson, and start to show some genuine concern and compassion for the earth, for justice for the poor, and seek to turn away with the obsessive scapegoating of LGBT persons?

Steven Webster

[antiochian]

Understood. Though I'm still tied to a church, Christianity is leaving a more rotten taste in my mouth as time goes on, like biting into a rotten sunflower seed. I can totally understand why young people feel this way. Ironically, fundamentalists think through their tactics they are "reclaiming" America for Christ--in fact, they are driving a significant number of folks (and certainly young people) away.

Bottom line is, these "Christians" need to quit obsessing over what a certain minority of people may or may not be doing in their bedrooms, read the Gospels a few times without their hate-colored glasses, and start acting like real followers of Jesus.

[u-dog]

Originally Posted by antiochian

Understood. Though I'm still tied to a church, Christianity is leaving a more rotten taste in my mouth as time goes on, like biting into a rotten sunflower seed. I can totally understand why young people feel this way. Ironically, fundamentalists think through their tactics they are "reclaiming" America for Christ--in fact, they are driving a significant number of folks (and certainly young people) away.

Bottom line is, these "Christians" need to quit obsessing over what a certain minority of people may or may not be doing in their bedrooms, read the Gospels a few times without their hate-colored glasses, and start acting like real followers of Jesus.

;

Amen and Amen!!

[gman620]

It's quite unfortunate, but yes Christianity is getting that reputation throughout some of America's young people. But I would hope that many of them are educated enough to see the reality that there is a significant disconnect between fundamentalist "Christians" and more tolerant, moderate or liberal Christians. For example, in my own Roman Catholic parish we had an openly gay man teach our religious studies class when I was in second grade, and he was one of my favorite teachers! My own priest has no problem with my sexuality, and actually told me that one of his favorite vacation spots is Province Town, MA! Our bishop is also rumored to have disregarded the Vatican's stance on banning gay priests, which would make sense because the church really needs priests right now. Of course, our bishop cannot come out and say that publicly. Many Catholics I know of have no problem with gays either. I already mentioned in a previous post that we have gay friars at my college, which is run by Franciscan friars. The bottom line is that young people in general need to start thinking critically about who they are and who they want to be. They need to be shown that real Christianity is not what these hateful bigots spew, and its not to be found in a political party or a particular church. It's something much more personal and unique, and it can be more open and accepting than it is portrayed. Hopefully our nation's young people will start to search their hearts.

You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.

[scrupulous_stoic]

Very interesting. I can say that I have analyzed the Bible and Christian doctrine and still had no wish to convert, but as to this trend, I wonder how many truly have studied their faith...