January 1, Young Americans Drift From Church Roots

Wyatt’s Take

• Fewer young people in America call themselves Protestant than say they have no religion at all.
• Pew’s findings show a steady shift, with today’s youth far less tied to churches than older folks were.
• Christianity’s numbers nationwide have steadied, but questions hang over its future among the next generation.

Pew Research’s latest data shows more 18-to-29 year olds don’t claim any religion than those who say they are Protestants.

For every eight young folks without faith ties, only five identify with Protestant churches.

Overall, out of every hundred Americans, forty identify as Protestant and twenty-nine say they have no religious connection at all.

“This group — sometimes called the religious ‘nones’ — is made up of people who describe themselves as atheists, agnostics or ‘nothing in particular’ when it comes to religion,” Pew Research Center noted.

Catholic and evangelical numbers lag behind the fast-growing religiously unaffiliated crowd.

The nation as a whole is still mostly Christian, but the growth of “nones” among the young stands out.

Pew points out that, despite decades of decline, the number of Americans calling themselves Christian looks to have leveled off recently.

About sixty-two percent of Americans still identify as Christian, though young folks are much less likely to do so.

Smaller faith traditions together make up about three percent, including groups like Orthodox Christians and Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Lately, some churches have seen increased interest, especially following big events and rising Bible sales among youth.

Will this signal a real turn toward faith among the next generation, or are we experiencing a lasting shift?

Share your thoughts with family at the table and keep this story in mind next Sunday.

Wyatt Matters

The heartland values faith, but these findings show many young adults are searching or drifting. Our communities thrive when folks are connected, so it’s worth talking about what guides us and our kids.

Full story here