Losing Their Religion: Why Church Attendance Is on the Decline

Kenneth Eagle Spirit

Could it be that the human race is evolving past the need for organized religion? Perhaps, and this is just a thought, more people engage in spirituality without the need for the trappings of religion. I'd be interested to know how many, or what percentage, of the "unaffiliated" regard themselves as spiritual, without the need for religion as such. I'm curious.

Rev. Dr. Father JJ

People are no longer going to church. They are beginning to see through the bull ******, the hypocrisy, the lies, the sexual abuses, the hate. Add up all the numbers you want but in the US those numbers are dropping. As the old guard (literally) dies off, fewer of subsequent generations will take their place.

The best thing religion could have done to convince younger people not to partake was do exactly what they did; be hypocritical, judgement-ridden, holier-than-thou hate mongers. You can thank education and the internet and short of a x tian theocracy banning both, eventually religion and the religious will be ignored and pitied out of existence.

god doesn't exist, jesús doesn't exist, the bible, torah, quran and veda are nothing more than a collection of tribal myths, stories and a means to enslave people's minds. Just look at the comments here; like barking dogs the 'good' xtians are here defending their faith by quoting their sheep herder's guide to the universe.

Are they out trying to make the world a better place? House the homeless? Help heal the sick? Nope. But they do attend their silly, pretentious, stylized CosPlay church theater every week (or more) because goD loves theater. Don't get all pissy xtians, I include the jews, muslims, hindus et al too.. It's just that in the US it's the x tians that stir up all the trouble.

In the US the constitution, Article VI specifies that “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.” And yet, go watch and listen to the gop goobers, expected, EXPECTED to praise jebus in order to be taken seriously. And yet they elected as president the great goober who had neither desire nor experience with any religion. Just look at the way the xtians zig zag in and around the constitution as it suits their needs.

That is why the younger generations are saying 'no thanks' to dogmatic ignorance, intolerance, racist, sexist, homophobic and misogynistic dog whistles, shouts, laws and actions taken and proposed by 'religion'. Give the younger generations the credit they deserve; they actually want to live the way so-called xtians are supposed to live, based on the words of the mythical jebus

Michael Holland

I was raised Baptist and as soon as I actually found out what they stood for and stopped going. Organized religion to me is nothing but a money grab. They are not here to help anyone beyond the church walls!

Geoffrey C. Olive

With the introduction of the internet, it’s possible that people have become more aware that organized religion, that is “churches “ of all religions, are greedy money grabbing peddlers of unbelievable nonsense and in many places total power! Of course that doesn’t mean that some, many, or most of those people don’t believe in a non existent sky daddy, but that they have moved one step away of supporting greedy human organizations and individuals that have grabbed some of their hard earned incomes for centuries under false pretenses! You only have to look at the life styles and possessions (churches, private jets, expensive houses and cars, etc) of the pastors running USA mega churches to see the greed and corruption in the buybull belt! In addition, this is even more expansive in the power of the religious authorities in countries like Iran, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia! Having said that, I still think that beautiful ancient religious buildings are wonderful examples of human achievements except what they were built for. Better to think of them like castles, palaces, bridges, skyscrapers or other historical non religious structures!

Billy Heckstall

God’s Children are Moving Away From the Kidnappers, That’s All!

The moment the teachings of a people’s way of life became what we called a religion, was the moment that way of life began to decline. The moment we made this way of life a pious attitude of indifference to others it began to decline. The moment we forgot to teach that dancing, singing, sharing, and developing a one on one relationship with God by an individual’s actions is the most important things and to share that light with others; religion began to decline. When we forgot to practice what we preached in all our affairs and started to make money and other material gains our objective; religion began to decline. When the ministers began to own private jets and home’s bigger than many of their congregation and out gross the income of many of their followers (Offering nothing in return but prayers), religion began to decline. Let’s be real, how many ministers would be ministers; if they had to live like Jesus, or his true disciples? Probably, NONE!!! Out of the census I’ve taken that response almost 100% on point. We have a list of so-called people of God that are committing as many crimes as the peoples they came to save. Yes, I understand young people’s view points today because at one time, I was one of them. The inner teacher Jesus spoke of showed and taught me there was and is the truth and a way. The truth is, young people aren’t moving away from church, but ministers and their fake ideas of church and of God has moved away from God’s people. Fake wannabes, making money by waving their hands and knocking people down; snake charmers and shak’n bake money schemers! Why even Jesus, wouldn’t recognize what they call church today. Much less wanted to enter anyone of them. I don’t blame the young for not attending church anymore. I blame all the false prophets, ministers and pastors that have betrayed the word of God! The Hebrews, like all faiths of the same kind, whether they came before or after were teaching a way of life, and how to develop a closer personal relationship with the planet and that of creation. (Not a religion) Thus, moving in ward to the Creator and life. Let’s be frank, what so-called religion in these times need, is a new pair of glasses! It begins with get off the pulpit and out of the church’s and into the streets; and practicing, not teaching; that way of life which Jesus left us, which was an example. “As I do unto you, do also to each other” “ by your love for one another, will they recognize you as one of my disciples…” Peace…

John Condron

Here's a crazy idea! Instead of reading the idle speculations of strangers on the internet, you could read actual scholarly research on the subject. For example, you could take a deep dive by reading "Beyond Doubt: The Secularization of Society (Secular Studies Book 7)," in which Sociology professors Isabella Kasselstrand, Phil Zuckerman, and Ryan Cragun examine the rise of secularization, drawing on rich empirical evidence and careful analysis to make their case.

We actually know a lot about this worldwide phenomenon, and don't need to rely on speculation.

David Richard Procter

Religion has become too political. Adherents have completely forgotten Mark 12:17.

Pastor Jody S.

Lack of authenticity on the part of the congregations. Every weekend I attend Mass at a Catholic monastery. The monks "walk the walk and talk the talk", but the Lay people that assist in Communion look as if they want to rip your head off, and never smile. Jesus told us to Love each other as I have Loved you", but these folks must have skipped that class.

Matthew Mastrogiovanni

Yup the church is full of hate and hypocrisy. It's become undeniable and people have had enough. I applaud these young people for following their hearts and leaving.

Keith Law

So many views on the subject and none suggested that people may be turning off to official religions because the major ones are predicated on the Bronze Age myth of a magic invisible dad who lives in the sky.

The dominant American religion goes one step further and has that invisible dad in the sky impregnate a young Jewish woman (without her consent and just before her wedding to someone else) and their baby is then fated to be brutally sacrificed for the original sin of the first ever mom and dad, who ate forbidden fruit 6000 years ago, even though modern humans evolved over 200,000 years ago.

I mean, isn’t that why people are turning away from religion? I hoped so.

Robert S Collins

My last sermon as a pastor was titled “Going To Church On Sunday Doesn’t Make You Any More Of A Christian Than Sleeping In Your Garage Makes You A Car.” I couldn’t stand the hypocrisy. I resigned the next day.

Catherine

Hypothetical posits:

Perhaps the internets made it possible for people around the world to recognize much of the world's ills are due to abuses of its peoples through use of religions to control politics that maintain an unhealthy status quo.

We've run out of room for all that to work. Few resources remain that can be stolen and given away as bribes. "Come settle this land and in return..."

Cultures obliterated.

People living on top of each other and nearly all means of being self-sufficient being systematically removed.

Perhaps also, more people understand humans are indepedent by nature. We do not - any one of us - fit into the box(es) of the individual standing next to us.

Ealdormon Piparskeggr Robinson

For me, back in 1975, it was the hypocrisy amongst Church leadership and the Cafeteria Christians I saw, as well as reading history and seeing just how much slaughter the followers of the "Prince of Peace" committed..

Paul Andrew Breda

The Church (capital C) is dying, and I say (as a practicing, church-going Christian of 60 years) the sooner, the better. Maybe that's overly harsh. But the church has lost it's way, been hi-jacked by politics and those who would use it for selfish purposes. Sadly, many of the worst-offenders (the ones that get the headlines and give churches a bad name) will survive, drawing attention away from the ones that active seek to be true followers and bring the kingdom of God to fruition on earth. So let's let the process separate the wheat from the chaff, find the churches that seek to be true followers and give them our support.

Rev. Rory

I am a fan of understanding all major religions in order to understand and respect ourselves and others. Every major religion has a history of great beauty and great cruelty in the name of God. Reject the cruelty. Move on. Evolve. If staying away from church is the choice of Gen Z, then that is their choice. It does not mean that Gen Z does not have beliefs, it means that they have tired of the negatives and hypocrisy of the leaders of their religious organization. Maybe they are disgusted with religion as a tool of politicians. If you believe in a higher power, then you would also believe that you are judged by that higher power, not by another human.

Some good people are religious but religion does not make you "good."

Lisa Ellis

I’d ask why should people go back to Christianity. It’s not just the Catholic Church that’s having ongoing sexual abuse issues. They’re rampant in all of Christianity. It’s not just the evangelicals who are anti-LGBTQ+. Are there any branches of Christianity that accept queerness instead of classifying it as a sin? The new revision of the Bible is decided anti-LGBTQ+ now in ways it didn’t used to be. Christians are more openly hateful, misogynistic and bigoted now than in my previous experience. Maybe that’s just my younger naïveté. Either way, why would anyone continue to prop up this hateful, harmful institution that’s actively disrespecting and hurting people? And not just a few people, it significantly hurts huge groups of people on the outside and the inside. I’d ask why the conversation is about getting around the reasons people have for fleeing this institution and not about what these comments are shining a light on within this institution. Why is it being protected and not examined? Don’t just try to dress it up to appeal to more people and trick them into coming through the doors. Change the foundational issues. Stop looking at the people who reject what the Christian churches are as flawed and start looking at the flaws within the churches.

Daniel Gray

yet again another lying fluff myth. It shows that people like Pew and those who believe them are very short of intelligence and common sense. Christianity is still the largest Religion in the world and has far more then 600 million more then the next closest religion, and that is Islam.

Religion Followers (billions) Cultural tradition Christianity 2.4 Abrahamic religions Islam 1.9 Abrahamic religions Hinduism 1.2 Indian religions Buddhism 0.5 Indian religions

So when you have some low intelligence people claiming that Abrahamic religions need to go, I guess it does not cross their minds that you have 4.3 BILLION people who follow these Abrahamic religions meaning that its going to be well into the hundreds of thousands of years before they would vanish. And thats only IF everyone in the religion decided to stop following it. And whats is another major shock is the realization is just because they may not go to an established church, does not mean they stopped believing.

Rev Mark D

Since when do we continue the word and thing Church and religion/faith? Christ did not. He said he was the church, himself. He and his followers and others he was talking to met in homes, and did not seek to have buildings of congregations. A church is not a faith. A church is not a religion.

John W

When the locals start referring to the local mega-church and it's satellite churches as "6 Flags Over Jesus" because of the ostentatious display of wealth displayed by the church, ya got to take a look at the image being presented. It's a major turn off visually and when it is being confirmed that they routinely turn away homeless people seeking refuge or assistance ya gotta wonder about their true interests.

Timothy Newell

Let me speak for myself. i get more out of watching "In Touch" with the late, great Dr. Charles F. Stanley, Pastor Robert Morris, and Pastor Jack Hibbs on Daystar Sunday mornings than i do going to a church where the pastor doesn't even hold a Bible or refers to any verses of the Bible, like these teachers do. On YouTube, i get a lot from Tif Shuttleworth who also has a strong leaning on teaching the Bible. There are others who are very viable, and i haven't found any Pastor, male or female locally who is worth my time and tithe. Besides, being single, people who sit in pews who are half of a couple or part of a family tend to turn their noses up at singles like me, so i don't need the phony, two-faced, back-biting gossips at church. i know the Cross is enough, and whether i go to church or not won't matter one iota whether i get to the New Jerusalem or not!

Jeanine Varas

My beliefs have changed since, but I was raised as a fundamentalist. I stopped going to Christian church after a Bible study about 25 years ago. It was not because of the Bible. It was because of a story the preacher told: (paraphrased) The preacher went to a ballgame. Near him was a father and his two children. The man had dirty fingernails and was drinking a beer and the kids had dirty fingernails and he could tell that family was not right with God. If they were right with God they would present their bodies with more respect, to show the way the Holy Spirit has transformed their lives. I said that was judgemental and he tried to convince me it wasn't, with some random Bible verses. I've watched what has happened to "Christianity" in the 25 years since. For the most part, I don't believe it's very Christian any more (and that's why it's in quotes).
That's my experience. 🙏🏼

Richard Clark

I'm not in the least bit surprised. Generation Z can see the hypocrisy of white American Christianity which voted by 70-80 percent for Donald Trump whose ideology is the direct opposite of what Jesus taught.

JaZe

Learning about other religions and philosophies outside the narrow vision of a single religious path opens perspectives that may feel more in tune with the individual.

William Patrick Talty III

I, like many people I know, are craving Community, Fellowship, and Spirituality, but not dogma, authority, or gatekeeping.

Religions are manufactured structures that build up around the natural human desire to connect nature and unity consciousness.

People know that the foundation of spirituality is subjectivity of perception, but objectivity of love and acceptance. It's radically accepting.

Churches are inherently not this, and unless they pivot, they will fail.

The truth is church does fill a desire, but I appreciate my Center for Spiritual Living because it's all of the things church is but not anything the church is.

I anticipate more universal communities to be the future.

Bridget Kielas-Fecyk

Until people start behaving in the way they claim the churches espouse, that is to say, they start helping others, being kind, being understanding, welcoming everyone with open arms, etc, almost ALL organized religions are going to keep losing people.

People, especially those from the Evangelical Churches, are using the bible as a kudgel and blade. Beating others over the head with it, ramming their religion down people's throats and even trying to force through laws, based on their bibles, to control people's very bodies.

To be honest? It's whyI left the church when I turned 15. I was born and raised Roman Catholic. Eventually, the churches are going to completely empty out except for those brainwashed by the ideas of hate, greed, malace, and self-centered cruelty. And they're going to get to the point they believe these things are GOOD things, instead of bad.

I mean look at all the pastors screaming calling people "demons" and how they should be killed simply because of their political views? Or scream out from their pulpits how people should be killed because they're LGBTQ+? And screaming for books to be burned, and claiming books are "pornographic" simply because of who the author is, or because the character happens to be LGBTQ+ or acts in any way they consider "abnormal".

There's one book about a little boy who likes dressing up in an orange dress and playing pretend. He's a normal little boy, plays with other kids, but he likes that orange dress. Eventually he grows up, and puts the dress away, because he doesn't play pretend anymore. But he always remembers his youth playing fondly.

Many Evangelicals, and hate-groups like "Moms for Liberty" call that book "Pornographic" and scream anyone who lets their kids read it are "Demonic".

And many scream that if you worship any other god besides THEIR God, you're demented and trying to get people "possessed by demons". And other such rhetoric.

So yes, it's no wonder churches are losing the younger generations.

And that's just one example, I've got huge stacks of examples why the younger generations are running from the churches in droves. And it will keep happening until people stop with the cruelty, narcissism, and misinformation spreading.

Roger Ames Beck

Traveling through Missouri I saw a billboard showing a picture of Donald Trump with Jesus standing behind him and something to the effect of "Thank God for Donald Trump"written on it. It made me sick! Here is the absolute most immoral, cruel, treacherous, ignorant and lying scoundrel being held up as some kind of savior ordained by God. How can these "evangelical" populations be this delusional? It's tragic, sad...and disappointing beyond measure.

No wonder the framers initially didn't want the common man to vote. Only men of letters...the masses were asses, can't let them near a ballot box. Same can be said of many today! Bill Mahr said America is too dumb to survive...boy that hit it on the head - especially with what I saw in Missouri. How can any young person get behind this? And join a church where these kinds of beliefs prevail? If young folks are steeped in any kind of reality - they can't. God help us!

Tareq Asfour

This is reason this land Turtle Land aka America has became morally corrupt shutting out, The Mighty Creator G’D teachings from modern day Elementary & High schools,work places and replaced with forbidden ancient Philistine Phoenician Baal mythology Paganism, which the Israelite’s where told by Prophet Moses not to mess around intermarriage with our Philistine(Palestine) + Phoenician(Lebanon) of Canaan(Levant) women who worshiped Baalism(child sacrifice to fertility deities) in secret mixing into the all beliefs for centuries even till now 2023 . Turtle Island really has suffered 100 million Native Indigenous deaths since 1492 at hands of Christopher Columbus a Ashkenazic hiding as a Roman catholic practiced this forbidden ritual on Indigenous 1st Nations tribes…. Our ancient beliefs should have never came to these lands and waters leaving the Middle East sadly…..

Merlin

Assuming they are all “sheep”. “Sheep” are either led(controlled) or slaughtered

Alexander Arends

Who needs God these days? We have it all; food at the table, a decent job, plenty of entertainment and recreation, you name it, we got it. God seems to come in handy when tragedy strikes, like a death in the family, or natural disasters or wars. When we go to church these days, it is not about worshipping God but about "feeling good".

I admire church goers. Many are looking for something they don't have. Others have found what they are looking for. Few go to be seen by others as god-fearing people. While we all seem to reject church goers as hypocrites, the majority are compassionate, caring benevolent people. I see it over and over, But church goers are fewer and fewer, mostly because they have all their needs met and only have so little time for worship.

Robert Rohr

As my father who was president of two churches once asked me, "Who wants to get up on Sunday morning and sing morbid hymns written during the Bubonic Plague and chant boring creeds? Who can relate? Can't this church be more fun?"

Clay Serenbetz

My indoctrination taught me that God was all-powerful, all-knowing, good and loving. I never had an explanation of why evil, early death, cruelty or pain is a necessary part of his plan. If he was really all that, then why doesn't he use his powers and knowledge for bettering all human conditions, such as eliminating cancer or ending racism and hate or ending poverty. These human conditions belie the propaganda that a Devine being is anything but cruel, hateful and machiavellian.

Robert Rohr

Do you really expect Gen-Z (or most anyone for that matter these days) to get up on Sunday mornings and drive to church to recite week-after-week that they are "poor miserable sinners" and then sing hymns dating back to the Middle Ages? First, I may be a sinner, but I am not poor and miserable in Christ. The church needs to go where they are and not sit back and expect them to come to them. The churches need to develop options for worship outside of the traditional Sunday mornings. Individuals in the churches need to take personal responsibility for engaging others in the community during their interactions with them during the week. This is not preaching at them, but simply showing the merits of a Christian life.

Angelic Realms

I stopped going at 8 or 9. The kid side back in 1979, the teachers were these 70's Californian types that were vegan and I to fitness. I am half Spanish and Portuguese. My mom is German ,very blonde and they loved her but hated me to the point that we had a .zoo bring out all these cute baby animals and every other kid could pet them except me, for being "disobedient". I had to sit in the corner. It's really because I was the only Hispanic looking kid and they thought I was adopted. I had curly dark hair and eyes. They treated meike a s cond class citizen for months. That day I walked out and never went back. I told my mom why and she was disgusted. She only went to the adult service by herself after that.

Dorothy Hawkins

I was probably Gen Z before Gen Z was here - I left the church at age 13 - after the choir master priest tried to molest me in the choir robe area behind the rehearsal space...5th grade.

Of course, nobody believed me at age 6, when my 1st grade teacher cursed me to eternity in front of the entire population of the girl's at our religeous school.

Many clergy in the extended family; nowhere to turn but inside my own self for answers. All fakery - kids see things so much more clearly: good vs. evil.

Herb Kopper

As a religious "mut" raised in many, visited many and am associated with many, I deeply enjoy the sermons of educated leaders. One of my old eagle scouts was just ordained as a priest in the catholic church. If ever you want to see the power of prayer and God, look into the eyes of a young priest! Their sole is pure, their heart is vast and their strength and conviction will help your heart. Jesus didn't pick a church, just asked for love for him. Pretty easy ask but too many of us make religion a business or a platform for their opinions. I feel bad for so many, but the a look for yourself, really look with your heart and your sole will give you your personal direction. Don't make religion so hard!

Patricia Ann Gross

I think that shutting down churches during the COVID pandemic had a lot to do with it, especially for the millenials and older. Church attendance is a habit and people found other things to do on a Sunday. When the churches opened back up, people were still afraid of public places and didn't want to wear masks in church (me included), and people never really got back into the habit. For me, I have been in a bit of a faith reconstruction phase, so it feels like a step backward getting into the rigidity of a church's doctrine. God has opened my eyes about some of the realities of humanity in the past two to three years, and I am not sure what to do with it all.

For those younger, I really can't say. By the way, I DO believe that shutting down the churches for COVID was the RIGHT thing to do, because it was a potential breeding ground for a super-spreading event.

John Casillo

AFTER READING ALL THESE COMMENTS....GOD HELP US ALL.....WE MAY NEVER KNOW...EVEN WHAT WE THINK WE KNOW......JUST ATTEMPT TO BELIEVE IN SOMETHING POSITIVE!

Rev Ned

I grew up Holy MO Synod Lutheran in the 1950s. I’ve always loved musical theater. In the late 50s my mom told me that Leonard Bernstein was Jewish. My reaction was, “WHAT?!? You mean he’s going to hell when he dies?!?” She answered, “I guess so.” That was the beginning of my journey toward believing that, “If out of all the religions in the world, only 1 is true, then logic would dictate none are true.”

William Fritz

While I have a belief and act on it I remember growing up with a say my mother used as to use as to why we sat in the back..."Those that sit in the front on Sunday will screw you over on Monday". That was in the sixties. She also told of all the priest trying to manipulate a result he wanted when my father asked for Last Rites as a Catholic.

I have been to many churches over the years, some more in tune to the teachings of Christ in regards to helping others when in need. There are others who feel it is their personal haven and you will never be accepted.

Looking at the current news on the various denominations that are splitting up and the why and you can see a more negative reality than anything positive. It would take years to overcome that decisiveness.

Add the various legal problems created over the years and trust is lost.

Colleen McAllister

I attemd a church that is loving, caring, and was there for me through family illness, death, and financial problems. My congregation lives by the Bible. We are not perfect but are understanding of human frailties. We have all ages and welcoming of all races. Perhaps the posters have simply not found the right church.

Emerald Moon

Sooooo they spent a billion dollars on ads instead of using the billion dollars to show what their religious ways can do things like house and feed the homeless, help with their church goers bills, and help their communities in all other ways that Jesus would have done .....then they have the audacity to ask why people aren't following them and going to church believing every word they spew....they just answered their own question......🤣🤣

Minister Carlos Ricardo Walls

Society has become overwhelming for many people.It caused many to become skeptical and doubtful about things that are suppose to help in trying times.It doesn't seem to let up.A stern believer in prayer,but too many are a disappointment..

Tom Herman

I've read through dozens of the comments and there seems to be common themes; one that younger people are disenfranchised by organized religion for a plethora of reasons and two, many younger people (the product of personal experience, learning and education) are choosing to make their own choices on what they want to participate in. A part of me thinks these two might be the same but I believe there's a difference between choosing to participate and simply ceasing to do so.

I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s post world war II period of America. Yes, I'm a Baby Boomer. I like to think I'm educated and socially aware and that has happened because of the evolution (emphasis added) of my own experience and learning.

I have observed a great deal of change in the social fabric we call society. Most of that change is tied in some form or fashion to economics. We have experienced some astronomical improvements in technology. That technology (much of it) was touted to be labor saving devices to make our lives easier and free up time to pursue other interests and or give us more time to spend with our families. I'm not sure it worked out that way.

In the middle part of the last century, one wage earner could buy a house raise a family, save money and expect to enjoy a retirement with dignity because they could count on Social Security, a defined benefit Pension and their Savings (New Deal benefits). During the last quarter of the 1900's we saw a marked decline in the American Dream. You can point to numerous reasons but it now takes two wage earners, many working two jobs to afford the same standard of living our Parents and our Grandparents enjoyed. It seems those labor saving devices did free up time but the result was a demand to produce more with that free time promoting unrealistic expectations on the work force. As workers produced more the demand became even greater forcing workers to put in more time and so forth. We can point to inflation, the rising cost of living and the political climate but they are excuses, not reasons. Those factors are engineered.

Now with much less time for people to devote to non employment activities hard choices need to be made on how people choose to spend their time. It is my observation in the United States that all the old institutional groups like the Rotary Clubs, Lion's Clubs, Freemason's, etc., including organized religion are suffering a decline in membership. Not only is it more difficult for groups to attract new younger members, we also see many of those middle aged people still in the workforce struggling to make ends meet reducing their participation or outright divorcing themselves from these groups to free what little time they do have to working, to spend time with their families or other concerns.

People will join groups that they perceive are in their best interests. I'm not persuaded that young people are any less religious as I've heard of research that does show many of these folks identify as spiritual. Also people will gravitate to groups they think are in their best interests as we are beginning to see an increase in labor union participation after decades of decline in this institution. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see that most of Europe (90% unionized) does not suffer the same levels of decline in religion or other groups as in the US. In fact, both Christianity and Islam are the fastest growing religions in the European Union countries with Islam in the lead.

I believe that all the older institutional groups including organized religion will need to develop new strategies to show the younger generations how participation will benefit them. As so many of these groups are designed for social interaction such groups will need to show people why that matters and produce a tangible benefit. And yes, organized religion will need to also show people why faith matters if they expect to survive.

In closing, I've only touched on a few thoughts generated by this post and a few of my own observations over my life. The overall discussion could certainly take many different directions and it should. A lot of people today have numerous competing priorities and most of them are economic in nature. The post WWII generation created the biggest gains in less work hours, increased wealth and a social safety net that provided for a dignified future. As our society furthers the dynamic of greed and continues to erode the safety net that the Greatest generation and boomers established, we will continue to see less participation in religious organizations and other groups. We must not forget an old saying; "a rising tide floats all boats."

Dr. Bob Thomas

Organized religion shares a great deal of the reason for so many leaving the Church. Yet I do see a very large group participating in the Social Gospel on YouTube. Those "preaching" appear (or try to appear) young themselves. They dress as the audience dresses. They speak as the audience speaks. They even managed to insert scriptures into their messages, which at times I must admit are relevant and necessary.

It is the Word of God that changes you, not the one who "interpretes" it. I am convinced that reading it for yourself is the key.

Human nature, being what it is, motivated by personal gain, influenced by corporate greed, manipulates it for nefarious reasons. It has always been this way. False teachers, false preachers are always among us .Yet Paul and Peter both declared that Jesus when is preached for any reason, it can accomplish it's intended goal - salvation.

Of course the Word must be hears, then believed, and acted upon by the individual before salvation can take place.

The body are called sheep for a very good reason. Good shepherds are necessary. Elders and Deacons have a responsibility as well. However; they all bare a double accounting. But in the end, the ultimate responsibility falls upon the individual sheep. They must play their part. They must do their work. They must accept their responsibility. They must understand this for themselves.

Finally, it is easy to see poorly placed faith. "You will know them by their fruit!" One of true discerning faith knows this.

Daniel Todd Kamm

Why there are so many more comments and opinions and answers than questions here is the answer to the question. True way back as now.

“By the side of the everlasting Why there is a Yes--a transitory Yes if you like, but a Yes.”― E. M. Forster, A Room with a View.

A good read BTW, with many insights into the problems, motivations, avoidance, and questions of the young... and the once young!

Peace Out.

Merlin

Evolving from the need to be controlled.

P. Keith Benefiel

Nobody "lives" the Bible. Read Leviticus some time!

Patricia Ann Bellows

I don’t think they will come back anytime soon. There is too much hate in the world and too much hate using the Bible as the reason why. I have a very strong faith and baptized my children. They weren’t through confirmation. Then my church apologized my mom was in Hell for killing herself. Then told me, as a single mom because my husband cheated and ran off that I needed to find myself a man and become respectable. I am now looking for another church. Not full of hatred.

Minister Butterworth

When i read these posts, not just on this subject but all the subjects on this site, and see the hate-filled, hypocritical stuff being said by persons who call themselves rev or another clerical prefix, its no wonder people don't go. I wouldn't go to church to listen to people like that preaching stuff like that. If we want to fill churches back up, the clerical leaders of those churches need to preach the word the Bible tells us to. People don't want to hear hate. They don't want to receive the word from a hypocrite. Church leaders must live the word and lead by example. Don't add anything to the Bible and don't take anything from it. Just the living word of God.

Thomas Lord

The Bible is the key to learning and finding your place in gods plan. Our walk thru life is pre planned according to gods will. It is our individual choice to let the Holy Spirit guide us along our path or we choose our own path and ignore our spirit and WE TAKE CONTROL. We harden our hearts. My life. Nobody telling me how to live. I’m living my way. Small is the door and few will find it. Our adversary is in control of this earth and devouring souls by the dozens every moment. False prophets are all around us and ruining the church foundation. I read reasons why people shun church and I agree with all the comments that point out the wrongs of our religious leaders.
But the Bible states that the gifts god gives you should not be abused. Don’t lead your flock down the wrong path. Here again pastors take control and don't follow the guidance of the spirit within us. A selfish human action of we want control. The Bible is mistranslated. Verses are confused and misread all the time. Churches today are used by greedy humans to fleece their flock. Ministers don’t need mansions - Cadillacs - gold watches - or 600.00 dollar suits. That’s a thief stealing from the flock and mocking gods will. Bible says beware false prophets. Churches today are off the plan of our god. Church is not for the leaders will or their greed of money. Church is for gods family to rejoice and celebrate gods love and grow closer to our creator. The answer to all the arguments is simple FOLLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT. Or choose to ignore it. God gave us the will to follow him or go our own way. It’s not complicated or hard to do but we all choose our path to follow. Again - small is the door and few will find it. Many reject the gifts god offers. Be alert and seek wisdom. Or go your own way. As ministers we are held accountable for our actions and teachings and our leadership. Just follow the Holy Spirit. God will bless you. You will receive his love and god will reaffirm you in your path. I have seen gods beauty I feel my love for the Holy Spirit I let the Holy Spirit guide me. I seek gods gifts as promised. I accept the path set before my according to my fathers path. I choose this path because my holy father has shown me his love and beauty. God has proven to me all I need to know to believe in his son and to accept forgiveness thru the sacrifice of Jesus. I can’t force any person to accept gods will. But I can share the word and teach the word as god has instructed us to do so. For the last time I say FOLLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT. LET IT FLOW THRU YOU ALWAYS. THATS GODS GIFT TO US

Thomas George-Gilmore

Just for starters, am not an American am a Brit but it's the same here. Now it's easy for someone like me to somewhat dodge this because, I am an Atheist and never really go to Church etc. I can't leave religion when I never joined in the first place. But my theory is that because of all the hate, all the capriciousness, all the gaslighting, all the hypocrisy that comes with the church and blasphemy no longer being a criminal offence, people can now think freely for themselves. And in this secular, liberal yet equally multifaith world, people these days are able to leave the church on their own free will.

William I. Hegeman

Religion is empty if faith and belief fail to support communities and individuals.
Belief is empty when hypocrisy and maliciousness goes against people's reality. Faith as a requirement to bypass critical thinking to accept symbolic reality as a substitution for reality as people live it. When faith fails to manifest a better reality, and belief fails when its objectives fail, why follow what hurts you, mentally, physically and spiritually?

Religion fails when it doesn't build and supports a healthy community.

I wrote a paper that I wanted to present at an ecumenical pagan conference.
https://archonstone.wordpress.com/2023/04/11/tribes-for-the-future-a-pagan-perspective/ Tribes for the future, a pagan perspective.

Even amongs paganst who by most accounts view their faith and practice as a means for self empowerment. Yet we are all subject to millenias of destruction tribes. communities, multi-generational families and even socially into incrementally smaller cliques. We destroyed our communities. We say we have communities, but our social intelligence is massiviely stunted. We cannot recognize the absolutely low level of thinking of what is needed in a tribe where support can be found in families, internal societies and the structures of culture, and lastly trust in eldership and leaders, and how they are built created and the how and why of them being trusted.

We are isolated and trust no group, because we trust no leadership. Even in consensus culture, the manipulative emotional leader ends up controlling the group, and gravitates toward the social norm of sociopaths manipulating groups. Even pagans are being more solitary and secular in my observation. And because they have come from this socialized abuse of churches and surround communities, they are ripe for low grade sociopaths due to their unresolved victimologies. Two or Three generations of pagan self empowerment, they too become more and more isolated and as usual avoid big religious groups, not trust leaders, and out of pain and further social isolation, don't socialize or commune as much. While pagan conventions, conferences and festivals, there is the social contract of community, and restores ones beliefs or the sense of awe in ritual, but find classes more about personal empowerment and personal ways of interacting with the world. Yet, we don't have the tools to integrate in society, much less reconciliate our interactions with people in localized groups much less society as a whole. To do that we have to create tribes consciously rebuilding the empowerment, trust, leadership and wisdom of multigenerational families and organizations.

As to those hypocrites who sin in all things, yet believe they are washed blameless, whether evangelical or calvinist, I leave them this verse Mark 3:28-29
28Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: 29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation. The argument is that this is for those who haven't accepted Jesus, you can't blaspheme the Holy Spirit until you do.

Jesus's Ministry wasn't with the churches and synagogues. It was with the publicans and sinners. Not with the pious hypocrites, but those who acknowledged their flaws.

As Edward Gibbons showed how the version of christianity that survived was due to the sect that survived by ratting out the other sects because they made provisions for the poor, the sick, the widowed and indigint, so proconsuls can destroy and murder those groups, for lucure to provision their military campaigns, that part of christian ministry that Jesus created was also systematically destroyed.

What churches failed to protect and provide for even in this country back in the 1830's cities had to enact social reforms to provide to those who immigrated back into the cities, as the publicans and sinners of old. Then we removed those programs today, by these same church and politics that is destroying the churches today from within.

The Unitarian Universalist church in Schenectady NY was built by Atheists who supported Logical Humanism, and lost members when they brought in a conservative minister. CUUPS that was thriving there as well support for education of other religions went away, as well as their members. That was over 30 years ago.

Trying to build a community on love, trust and spirituality, instead of blind faith in dogma is difficult. This because we have a cumulative distrust over the past thousands of years where it has gotten much worse over the past 60 years.
We have to do what is right and do it consistently and build leaders we can trust from within a community, not from bringing them from without. People who have a vested interest in their community and their families. This will take decades, and we need to start now.

Archonstone linktr.ee/archonstone

Rev. Jim Sutton

Millennials and Gen-Zers blame everybody else for their problems (because Millennials and Gen-Zers don't take responsibility). Therefore, if everyone is at fault and as long as they avoid them, why do they need God to protect and save them? That mentality can be seen in some of the responses in the article itself.

Jennifer Sue Jackson

If religious leaders and their financiers would quit using fear as a means of control, and start focusing on faith, they might have a better chance of getting the younger generations invested. No one wants to be told they are going to hell if they don't behave, or be guilted into giving part of their income when most people are barely hanging on. Try a different tactic. Like maybe love and hope and being good to your fellow humans.

Daniel Mears

I get it , pain and sorrow, praying and getting silence hurts but I tell you this, there is power in the Word of God! Most folks just haven't read the Bible enough to grasp the power within...just my 2 cents..therealmbydanielmears.com

Lisa Ann Apynys

As ministers we need to meet people where they are spiritually and reconceptualize a rather outdated model that doesn't encourage spiritual evolution. I was raised within the Catholic faith and masses were boring, robotic and uninspired, not to mention there was no real emphasis on having a close, personal relationship with Yeshua. And in these modern times, women are still excluded from the priesthood, disenfranchising the younger generation.

Matthew Mastrogiovanni

People are waking up to how evil the Abrahamic faiths are.