A new study by The Barna Group (Ventura, California) shows that despite strong levels of spiritual activity during the teen years, most twentysomethings disengage from active participation in the Christian faith during their young adult years. The report, issued September 11, 2006, concludes twentysomethings continue to be the most spiritually independent and faith resistant age group in America.
Barna concludes church attendance is particularly irrelevant to this age group. Most of the “spiritual” activity of young adults, such as it is, takes place outside of a traditional church congregation. Rather than attending weekly church services, twentysomethings were more likely to attend special worship events not sponsored by a local church, to participate in a spiritually oriented small group at work, to have a conversation with someone else who holds them accountable for living faith principles, and to attend a house church not associated with a conventional church.
Interestingly, there was one area in which the spiritual activities of twentysomethings outpaced their predecessors: visiting faith-related websites.
The highly respected Barna Group has been conducting and analyzing primary research to understand cultural trends related to values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors since 1984. Discovering that twentysomethings explore faith-related websites while shunning traditional church attendance is an indicator of the impact the internet may have on the evolution of the 21st century church. This trend may motivate churches to provide more online presence, access and interactivity.
I wonder why they, the twentysomethings, don’t wanna go to church anymore? Where did the value go of having fellowship and eyes to eyes relationship? Why do they/we search for online communities?
We blog out many of the things that happen in our lifes, but only things that are funny, or philosophic, or sophisticated, or weird. On the otherside we only comment, when we want to expand the blog with our even so opinion or thoughts. How can we be accountable this way, how can we be held on track, if we just share bits of our lifes?
My thought is, if we, the “older” bloggers, don’t remind the newcomers wisely and tenderly how much it means to have somebody in our life who keeps us talking about stuff that is embarrasing and privat, a society will develop with two faces a digital and a real one. As long there are bloggers and chatters who don’t use their real names, so they can say what ever they want, I wouldn’t trust such a community.
In most of the human sickness, such as any kind of addiction (drugs, sexuality, pride, money…) the only medecine that keeps us away is confession and repentance. And this can not happen digital, it has to be in real life. Although the conversation about it can start in a blog, but afterall it needs to be talked and companied by a close-by friend or pastor.
My first two years of college were spent “church hopping.” I did not regularly attend church, but was very active in various on campus organizations. It is easy for me to relate to this study. I discovered quickly that I needed church and that the multi-age group interaction of a church body was vital to my personal growth. I will not discount the need or value of being involved in a church, I can, however, relate to not being a part of one. “Twentysomething” is the age where you go to college, get married, get a career – essiantially get life on your own started. This is the age of “invincibility” – feeling like nothing bad can happen to you.
I was blessed to realize my need early on for a church family – maybe because I married young (just before I turned 21). Yet many of that age group do not recognize the need – they think that the special events or college groups will suffice. Perhaps an online presence of churches will impress this age group with the importance of fellowship beyond the annonimity of the net.
This blog has a beautiful new face….congratulations
great article! really good information, I am going to forward this to our young adults ministry at my church!