Survey says youth are frustrated & skeptical of Christianity
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October 4, 2007
Survey says youth are frustrated and skeptical of Christianity A recent survey by the Barna group conducted among 16- to 29-year-olds shows that a new generation is more resistant and skeptical of Christianity than were people of the same age just a decade ago.
Researchers say as the nation’s culture changes, one of the most significant shifts is the declining reputation of Christianity, especially among young Americans.For instance, a decade ago the vast majority of Americans outside the Christian faith, including young people, felt favorably toward Christianity’s role in society. Currently, however, just 16% of non-Christians in their late teens and twenties said they have a "good impression" of Christianity.
One of the groups hit hardest by the criticism is evangelicals.
The new study shows that only 3% of 16 - to 29-year-old non-Christians express favorable views of evangelicals.
It goes on to reveal that many Christians are innately aware of this shift in people’s perceptions of Christianity:
- 91% of the nation’s evangelicals believe that "Americans are becoming more hostile and negative toward Christianity” and among senior pastors, half contend that "ministry is more difficult than ever before because people are increasingly hostile and negative toward Christianity."
- The negative perception among many young non-Christians is that “present-day Christianity is judgmental (87%), hypocritical (85%), old-fashioned (78%), and too involved in politics (75%)”.
- The most common favorable perceptions were that Christianity teaches the same basic ideas as other religions (82%), has good values and principles (76%), is friendly (71%), and is a faith they respect (55%).
Many of the negative images were also reflected among young Christians with half of young churchgoers saying they perceive Christianity to be judgmental, hypocritical, and too political. One-third said it was old-fashioned and out of touch with reality.
Interestingly, the study discovered a new image that has steadily grown in prominence over the last decade. Today, 91% of young non-Christians and 80% of young churchgoers say that present-day Christianity is "anti-homosexual."
The research showed that both young non-Christians and Christians “believe that Christians show excessive contempt and unloving attitudes towards gays and lesbians” and one of the most frequent criticisms by young Christians was that they believe the church has made homosexuality a "bigger sin" than anything else.
Moreover, they claim that the church has not helped them apply the biblical teaching on homosexuality to their friendships with gays and lesbians.
When young people were asked to identify their impressions of Christianity, one of the common themes was "Christianity is changed from what it used to be" and "Christianity in today’s society no longer looks like Jesus." these comments were mentioned by one-quarter of both young non-Christians (23%) and born again Christians (22%).
Researchers said they kept encountering young people - both those inside the church and outside of it - who said that “something was broken in the present-day expression of Christianity and while their perceptions about Christianity were not always accurate, researchers pointed out that they were surprised by “the severity of young people’s frustration with Christians and by how frequently young born again Christians expressed some of the very same comments as young non-Christians."
The study also showed a “significant migration away from the dominant role that Christianity has had in America”. In other words the “proportion of those outside Christianity is growing with each generation”.
The Barna update pointed out that this is “not a passing fad wherein young people will become more Christian as they grow up” and “while Christianity remains the typical experience and most common faith in America, a fundamental recalibration is occurring within the spiritual allegiance of America’s upcoming generations”.
Yet, the study shows that millions of young outsiders have significant experience with Christians and Christian churches.
The typical young unbeliever says they have five friends who are Christians; more than four out of five have attended a Christian church for a period of at least six months in the past; and half have previously considered becoming a Christian. It went on to say “older generations dismiss the criticism of those who are outsiders” but the research showed that “young leaders and young Christians are more aware of and concerned about the views of unbelievers because “they are more likely to be schoolmates, colleagues, and friends."
Researchers also said they were surprised how much of young people’s perceptions were rooted in specific stories and personal interactions with Christians and in churches.
When they labeled Christians as judgmental it was frequently the result of a truly ‘unchristian’ experience.
The survey also said that Christians “fear the changing reputation of Christianity and it certainly represents an uncomfortable future but “rather than being defensive or dismissive, we should learn from critics, especially those young Christians who are expressing consternation about the state of faith in America”. It went on to say that “Jesus told us to expect hostility and negative reactions…but the issue is what we do with it. Is it a chance to defend yourself and demand your rights? Or is it an opportunity to show people grace and truth? Common ground is becoming more difficult to find between Christians and those outside the faith. When the apostle Paul advises believers to live wisely among those who are not Christians' and to let your conversation be gracious and effective, (Colossians 4:5-6, NLT) he could be writing no better advice to committed Christians in America."
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