Ministry News

Millennial Generation Less Engaged Spiritually

Details: Tuesday, 04 May 2010 11:36

Younger Americans are spiritual, but few are actively engaged with spiritual disciplines such as weekly church attendance, Bible study and prayer, according to a new study by LifeWay Research. The study, which surveyed Americans born between 1980 and 1991—referred to as the “Millennial” generation—found that while two-thirds of Millennials identify themselves as Christians, most have different spiritual habits than older generations.

More than two-thirds of Millennials—65 percent—say they rarely or never pray with others. Some 31 percent pray by themselves at least once a day, but 20 percent never pray at all.

About 34 percent of the younger generation does read the Bible or other sacred texts at least once a month. Even more—67 percent—say they never or rarely read the Bible or other sacred texts. Of those that do read regularly, 21 percent do so at least once a week and 8 percent do so regularly.

One quarter of the Millennial generation attends weekly worship services, but two-thirds rarely attend worship services of any kind. Almost as many—20 percent—attend a small group to study the Bible or other sacred texts at least once a month, but the other 80 percent rarely or never do.

"The research shows us that religion and its practices are decreasing and becoming increasingly privatized among the Millennial generation," said Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources. "With fewer people attending worship services or praying with other faith adherents, it is not surprising that the religious landscape of our culture is changing with the maturation of the Millennials." [lifeway.com, 4/26/10]

Subscribe to Ministry Today magazine

Comments

+1 #6 Quantrel Brown 2010-05-06 08:58

The church has already sacraficed it morals and ethics for the sake of not offending, attracting and keeping young people interested as seen in recent sexual, unethical and immoral behavior displayed by young pastors and church leaders. The things going on in churches today are horrible. No discipline, no accountability and immaturity in our pulpits is shameful. A novice should never be put in office no matter what age they are and we are overrun with novices. The disciplines of studying the word, living holy and prayer are not optional to the Christian life. As a matter of fact it seems that the only religious group that has a problem following its books laws is Christians. How in the world can you serve someone you don't know? You can't serve God on your own terms. You can hardly tell the difference between Christians and non Christians any more. We are to be lights in the world not friends of the world. Commit to Christ and die to your own ideas.

Quote

0 #5 ALBERT WISEMAN 2010-05-05 03:16

Millenials are in fact not involved in hedonistic individualistic Christianity. They are drawn to smaller more meaningful gatherings of believers, less impressed by "The business of church" and more concerned to have real personal relationships which they are not afforded especially in mega churches, of which American Christians are so proud.
Expressing community in the mutual concern for one another and voluntarily going to depressed and difficult nations to practically assist, appeals more to them, than simply sitting and watching the " Platform Team " worship God on their behalf, or at worst simply perform every Sunday. At the same time shelling our massive amounts for buildings and other personal visions of an individual who may well default on them financially and spiritually does not appeal to them.
Millenials are vitally connected to Jesus but find that HIs "friends " dont reflect the fact that they have been with Him!!

Quote

0 #4 Dave Rowe 2010-05-04 17:04

So, where's the surprise here? This privatizing of discipleship, as if we could follow Jesus merely on our own terms with our own designer spirituality, is merely the exacerbation of that good ol' American individualism on which vast sectors of American Christianity have engorged themselves. It's a culturally comfortable alternative to authentic community in Christ, the latter being a "life together" (ala Bonhoeffer) in which forgiven sinners learn give up selfish interest and give themselves over to "honor others above yourself" in true submission to Christ and his agenda of honest love.

Quote

0 #3 Jennifer B 2010-05-04 14:17

Intergenerational inconsistencies have ALWAYS existed; I am a GenXer. I am a pastor's daughter, steeped in organization, "church theory", and how it's always been done. I do not fault Millenials at all for their focus on a PERSONAL relationship with Christ. We should all strive for that. However, what the predecessors of this group should understand is that NOBODY should remain static in "church" and how it gets done. Shifts HAVE to be made or the church becomes what it was in Europe at the split of the Eastern and Western branches of the Catholic church: irrelevant, religious in its traditions, and powerless to affect the nations in any influential way. Most mainstream American churches are so blind to this that they don't even recognize they are on the door step to extinction-we are swiftly becoming a dinosaur and if we don't adapt we will die! Talk with them and get input; find out what makes them tick and work them into the fabric of your congregation! ADAPT OR DIE!

Quote

0 #2 ALBERT WISEMAN 2010-05-04 10:32

Millenials in the USA, as referred to here, are for the most part people who were bought up with church, sunday school, and church attendance., and often Christian School
Since the results for them of church attendance are minimal they tend to do other things that encourage and release spiritual life to them.
They need opportunity to participate and not simply spectate a weekly music presentation followed by a pep talk They can get that from tv at home ,in bed if, needed..
They are not used to receiving input in the regular environment of a Sunday morning church service, but respond to more personal input opportunities and sharing.
Reading the Bible, which most of them have on their phone or i-pod, is something they frequently do. without following a bible reading program.
Reality, Relationship, and spontaneity are what turns them on
None of this is evident in the average church service. Hymns, hype and high organization do not fill the gap

Quote

+4 #1 Katy 2010-05-04 09:07

How can younger Americans be spiritual but not be engaged in any spiritual practice? How can someone identify themselves as Christian but have never prayed before. It seems that the majority of Millenials are more of cultural Chrsitians than anything else.

Quote

Refresh comments list
RSS feed for comments to this post