photo by marcia furman
USA Today published a short piece on how the days of overcrowded youth groups and church trips are over.
Only about one in four teens now participate in church youth groups, considered the hallmark of involvement; numbers have been flat since 1999. Other measures of religiosity — prayer, Bible reading and going to church — lag as well, according to Barna Group, a Ventura, Calif., evangelical research company. This all has churches canceling their summer teen camps and youth pastors looking worriedly toward the fall, when school-year youth groups kick in.
A few individuals guess why kids are ditching:
“Talking to God may be losing out to Facebook,” says Barna president David Kinnaman.
“I blame the parents,”who didn’t grow up in a church culture, says Jeremy Johnston, executive pastor at First Family Church in Overland Park, Kan. … “Remember, 80% of kids don’t have cars. Their parents could be lazy or the opposite — overstressed and overcommitted. If parents don’t go to church, kids don’t, either.”
Don’t forget the overcommitted teens themselves, the recession and growing competition from summer mission trips, says Rick Gage of Go-Tell Youth Camps, based in Duluth, Ga.
But then this quote sneaks in at the very end without any explanation or curiosity from the authors:
“I started to question if it was something I always wanted to do or if I just went because my friends did,” says Atkeson, now 18. “It just wasn’t really something I wanted to continue to do. My beliefs changed. I wouldn’t consider myself a Christian anymore.”
This is where I think the article would get interesting! Why did they stop there? This may be the most important issue—beyond lazy parents and facebook.
There must be more to kids leaving Christianity other than “I’m not attending church” or “I’m not going to camps with my youth group.” Many Christians often say things like, “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a mechanic.” If Christianity and faith is so much more than just attending services, then what’s causing this shift in teen commitments?
Read the Rest! Post a comment (24)What do you think about the value and benefit of keeping your thoughts clear of lust, lewd images, and fantasies? Is that a value left tot he religious? Should it be?
I read a note on facebook that struck me as rather amusing, yet at the same time naive and perhaps a bit misguided. Do you see it that way? As back-story, there is a facebook status meme floating around where you post the color of your bra in order to raise awareness about breast cancer. I think it’s silly, since we all know about breast cancer already and this won’t do anything for those with it, nor the research to end it. However, in the long run I don’t give a damn what your status message is. Apparently, though, some men don’t like it. Here’s one response:
Imagine yourself in front of a room full of every single guy you are friends with on Facebook. Imagine yourself telling each one of them what your bra color is.
Does that weird you out? Yes? Then don’t post the color of your bra in your status.Not weirded out yet? Then consider that some of the guys reading your status are glad you posted that because it helps them imagine your boobs better. Some of them are grateful to you because you have made it easier to fantasize about you.
Are you ok with that? Then realize some of your guy friends struggle with purity & DON’T WANT to know your bra color. Even if you are comfortable announcing facts about your bra to every single guy in front of you, don’t post your bra color status in consideration of those guys whose lives will be made harder because of it.
Think I am taking a joke & making a big moral issue out of it? Sorry you feel that way. You are entitled to your opinion. I am not the only one that feels this way though. Think it is all just for fun? Ok – aren’t there other ways to have fun that don’t cause your guy friends to think of your boobs?
Sincerely,
JoeBob* & a bunch of guys
Interestingly enough, there were 19 likes and 22 comments of agreement in response to this note. What do you honestly think about this young (married, if it matters) man’s reaction? Do you laugh and mock or do you admire him for his desire for a healthy thought life? What if this man was Atheist–would that make a difference to your impression?
Olin Thang on 
Cortez Frisch on 
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