Why millennials are leaving the church

[Rawb]

I am thinking that millenials are the generation that has been born since about1995. Would that be correct?

No, Millenials are those of us born from about 1980 to 199…2-3ish. There are no set rules on when one generation begins and another ends, IIRC.

The blogger wrote, ( the blogger, not me):
"young adults perceive evangelical Christianity to be too political, too exclusive, old-fashioned, unconcerned with social justice and hostile to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people."

"obsession with sex can make Christian living seem like little more than sticking to a list of rules"

“We want our LGBT friends to feel truly welcome in our faith communities.”

Now what are Millenials who go to Orthodoxy or Catholicism going to find? Lots of rules about sex. And a moral theology that teaches homosexual tendencies are intrinsically disordered. What they are looking for (according to the blogger) is not something they will find in the “high church” experience. Not even in the Anglican communion, as long as they’re sticking to “high church”.

So maybe they aren’t doing enough Googling, I don’t know.

Your comment about the Anglicans certainly doesn’t correspond to my knowledge of Anglicans. The higher the church the more ‘tolerant’ they are, IME, unless you’re talking about specifically Anglo-Catholics, who are forming their own church anyway basically.

Some millenials may mean by that that they want free reign sexually. However I know many kids my age who are very religious but could say any one of those things. When we talk to older people about topics like homosexuality they freak out. They act like there is no greater abomination than the very idea of it. They want their government to legislate it. They don’t want ‘those people’ anywhere near their church or children.

Our generation doesn’t see it that way. Homosexuality is just another sin, and we hope that our friends who are gay will come to realize its sinfulness in the loving and supportive community of our church. To most of us the government is a secular, non-religious institution and so can say whatever it wants about whatever it calls ‘marriage.’ If the secular government is instituting privileges to the people it ‘marries’ then it is only fair to extend those privileges to anyone. We don’t see the government OK’ing gay ‘marriage’ as any threat or very interesting. The American government is so far removed from Christianity that many of the devout Christians my age figure that war is done, or shouldn’t have been a battle in the first place. We don’t see any point in trying to force morality onto the people through legislation, we’re more focused on converting the individual right now. The country should only be Christian if the people are.

But this could be the dividing issue between millenials. That would explain why some become Anglican and Roman Catholic, and others become Orthodox or MS-Lutheran. They pick a parish (not Church, parish) is going to be more accepting of their views, or they pick one which will challenge them and provide clear structure. Either way, most of the time my generation is perfectly fine with things the older generation balks at, from our perspective for no other reason than a knee-jerk reaction.

 

[ltwin]

Interesting.

Now what do we think is gonna happen when those millenials find out that the traditional denominations with the nice liturgies are diametrically opposed to many of the social issues millenials now feel good about, i.e. gay marriage etc.?

When worlds collide…:bigyikes:

They should be perfectly happy in a high church Episcopal parish with a gay/lesbian priest then. I’m sure they’ll just love all the sermons condemning bovine emissions.

It would be helpful for people to realize that many of the most “liturgical” churches are the softest on morality. Many of the most non-liturgical churches are the most stringent. “Traditional” liturgy does not equate to traditional morality.

 

[andrewstx]

They should be perfectly happy in a high church Episcopal parish with a gay/lesbian priest then. I’m sure they’ll just love all the sermons condemning bovine emissions.

It would be helpful for people to realize that many of the most “liturgical” churches are the softest on morality. Many of the most non-liturgical churches are the most stringent. “Traditional” liturgy does not equate to traditional morality.

Condemning Bovine emissions? What?

Are you trying to say bull… politely??

 

[ltwin]

Your comment about the Anglicans certainly doesn’t correspond to my knowledge of Anglicans. The higher the church the more ‘tolerant’ they are, IME, unless you’re talking about specifically Anglo-Catholics, who are forming their own church anyway basically.

Yes, I believe they often call their type of Anglicanism “Affirming Catholicism” (i.e. progressive Anglo-Catholicism). It’s true, they affirm everything and everyone: women’s ordination, homosexality, etc.

 

[ltwin]

Condemning Bovine emissions? What?

Are you trying to say bull… politely??

“When atmospheric warming, due in part to the methane output of the millions of cows we raise each year to produce hamburger, begins to slowly drown the island homes of our neighbors in the South Pacific, are we truly sharing good news?”

This was written by a liturgical Protestant. It’s in the link. As I said, I’m sure many millennials who are dying for a liturgical church that will make them feel good and inclusive and tolerant and just perfect the way they are will love the Episcopal Church. Such great sermons.

 

[Razanir]

I think I’m a millennial (90s kid), and I’m certainly a cradle Catholic. My opinion: It’s nice having the liturgy. It’s nice to know that no matter where you are, at home, at a secular summer camp (Boy Scouts), at college, or on vacation, it will be the same. The biggest differences are the settings used and the fact they only consecrate exactly enough host at camp.

Oh, and I completely understand the sentiment in the article that people actually like tradition. My Newman Center is getting a new building to replace its labyrinthine 60s architecture, and we actually want a neo-Gothic building.

 

[acarlson]

Interesting.

Now what do we think is gonna happen when those millenials find out that the traditional denominations with the nice liturgies are diametrically opposed to many of the social issues millenials now feel good about, i.e. gay marriage etc.?

When worlds collide…:bigyikes:

Well, given my experience in college (and as you see with people in general, like here on the forum). . . a lot of them stay but continue to “strive for change” within the church. Some unfortunately leave back for the “gay-friendly” churches, misunderstanding what the Catholic church teaches to begin with. Some who stay eventually realize that the Church is right and change their views.

 

[pablope]

No, Millenials are those of us born from about 1980 to 199…2-3ish. There are no set rules on when one generation begins and another ends, IIRC.

Yperspective for no other reason than a knee-jerk reaction.

Wait a minute…I thought Millenials were those who believed in the Rapture?

What is meant by Millenial?

 

[jimmy]

Wait a minute…I thought Millenials were those who believed in the Rapture?

What is meant by Millenial?

Your probably thinking of milleniarianism, which taught that Christ would return and reign here in earth for a thousand years before the end.

 

[JustaServant]

There is within evangelical churches today a desire to return to order. I read a book several years ago called “Ancient-Future Faith” by Robert Webber. Webber basis his ideas on the Episcopal model. It’s a good direction for many churches to go in. They retain their music and preaching, and at the same time get the people used to things being done “decently and in order”. My only concern (at the time still I was still a Baptist) with the movement was: will some evangelical churches take it as a kind of “worship fad”, and discard it when they grow tired of it?
There is a difference in attitude with liturgical churches and non-liturgical churches. Each group looks at liturgy (the “ritual” of the OP) differently. Liturgical churches (Catholic, Orthodox, Episcopal, Lutheran) look at liturgy as a necessity, not something we “try for a while” to see if it works. If these churches see the necessity of liturgy, there will be a change in direction for them (at least in terms of worship). If they do not, they could very well discard it and return to worshiptainment.
Only time will tell.

 

[Avdima]

Some millenials may mean by that that they want free reign sexually. However I know many kids my age who are very religious but could say any one of those things. When we talk to older people about topics like homosexuality they freak out. They act like there is no greater abomination than the very idea of it. They want their government to legislate it. They don’t want ‘those people’ anywhere near their church or children.

This closely matches my experiences

Our generation doesn’t see it that way. Homosexuality is just another sin, and we hope that our friends who are gay will come to realize its sinfulness in the loving and supportive community of our church. To most of us the government is a secular, non-religious institution and so can say whatever it wants about whatever it calls ‘marriage.’ If the secular government is instituting privileges to the people it ‘marries’ then it is only fair to extend those privileges to anyone. We don’t see the government OK’ing gay ‘marriage’ as any threat or very interesting. The American government is so far removed from Christianity that many of the devout Christians my age figure that war is done, or shouldn’t have been a battle in the first place. We don’t see any point in trying to force morality onto the people through legislation, we’re more focused on converting the individual right now. The country should only be Christian if the people are.

And this closely matches my reasoning and thinking on the subject.

 

[LisaA]

(The following message is meant to be less hostile than a 'free-from-physical-and-visual-cues medium will convey)

Do you think we’re stupid? We just happen to wander into buildings, see a pretty liturgy, and then decide we’re going to figure out what this all entails after we wipe the Chrismation oil off our forehead? We are the 'net generation for crying out loud, we know how to google.

Those millenials who are still in churches at all (aka me and my friends) are those who are searching for churches that challenge us, in practice and belief. We want stricter fasting schedules to strengthen our bodies, and solid moral teaching that doesn’t back down and thus make it appear that “No, we didn’t really believe that in the first place.”

We like organic, we like natural, we like authentic, we like roots. Contemporary services are none of the above. They’re synthetic, manufactured, pandering, and new. Technology should be new, because it is. A 2,000 year old religion should look 2,000 years old, or it comes across as grotesque as an 80 year old with a bad face lift.

I’ve heard it explained like this: We don’t want coffee from our church, we can get better coffee at a coffee house. We don’t want loud music and lights, we can get that better at a concert. We don’t want an effort to be casual because we recognize that what we’re doing when we go to Church should be important, and effected casual is see-throgh and pathetic. Everything contemporary style churches offer us are things we can get better from places that are meant to provide that, without having to be challenged morally.

Give us the ancient spirituality that is our rightful inheritance. Give us transcendence and timelessness, demands, respect for God and genuine belief. Also give us the online tithing option though, that’s just helpful.

Particularly liked your last phrase. I don’t know why it’s assumed young people want it easy or only come if there are drums and guitars and happy clappy music. I do think the young wish to be challenged, to feel a sense of “the other” not just a bad attempt to entertain.

Also I know there was a valid post about the young clashing with the Church’s views on certain social issues but don’t forget, the YOUNG PEOPLE are the ones leading the ProLife Movement. Even Cecile Richards commented when she saw a March for Life “they are all so young…” She’s seeing the death of the 1960s claptrap…do what feels good, have no standards, have no truths, worship false gods. If anything younger people are far more skeptical and want authenticity.

Lisa

 

[Midwest88]

:clapping::clapping::clapping:

I still want the coffee, though. It’s a good way to get to know our brethren. It certainly isn’t because the coffee’s better at church.

I prefer ice water with donuts (which aren’t dry and the frosting like hard crust).

 

[Midwest88]

Our generation doesn’t see it that way. Homosexuality is just another sin, and we hope that our friends who are gay will come to realize its sinfulness in the loving and supportive community of our church. To most of us the government is a secular, non-religious institution and so can say whatever it wants about whatever it calls ‘marriage.’ If the secular government is instituting privileges to the people it ‘marries’ then it is only fair to extend those privileges to anyone. We don’t see the government OK’ing gay ‘marriage’ as any threat or very interesting. The American government is so far removed from Christianity that many of the devout Christians my age figure that war is done, or shouldn’t have been a battle in the first place. We don’t see any point in trying to force morality onto the people through legislation, we’re more focused on converting the individual right now. The country should only be Christian if the people are.

But this could be the dividing issue between millenials. That would explain why some become Anglican and Roman Catholic, and others become Orthodox or MS-Lutheran. They pick a parish (not Church, parish) is going to be more accepting of their views, or they pick one which will challenge them and provide clear structure. Either way, most of the time my generation is perfectly fine with things the older generation balks at, from our perspective for no other reason than a knee-jerk reaction.

“We”? I think I meet the cut off for the millennial generation, but count me out the “we.” I was part of such thinking, the “hey whatever, it’s normal now so get with the program,” but my views have changed - for good.

The so called knee-jerk reaction (and some are knee–jerks) may seem that way, but I’ve listened, argued and read about the “bigoted” view, the “archaic” view, and what I get from it is that it’s more reasoned, more mature and has wisdom that my generation lacks greatly.

 

[Kal2012]

I am thinking that millenials are the generation that has been born since about1995. Would that be correct?

Millenials/Gen Y are from the early 1980 - 2000.

Gen X is from about early 1960’s - the early 1980’s.

Please don’t group the 1990’s kids with those of us born in the late 1970’s.

I wasn’t in middle or elementary school when OJ drove down the freeway in the White Bronco. That tends to be the cultural point that everyone mentions. (and makes me feel old when the younger adults mention where they were!)

 

[Kal2012]

No, Millenials are those of us born from about 1980 to 199…2-3ish. There are no set rules on when one generation begins and another ends, IIRC.

Actually, there’s been a lot of research done on this topic. Specific characteristics of each generation have been identified by birth year. Generations are generally about 20 years in length.

Check out William Strauss and Neil Howe (wiki as a starting point):

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strauss%E2%80%93Howe_generational_theory

Also, Stauss and Howe’s research has been expanded on by John J. Xenakis

generationaldynamics.com/ww2010.htm