Are young people more resistant to Christianity?

Question

That's what the Barna Group, a Christian polling organization, says.

http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrow&BarnaUpdateID=280

Excerpt:

"The study shows that 16- to 29-year-olds exhibit a greater degree of criticism toward Christianity than did previous generations when they were at the same stage of life. In fact, in just a decade, many of the Barna measures of the Christian image have shifted substantially downward, fueled in part by a growing sense of disengagement and disillusionment among young people. 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."

So. What do you think? Do you think it's true? Are you in that age group, or know people who are? If it's true or false, why do you think that?

Answer 1

Speaking as a 20ish christian myself...I think they would be because this is a more free generation who thinks more for themselves and not just what they've been told. And what we see are psycho christians hating gay people (who some of us are good friends with), in front of abortion clinics and just being crazy. So why would they have a good view of christianity when that's the type of christians they see?

Answer 2

Today's young people are growing up in an era which has so many tools to question things, as well as, an era in which to be different is seen to be cool.

Their resistance to Christianity is not any more intense than to say fore example to eating Oatmeal in the morning for breakfast. They find it fashionable to resist. There is hardly any substance to that immediate reaction. We did that too when we were teenagers but perhaps in different ways.

I am sure that this problem is true of other religions too. Christianity is not alone. I would not worry. We should trust in the basic foundations of our religions which will eventually bring these kids back to the fold when they are ready. Another word, we should, "keep the faith!"

Answer 3

One can only hope. It is a small step in the right direction, if it is actually true. However I do not trust any studies done by Christians about Christians.

Answer 4

Christianity is on the decline. I know they don't like to hear it but it's true. Paganism is the fastest growing religion in America and Islam the world. Where do you think these "converts" are coming from? If Christianity does not adapt to modern science, it will die from ignorance.
TD all you want, but truth is truth.
*takes a bow for Universal ;)

Answer 5

Good. Young people have more access to a wider variety of viewpoints. Let them decide these things for themselves, without coercion from parents or other authority figures.

Answer 6

I am 15 years old, Lutheran, Christian and I feel called to become a Pastor. I try to lead by example for my friends and some have followed.

It all depends.

God bless.

Answer 7

I guess they see more and more of science and technology so it makes no sense to them to beleive in thousand of year old peices of paper and few fundamentalist crazymen insisting on taking world back to the stoneage.

Answer 8

I think that younger people have more opportunities now to question parts of their religious upbringing their parents could not have without fear of retaliation.

Answer 9

I can only hope it is true. It is eventual. The more and more educated we get the less and less people will be religious.

Answer 10

They are more resistant because it is part of rebellion against the parents. Some people just never grow up.