Expert: Brenda Martin - 2/11/2006

Question
Hi! I am doing an assignment which requires me to conduct surveys and interviews on my topic, which is the apparent lack of faith, and for that matter, any interest at all in anything to do with christianity by todays youth.. Would you mind answering these few questions? I would really appreciate it.

1. How do you think today's youth view religion and the church?

2. Why do you think that Christianity is seen as ‘uncool' by teenagers?

3. What do you think needs to change to make the church and Christianity more appealing to young people?

4. Do you think the number of young people practising Christianity has declined?  Why?

5. In your experience, what makes a person want to come to church?

6. Do you think that Christian schools constantly preaching their faith to children and teenagers is a good thing, or in the long run does it just turn them off?

7. Do you think that parents should be dragging their teenagers to church, whether they want to go or not?

8. Why does the church think that young people need to be educated about the Christian faith and attend church?  Surely it is up to them to decide?

9. Do you think religion is an essential part of a wholesome and fulfilling life?  Why?

Thank you so much for this. This is a wonderful site too; I'm so glad I stumbled upon it!

Answer
Hi Kathleen you asked--"1. HOW DO YOU THINK TODAY'S YOUTH VIEW RELIGION AND THE CHURCH?"

For most of them, mainstream religions do not inspire confidence. In France, for instance, the majority of youngsters think that religion is a dividing factor in the world. In addition, it is not uncommon to find youths who feel the way 15-year-old Judith, a Catholic from Spain, does. She said: “I don't agree with what the church says on morality.” Similarly, 20-year-old Joseph, from Taiwan, finds religion “too traditional.”

The variety of religious beliefs is such that young people can pick ideas to suit their tastes. Few believe that only one religion has a monopoly on truth. With young people picking at will, the difference between their religious beliefs is becoming less distinct. Thus, sociologists now talk about a “progressive wiping out” or “general erosion” of formal creeds.

2. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT CHRISTIANITY IS SEEN AS ‘UNCOOL' BY TEENAGERS?

Religions are finding it a challenge to attract youths. A French priest asked of the crowds attending the Catholic World Youth Days festival in Paris: “Where do these young ones come from? I've got no youths in my churches. I never see them.” In its quest to attract and keep youths' attention, the Catholic Church is having to "change its presentation and its packaging".

Churches today are out of touch with young people, and feeling the need to adapt, many religions are becoming catchall faiths. I left my church when I was 16 because nothing it said made sense and it didn't tell me anything I found interesting as a youth.

3. WHAT DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO CHANGE TO MAKE THE CHURCH AND CHRISTIANITY MORE APPEALING TO YOUNG PEOPLE?

While presentation is important, food has to be nourishing. Young people's questions about the meaning of life require spiritually nourishing answers. The attractive but empty replies that youths are served do not satisfy them.

I left my church because it didn't answer my questions, I wanted to know; “why God allows wickedness” where do we go when we die, and so on. So I left and found a religion that DOES answer all of my questions, using the bible.

4. DO YOU THINK THE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE PRACTISING CHRISTIANITY HAS DECLINED?  WHY?

The number of young ones going to church has declined yes, but the number of youths turning to TRUE Christianity has increased. Here is what one young person said in this regard--.

“The more I read the Bible, the more I was disgusted with the hypocrisy of some of the religious leaders and the immoral life-style of many of the laity. What I saw among those professing to be Christian was so different from what Jesus and his disciples taught and did.”

The youth had Jehovah's Witnesses at her school and this is what she noted about them—“It was obvious that the Witnesses were different in their conduct and attitude. They were not involved in the immoral and violent activities of other youths in school. To me, they were really separate from the world, as I had read in the Bible that those who practice true religion should be.—John 17:14-16; James 1:27.

The Times.  “said that the Church failed to connect with their life,” the paper observed. British society is living off “a dwindling supply of spiritual and moral capital,” asserted cardinal Basil Hume, the Roman Catholic archbishop of Westminster. What has caused this drain? “A Famine of the Word of God,” headlined the Catholic Herald. It stated: “At Mass we are read extracts from the Old and New Testaments, but are rarely, if ever, given their context. . . . Lives of the saints and various books of spiritual reflection are fine, but they are not adequate as a key to unlock the Scriptures.” This article concluded that a “modern, biblical presentation with a pastoral goal” is lacking

5. IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHAT MAKES A PERSON WANT TO COME TO CHURCH?

In my experience as a person who has left church and became one of Jehovah's Witnesses, I can see it from both sides. I left church because it didn't answer my questions and it was full of hypocrisy, the leaders themselves not leading very good lives, some of them even being homosexuals.

I went to Jehovah's Witnesses because they use the bible for everything and all of my questions have been answered and there is NO hypocrisy, everyone tries to apply bible truths in their lives and my reliigon is packed full of youths, with more coming in every day.

In a letter to the Lincolnshire Boston Target, a reader said: “People are losing their faith in religions . . . What do these church ministers do all day? They certainly do not go out like Christ did and meet the people . . . The only religion that seems to care are the Jehovah's Witnesses, who go out and meet people and are genuinely involved in preaching the truth—they invite you to come to their services, they talk about and do something about environmental matters. I am not a JW, but I do respect these people and I listen to them.”

6. DO YOU THINK THAT CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS CONSTANTLY PREACHING THEIR FAITH TO CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS IS A GOOD THING, OR IN THE LONG RUN DOES IT JUST
TURN THEM OFF?

If they were preaching the correct things (from the bible) in the correct manner the kids would love it and want to know more, as it is, Schools teach the same as the churches and yes, kids want to turn them off, and I dont blame them.

For instance if they discussed topics that youths wants answers for, such as;—“Why don't my parents understand me?' ‘Should I give drugs and alcohol a try?' ‘What about sex before marriage?' ‘How do I know if it's real love?' ‘What does the future hold for me?' I bet they would want to hear more and be surprised the bible discusses such things. These are the kind of subjects discussed with the youths in my religion.

7. DO YOU THINK THAT PARENTS SHOULD BE DRAGGING THEIR TEENAGERS TO CHURCH, WHETHER THEY WANT TO GO OR NOT?

I believe parents should do what they think is best for their youths, my mother dragged me along and although I found it wasn't the truth, I appreciate what she did, as at least it kept my mind on God and off other things. Parents have the right to impose their beliefs on their kids, that's what being a parent is all about, however when the kid is old enough to make up its own mind, then the Parents must let them choose whether they want to go to church or not.

8. WHY DOES THE CHURCH THINK THAT YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND ATTEND CHURCH?  SURELY IT IS UP TO THEM TO DECIDE?

I will ask you a simple question that was once asked of me,” would you say you know more now, than you did when you were say 10?”Of course you do, well it is logical to assume then that older people know more than youths is it not? These people who say “young people need to be educated” were once young people themselves, so they are speaking from knowledge and experience that youths have yet to learn.

I know as a youth, if my parents had allowed me to “decide” everything for myself, I would be “up the creek without a paddle” (as they say here)

On the other hand I don't believe taking youths to church will change anything because the churches are corrupt, with leaders who are hypocritical, youths see through people very easily and they would see the hypocrisy and double standards and not want to go to church anyway.

So I too believe "Youths need to be educated" but not about church, about God and his purpose as it involves them.

I would (and have done) take my youths along to my religion (JW's) because I believe it means, nothing short of their life, I feel sorry for youths who get dragged along to church however as there is nothing there to interest them. Also the difference is; God doesn't want people to go to church (believe it or not) he does on the other hand want and command us to come to his true faith.

9. DO YOU THINK RELIGION IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF A WHOLESOME AND FULFILLING LIFE?  WHY?

Most definitely, when it is practiced correctly and according to the scriptures, it is the most fulfilling life you could imagine, but sadly the majority of religions are false and don't apply bible priciples so they will make no impact on peoples lives. In fact 70% of all wars today are caused by religion, so going to church is not giving people a wholesome and fulflling life.

We were created to serve our Creator, it is inbiult in us, the majority of people today go to church and think they are “serving God” but in fact they are not, because he is disgusted with the churches and their hypocrisy and tells us in the bible to “get out”(rev 18;4)

I hope one day you chat to a Jehovah's Witness and you will see why our Kingdom Hall is jam packed with youths.

All the best
Brenda (Scotland)