{"id":1585,"date":"2022-07-30T10:43:22","date_gmt":"2022-07-30T15:43:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/ericbarr\/?p=1585"},"modified":"2022-07-30T10:43:22","modified_gmt":"2022-07-30T15:43:22","slug":"the-catastrophic-decline-in-religious-faith-and-what-to-do-about-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/ericbarr\/2022\/07\/the-catastrophic-decline-in-religious-faith-and-what-to-do-about-it\/","title":{"rendered":"The Catastrophic Decline in Religious Faith And What To Do About It"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

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Is That All There Is? Disaffiliation From Religion Increases<\/h2>\n

Perhaps one of the least liked of Jesus\u2019s parables is that of the wealthy man who reaps a great harvest, puts up extra barns, believes he should eat, drink and be merry, and finds himself dead that night. What a downer. I\u2019m reminded of Peggy Lee\u2019s fabulous song \u201cIs That All There Is?\u201d thinking that those would be the last words of the wealthy man.<\/p>\n

Except\u2026an awful lot of people think that is enough. They are satisfied with whatever the world can give; if they die, they die. Such is the nihilism afflicting the \u2018nones\u2019, the disaffiliated from religion folks. Statistics tell of a catastrophic decline in religious faith among those in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, but particularly among those who are younger. Each generation is less religious, and that fact is radically changing society. Most observers throw up their hands in confusion and despair, unsure why this is happening. However, the fact is we know why it is occurring. It\u2019s complicated, but we can understand.<\/p>\n

Why?<\/h2>\n

Just a few factors in this decline include lack of religious practice in childhood, disaffiliation in high school and decline of the two-parent family, pluralism in religious belief, a politically conservative identification with religion., the absence of religious experience, and the inability of religion to answer big questions.\u00a0 There are other reasons, but these are the most important.<\/p>\n

Lack of Religious Practice in Childhood<\/h2>\n