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Something is happening in America’s religious climate and many churches are feeling it. Whether they are acutely aware of it, or willing to undergo the fundamental changes needed to respond, is another matter.

I just read a study from the Pew Report on Religion and Public Life which points to a significant change happening among the younger generation of the western world. 

The study shows that young people are less likely to be connected to a church or organized religion, but they are just as likely to be as spiritually inclined as their parents and grandparents were at the same age.

Here are a few things the Pew Forum study revealed (For entire study, and article visit CNN, and Pew Forum):

• Study looks at religion of so-called millennial generation, those age 18-29
• One in four American millennials — which it defined as those who were born after 1980 and came of age around the millennium — are not affiliated with any faith tradition.
• Two in three millennials said that they believe in God
• They are slightly more supportive than their elders of government efforts to protect morality, as well as somewhat more comfortable with involvement in politics by churches and other houses of worship.

While growing numbers of people are unaffiliated, it’s not necessarily a sign that they’re committed secularists,” said Greg Smith, a senior researcher at the Pew Forum. “We’re seeing among young people that there are ways of practicing faith and being religious outside of belonging to a religious organization or attending services.”

This is something that I sort of sensed over the past few years, but wasn’t sure if it was actually happening.  A big reason I started this blog, was because of personal experiences w/the limits of religious life, and a gut feeling, that much of traditional Christianity seemed to be losing its relevance in the lives of some who genuinely were interested in God, but just didn’t want all that other stuff.

I noticed that some of my friends were spiritual, or had some interest or belief in God, but didn’t have the background in organized religion like I had.  This gap in familiarity, among other factors, often seemed to cause them to be wary of church life.  And in all honesty, I couldn’t totally fault them.

I think this study may also speak to those who are familiar with aspects of religion, but, again, just have an issue with the extra stuff…

“Church is difficult because young people today want to engage actively,” Hill said. “They just want to experience God.”

There needed, and still needs to be more non-threatening spaces where the spiritually curious can meet to discover, have conversations surrounding the quest for truth, and organize around socially conscious efforts, without becoming encumbered with the forms, rituals, and distractions that “doing church” can bring.

A lot of people are past worrying about dress, having to learn Christianese, or being judged for some perceived fault or abnormality, and simply want to know if God is real.

Even for me, who grew up with a strong Christian religious tradition and now decided to critically re-examine everything for myself, I can sense the temptation to just succumb to the comfort and familiarity of what a traditional church setting can become, and ignore my responsibility to be socially relevant.

What’s interesting, is to see the ways this emerging group of seekers are finding to connect with God and each other, in new and creative ways.

I’m not anti religion.  I think life is too complex to make this an either or debate.  I’ve benefited immensely by my upbringing in a Christian home, and have my parents and community to thank for that.  There’s good and bad in just about every institution man has put its hands on.  However, I do think there is an opportunity for traditional churches, who are courageous enough, to explore where they can abandon inferior traditions and refocus on the simple core truths that began the movement, but if not, well, it seems to be happening with or without them.

I hope to explore some of these alternative groups, and share the unique spiritual experiences of this emerging demographic of more spiritual than religious folk.

Why do you think 18-30 year olds are less religious?  Are you more religious or spiritual?