Childhood Experience Bearing Adult Fruit

Tuesday November 17, 2009 ~ 3 Comments

New research coming out of the Barna Group sought to get some insight to a questions many of us ask. "What is the connection between childhood faith and adult religious commitment?"

From the Barna Update,

The survey asked adults to think back on their upbringing and to describe the frequency of their involvement in Sunday school or religious training. The Barna researchers then compared those reported early-life behaviors with the respondents' current levels of faith activity and faith durability.

So, what did the research reveal? here are some quotes from the report.

More than eight out of every 10 adults remembers consistently attending Sunday school or some other religious training before the age of 12.
Adults recall their church involvement as teenagers as less frequent than their participation as children.

...

Among the most active as children were Catholics (86%), upscale adults (78%), Midwesterners (76%), notional Christians (75%), college graduates (75%), women (73%), political conservatives (73%), and those ages 65-plus (73%). The least likely population segments to have attended Sunday school or other religious programming as children were atheists and agnostics (35%), people associated with faiths other than Christianity (52%), Asians (53%), unchurched adults (56%), 18- to 25-year-olds (59%), never-married adults (60%), Hispanics (61%), and residents of the West (63%).

The types of Americans most likely to recall religious participation as teenagers were evangelicals (61%), those ages 65-plus (60%), born again Christians (58%), Catholics (58%), women (56%), political conservatives (56%), residents of the Midwest (56%), married adults (55%), and Protestants (54%). On the other hand, atheists and agnostics (19%), members of other faith groups (30%), unchurched adults (31%), never-married individuals (33%), economically downscale adults (40%), and men (44%) were the least likely to have frequently attended Sunday school or other religious programs during their teen years.

How did those who were plugged into Sunday School and religious instruction and children and youth remain connected to faith as adults?

The research examined four elements of adult religious commitment: attending church, having an active faith (defined as reading the Bible, praying, and attending church in the last week), being unchurched, and switching from childhood faith.

When it comes to church engagement, those who attended Sunday school or other religious programs as children or as teens were much more likely than those without such experiences to attend church and to have an active faith as adults. For instance, among those who frequently attended such programs as a child, 50% said they attended a worship service in the last week, which is slightly higher than the national average and well ahead of those who rarely or never attended children's programs. Among those who frequently attended religious programs as teenagers, 58% said they had attended a worship service in the last week. In comparison, less frequent participation as a teenager correlated with less frequent adult participation.

David Kinnaman points out that the research uncovers a correlation, between early instruction and continued adult spiritual engagement, and not causation. Yet it does provide "clarity that the odds of one sticking with faith over a lifetime are enhanced in a positive direction by spiritual activity under the age of 18." (Might I add that it is refreshing to see someone release research that explains the difference between correlation and causation.)

Head over to the Barna Group, read the entire article, and then come back here to discuss.

When we think about the mission to make disciples we obviously need to do more than provide good teaching for adults and provide a cool/fun atmosphere for the young ones. What might this mean more specifically as we consider how the church teaches children and youth, and develops parents who are capable of discipling their own children working in partnership with the church?

Posted on November 17, 2009 at 9:38 AM ~ 3 Comments

Tagged with: barna, family

3 Comments

By Virgil on November 17, 2009 8:54 PM

It seems to me the most immediately recognizable trend is that we as Americans and parents (I'm both) are teaching our kids to love the law. Almost as if we're modern Pharisees. Are we teaching the next generation that church is a sacrament? Are we leading them back to the dangerous place where Church is a place and not a people?

My challenge as a parent (and soon to be pastor) is to keep the line between “going to church” and “being the church” very clear. They are much more susceptible to the “program-driven” climate of the modern church service than parents are. When they begin looking forward to playing in the kids’ area rather than hearing the Word, I have a long road in front of me. While the task of teaching them to love the Word is daunting, it’s essential that we do it now in their formative years so they don’t turn into teens and adults who become consumers.

Bring back the flannel graphs! (Kidding) But perhaps our flash and flair in kids’ ministry has come at the expense of substance and truth. How do we get back?

By Andrew Noble on November 18, 2009 12:45 PM

This topic is always a confusing one.

So programs correlate to maturation of faith - so do programs continue as these kids grow up? I'm part of a "student church" at a University that simply throws services weekly in order to convert, but there's no focus on discipleship and frankly - not a lot of converts.

But what creates more disciples? Programs? Sunday school? Bible studies? Small groups? Should our focus include more programs? Train more leaders? In my culture students are always busy with studying and from their perspective maturing in their faith could come at the cost of their marks.

It's not about programs, it's about people. But with no programs, there's only people and books.

I'm not using this as an excuse, but to simply join the confusing conversation. I really do believe that it is nothing but the work of the Holy Spirit that continues to mature believers and grow disciples around me. And that's not spiritualizing it all... it's just the way it is.

By Polarbear on November 23, 2009 3:31 PM

I liked the article and the information and data presented were intriguing, but I am left wanting more. The stats on "going to church" are ok, but I would like to see that broken down into things they did as children and teens and more importantly what do they remember their parents doing. The fact that parents took their kids to church is nice, but what did their parents do during the rest of week. That is the key. My children watch and emulate me (the good, the bad and the ugly). However, if I am consistently living a God-honoring life, I feel that this will be reflected in my children for the rest of their lives. My children may not live exactly as I do, but that foundation will be laid. That is the causation that I would like to see and I hope that Barna or someone will dig deeper into these numbers.