Outside of the obvious, like the fact that social networking, e-mail, etc. provide “instant community” that could be found in church, the internet also provides a semi-safe haven for people to anonymously share their beliefs and ideas with the world. Someone tentatively floats an idea about not believing in X or Y religious tenant and they can find many who will validate their beliefs. Relativism increases, desire to be “told what to believe” decreases. In addition, media shares religious transgressions at a super-fast rate – and allows for readers to comment (and share their thoughts with the entire readership).

Would you be willing to share this post in a resource library for youth pastors? I believe I commented earlier as well. We’d love to partner with you, and it’d be a great way to get the word out about your own site too. http://www.calledtoyouthministry.com/resources

Let me know what you think–thanks so much!!

• Divorce and Mixed Faith Marriages: When two parents go to two different churches, or one goes to church and the other doesn’t, chances are that their kids will not go to church.
• The secularization of Churches: Non-Denominational Churches are pulling people away from the more traditional denominations (this happened to me while in college, but I soon found the message of the non-denominational church to be watered down)
• I think the fact that stores and restaurants are opened on Sundays may also be contributing to the dwindling church-rate. Businesses aren’t allowed to make only the Atheists work on Sundays.
• I think for Catholics,ignorance of their Faith is a big part of it. Too many Catholics don’t know their faith and when they leave for these non-Denominational Churches or just leave, they are not afraid to share with the world all sorts of things that Catholics do not actually believe.

I don’t think there is any one answer to why Church attendance is dwindling. Some blame it on Hollywood, the Music Industry, and MTV, but I think it comes back to the family. Broken homes are a big problem these days.