More on Emerging Adults

Cup-half-full news and some inferences to be drawn.  The results of the interviews published in Souls in Transition reveal that public and private expressions of religion remain stable for 57% of Emerging Adults from five years earlier.  Thirty-seven percent show a decline and 7% an increase in what I’d characterize as “religiosity.”  It could easily be worse.

What factors correlate to the 7% of EAs whose religiosity increased from their late-teen years?  In order of declining significance: (1) coming to a personal faith commitment (duh), (2) the presence of religiously-connected and practicing parents, (3) the significant presence of other supporting religious adults, (4) sexual chastity, and (5) having others make fun of one’s religious faith (N.B., this is a positive factor).  Curious about non-factors?  Here they are: Sunday School attendance, missions trips, and attending a Christian school.

For Christian readers--get involved, seriously involved--in the religious lives of children, your own and others’ kids.  FWIW, I may even volunteer to teach catechism again.