Why Young People Leave the Church

Young people need to be given a worldview that answers the hard questions, not one that masks over questions with moralism and fun.

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[TrakeM]

Here's an idea. Teach them to follow objective evidence and demand objective evidence for claims made. Teach them how to do research. Teach them how to examine why they believe what they believe. If that doesn't lead them to your religion, then your religion wasn't worth following anyways.

[droidstanater]

I know that this brief video is not intended to be comprehensive but I would add two additional reasons why young people leave the church: (1) Because there is a divorce between the relationship of church and home. In many cases believing parents functionally assume that the church is to take primary responsibility for the discipleship of their children. This leads many parents, especially, dad's to take a passive approach to the discipline and instruction of their children. Assuming the church will do everything for your kids while doing nothing at home is like exercising twice a week and eating unhealthy 7 days a week. It's not going to work. I think churches should see their primary task as equipping parents to disciple their children and only secondarily to come alongside parents in that endeavor.
(2) Because their parents made youth sports/extracurricular activities a higher priority than the local church. Kids who grow up constantly being driven by their parents from one sporting event to another, missing the gathered worship and fellowship of the local church, are being discipled by their parents to value sports, activities, and entertainment above the church. When kids "leave" the church, they are reaping the fruit that their parents sowed long before.

[cayereneeorquina]

based on my experience, I grew catholic pretty much raised by my religious mom, from an early age I know God was real and the only thing I knew is that as long as you strive on keeping the commandments, confessing your sins to the Lord, going to church and praying the rosary what makes me a christian, but later on I drifted away since I feel like a hypocrite, the more I want to keep the law I would constantly sinned against God which eventually leads to condemnation, justifying the things I have done wrong in order to escape the guilt. That is when I step back and went away. Because God was kind to me, He knew I was lost and I just didn't know where to go so long story short, I go back to Him but this time knowing He was going to be my life anymore, and through relationship with Jesus and relying on His grace, I would be able to conquer all things through Him. Since then I always experience His presence and power that I could no longer go back to the way I use to be, His love is addicting :)