The younger generations are losing their firm belief in God at a greater rate than older Americans, by and large, according to political science professor Dr. Ryan Burge – whose research focuses largely on "the interaction of religiosity and political behavior." He reports that the drop is steep among Millennials – ten points in the last 20 years; and precipitous among Gen Z – 16 points in the four years ending in 2018.
Burge is a pastor in the American Baptist Church and author of "The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, And Where They Are Going." He says according to data he's analyzed, those with certainty about God are aging out.
![Burge, Dr. Ryan](/media/vy4adbnb/ryan-burge-1.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=85&height=125&rnd=133638642247370000&format=png)
"One of the primary causes," he shares, "is actually younger people are just being born into a less religious world than [were] their parents or grandparents – and they actually only decline from there."
Burge's solution? Pastors need to make their churches a centerpiece of the community. People in the internet age, he says, are longing for a face-to-face connection.
"[Pastors] need to start thinking seriously about the church as a social organization as much, if not more so, than a religious organization," he explains to One News Now. "Because in the 21st century we're all starving for connection."
He continues: "I think churches are really well equipped and really well positioned in their communities to have things like barbeques and cookouts and potlucks and carnivals and get-togethers."
The Eastern Illinois University educator is firm that on Sunday mornings the church needs to remain bold – and orthodox – in its teaching and theology. But he advises that not every event needs to be an evangelistic crusade.
Christian apologist Dr. Alex McFarland agrees with Burge – to a point. The Church as a whole, says McFarland, should give the surrounding community multiple entry points. "But … the message of how to know Jesus must be core to everything that we're doing," he cautions.
Editor's note: "Nones" – as used in the title of Burge's book – refers to individuals who say they have no religious affiliation.