Parents cannot afford to ignore why so many Gen Zers are walking away from Christianity. Understanding the reasons behind this dramatic cultural shift is essential for any Christian parent hoping to nurture enduring faith in their children.

In this sobering and highly relevant episode of Christian Parent/Crazy World, Catherine is joined by guest Laurie Christine (author, podcast host, and biblical parenting coach) for a deep dive into the top seven reasons Gen Z is leaving the faith.

Pulling from recent Barna research, Catherine outlines the most prominent factors cited by young people, including the prevalence of evil and suffering, hypocrisy within the church, challenges regarding science, accusations that Christianity is “fairy tale,” historical injustices, church irrelevance, and personal bad experiences with Christians. Each of these issues is explored, not only in terms of what is driving the exodus but with practical suggestions and resources for parents at every stage—from young children in the home to teens on the brink of adulthood.

Key Points Covered:

• A Crisis of Worldview in Churches

  • Only 37% of pastors and 51% of evangelical pastors have a biblical worldview (09:24), according to the American Worldview Inventory.

  • Parents are cautioned not to outsource spiritual formation solely to churches—home must be the primary place for faith development.

• The Power and Pervasiveness of Cultural Influence

  • Social media, internet, and secular worldviews bombard kids daily, requiring parents to proactively engage in conversations about pantheism, secularism, suffering, identity, and more (10:49).

• Barna’s Seven Reasons Gen Z Is Leaving the Faith (12:02), (32:55)

  1. Struggling to reconcile a good God with evil and suffering in the world (29%).

  2. Hypocrisy among Christians (23%).

  3. Perceived conflict between science and the Bible (20%).

  4. The belief that Christianity is a fairy tale (19%).

  5. Concern over injustices in church history (15%).

  6. Finding church unimportant (12%).

  7. Personal negative/church abuse experiences (6%).

• Parenting Solutions for Each Season

  • Practical foundation-building for young children: daily devotions, scripture memory using music, and apologetics resources like Foundation Worldview (21:45).

  • Teen and adult strategies: prioritizing tough conversations, choosing churches wisely, and seeking out other trusted Christian influences when parental voice decreases (19:08), (25:20).

  • The unique call to pray for, encourage, and intentionally speak truth into the distinctive gifts and struggles of each child.

• Featured Resources

  • Foundation Worldview curriculum (with discount code)

  • Books: The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel, Signature in the Cell by Dr. Stephen Meyer, When Narcissism Comes to Church by Dr. Chuck DeGrow

  • Podcast episode recommendations for parents of prodigals and those wrestling with the problem of evil

Guest bio:
Laurie Christine is an author, podcast host, wife, and mom to four adventurous boys. She leads Redeeming the Chaos, equipping moms of boys to raise courageous kids rooted in Christ.

Want deeper guidance?
Subscribe to Catherine’s website for a free prodigal bundle (podcasts, articles, scripture lists, and music), plus weekly encouragement and parenting resources. For parents walking the prodigal path, there is hope—you are not alone.

Do not miss this critical conversation—because if we want to help Gen Z return to the faith, we must first understand why they’re leaving.

RESOURCES REFERENCED AND CITED:

“Emerging Gen Z may deliver huge blow to religion in U.S.” by Jeff Brumley (June 8, 2018)

The American Worldview Inventory in 2022 highlights worldview beliefs of American pastors.

“Only Half of Evangelical Pastors Possess a Christian Worldview: Incidence Even Lower for Most Denominations” (Cultural Research Cente::ACU)

ACU Cultural Research Center Worldview Inventory 2020-current

Foundation Worldview Curriculum (use “CPCW10” code for 10% discount)

Apologia: What We Believe (4 volume set)

EPISODES CITED:

Episode 57: “How To Teach Your Kids the Christian Worldview” w/ Elizabeth Urbanowicz

Episode 58: “7 Lies Culture is Selling Our Kids: Are They Buying?” w/ Elizabeth Urbanowicz

Episode 72: “What Do People Leaving the Faith often Get Wrong about God?” w/ Elizabeth Urbanowics

Episode 84: “How To Learn More Scripture in 2024 Than You Ever Have Before” w/ Zac Fitzsimmons