Studies show that growing up in a two-parent family predicts church participation in adulthood.
When fathers abandon their children, the children eventually turn away from God, according to a groundbreaking study by the nonprofit research group Communio. Read the study here.
“This is the missing piece,” exclaimed J.P. de Gance, the president of Communio, in an interview with The Epoch Times.
“If more young people grew up in households where Mom and Dad stayed together, we would undoubtedly witness significantly higher levels of church participation.”
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Furthermore, a decline in church participation is often accompanied by changes in various aspects of society, including political preferences, birth rates, mental health, and social trends.
Communio’s study, which focuses on strengthening families through church evangelization, tracked these shifts in the United States and found consistent results with other research firms.
Between 1972 and today, the percentage of Christians in America decreased from 90 percent to 64 percent, according to Pew Research Center polls.
These former Christians have now become part of the growing group known as “nones” who identify as having no religious preference, as indicated by the polls.
If current trends persist, it is projected that the majority of Americans will identify as “nones” by 2070, according to Pew studies. This significant shift in religious affiliation has far-reaching implications for American culture.
Pew also discovered that 70 percent of non-religious adults vote Democrat, while 43 percent of Christian adults also lean towards the Democratic party.
Interestingly, the average non-religious woman has 1.6 children, while the average Christian woman has 1.9 children. This means that a group of 10 non-religious women would have 16 children, whereas a group of 10 Christian women would have 19 children.
The decline in church affiliation may also be linked to the rise of loneliness. Numerous studies suggest that Americans today feel lonelier than ever, coinciding with the decline of church-connected communities, as observed by Communio researchers.
While approximately 50 percent of all American adults experience loneliness, only 22 percent of churchgoers report feeling lonely.
“We can clearly see the effects of the decline in marriage, ranging from the loneliness epidemic to high levels of depression and low levels of social trust,” Mr. Gance remarked.
“Within the family, we learn to trust and reconcile our differences. As fewer and fewer people experience this healthy modeling of conflict resolution and reconciliation, we witness its negative impact on wider society.”
Sexual Revolution Accelerated Fatherlessness
The decline in religious faith, trust, community, and birth rates can be traced back to the increase in fatherlessness resulting from the sexual revolution, as highlighted by Communio researchers.
Researchers concluded that reversing the trend of fatherlessness in America would also halt the decline in church participation.
In 1960, only 5 percent of children were born outside of marriage, according to a study by the Congressional Joint Economic Committee. By 2021, this figure had risen to 40 percent, as indicated by a federal study.
This high rate of births to unwed mothers, combined with a high divorce rate, means that most children do not grow up in households with married parents, according to a 2015 study by the Marriage and Religion Research Institute.
“Historically, marriage was intertwined with several aspects of life,” explained Mr. Gance. “It was connected to sex, partnering, and parenting.
However, with the popularization of birth control pills, sex became detached from marriage. This led to a significant weakening of the family as an institution in America,” Mr. Gance added.
The study findings also suggest that a stable, two-parent family is a strong predictor of church attendance.
The decoupling of sex from marriage appears to have contributed to the decline in church participation among Americans, according to Mr. Gance.
“Establishing causation is notoriously challenging,” the researchers noted.
However, they firmly believe that “family structure lies at the core of the decline in church participation.”
As the proportion of fatherless families in society has increased, the number of people attending church has declined, as revealed by the Communio study.
US Leads in Single-Parent Homes
Nevertheless, this shift did not occur immediately, as demonstrated by the study.
It appears that people tend to leave the church approximately 25-30 years after families break apart. The two trends follow a similar trajectory, according to the Communio study.
For instance, when marriage rates began to decline in the 1960s, church participation started to decrease in the 1980s, as indicated by the study’s findings.
In 1970, the nonmarital birth rate was 10 percent. Approximately 30 years later, in the late 1990s, the rate of religious non-affiliation was also 10 percent.
Since the 1980s, the nonmarital birth rate has closely mirrored the rate of religious non-affiliation, as illustrated by a graph from Communio.
The nonmarital birth rate exceeded 20 percent in the 1980s, and about 30 years later, in the late 2010s, the rate of religious non-affiliation also surpassed 20 percent.
In 2020, 30 percent of Americans surveyed by the Pew Research Center identified as having no religion. If current trends persist, the conclusions of the Communio survey suggest that by 2040, 40 percent of Americans will not affiliate with any religious faith.
The United States leads the world in single parenthood, with 23 percent of children growing up in single-parent homes, according to a study by the Pew Research Center. Only the United Kingdom has a higher percentage of children in single-parent homes.
However, Mr. Gance believes that fatherlessness may eventually self-correct over the long term.
“In the long run, I am optimistic,” he stated. “As the family declines, those who continue to marry and have children tend to be the most faith-oriented individuals within a population, and they can lay the groundwork for renewal.”
Studies conducted by the Pew Research Center indicate that religious individuals tend to have more children than non-religious individuals.
Ultimately, those who pass on their values and have larger families will eventually become the majority, leading to significant cultural shifts, as predicted by researchers at the Elizabethtown College Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies.
According to the Elizabethtown study, if current birth rate trends continue, America will become a majority Amish nation in 215 years.
How does the decline in church participation and the rise of the “nones” reflect societal values and priorities, particularly in relation to intact families and the role of fathers
Age Christian woman has 2.2 children, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics.
These findings align with the study conducted by Communio, which highlights the correlation between intact families and higher levels of church participation. When fathers abandon their children, it creates a void in their lives, leading them to seek fulfillment elsewhere, often resulting in a turning away from God and organized religion.
The impact of absent fathers on children has been the subject of numerous studies and reports. Children from fatherless homes are more likely to experience behavioral and mental health issues, struggle academically, and engage in risky behaviors such as substance abuse and criminal activities. They also have lower self-esteem and face challenges in building healthy relationships. The absence of a father figure leaves an indelible mark on their well-being and spiritual development.
Communio’s research sheds light on the long-term consequences of fatherlessness on religious affiliation. The study emphasizes the importance of strong, intact families in the spiritual and moral formation of children, which ultimately influences their commitment to religious beliefs and practices. When fathers actively participate in their children’s lives and provide a stable and nurturing environment, children are more likely to develop a strong connection with God and engage in religious activities.
The decline in church participation and the rise of the “nones” signify a shift in societal values and priorities. As the institution of marriage is weakened and families become more fragmented, the impact is felt on various levels. Not only does it affect individual well-being and family dynamics, but it also has implications for political preferences, birth rates, and social trends.
Moreover, the decline in religious affiliation opens up debates on moral and ethical frameworks that guide our society. Without a strong foundation in faith and religion, individuals may struggle to find a moral compass and face challenges in navigating complex ethical dilemmas. This has far-reaching consequences for the fabric of our communities and the values we uphold.
Recognizing the importance of intact families and the role of fathers in nurturing their children’s spiritual life is crucial. It calls for a collective effort to support and strengthen families, providing resources and assistance to fathers who may be facing challenges in their parenting role. By addressing the issue of fatherlessness, we can potentially reverse the trend of declining church participation and foster a healthier, more spiritually grounded society.
The study by Communio underscores the influence of fathers on their children’s religious journey. It serves as a reminder of the importance of active fatherhood and the impact it has on the spiritual well-being and future trajectory of children. By prioritizing the preservation of intact families and encouraging fathers’ involvement in their children’s lives, we can cultivate a society where faith and God are cherished values, creating a positive ripple effect across generations.
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