{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Why Young People Leave Churches (New Data)","description":"Is it the worship? Politics? Programs? That\u2019s what we tend to blame. But new data from Pew and PRRI - covering 80,000+ respondents - points to a very different primary reason people leave. Today, we\u2019ll unpack what the data actually says, why common assumptions fall short, and what churches can do in response. &amp;nbsp; ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 3:39 - The #1 Reason People Leave - They Stopped Believing 10:05 - The Quiet Exit - Drift, Not Drama 16:07 - Childhood Experience Is the Strongest Predictor of Whether Someone Stays 29:50 - Scandals and Institutional Distrust 36:49 - Big Takeaways &amp;nbsp; IMPORTANT LINKS - The Gen Z Church Communication Playbook: https:\/\/youtu.be\/zQnhOKlV91Q - People Complained Our Church Was Too Loud. So We Did This: https:\/\/youtu.be\/4ij1tR-EMHE &amp;nbsp; THE 167 NEWSLETTER \ud83d\udceb 62,646+ churches read our free newsletter to figure out the 167 hours beyond Sunday service every week. Sign up: https:\/\/167.prochurchtools.com &amp;nbsp; GET IN TOUCH \ud83c\udf0d The Company: https:\/\/prochurchtools.com \ud83d\udda5\ufe0f Nucleus, The Church Website Builder: &amp;nbsp;https:\/\/www.nucleus.church \ud83d\udcf1 SocialSermons, The Social Media Agency For Churches: https:\/\/socialsermons.com&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; JOIN THE COMMUNITY \ud83d\udcf8 Instagram: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bradyshearer \ud83c\udfb5 TikTok: https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@bradyshearer \ud83d\udc26 Twitter: https:\/\/twitter.com\/bradyshearer &amp;nbsp; ALL CITATIONS PEW RESEARCH CENTER - &quot;Why Do Some Americans Leave Their Religion While Others Stay?&quot; (December 2025, n=8,937 ATP + n=36,908 RLS) \u2014 PRIMARY https:\/\/pewrsr.ch\/3NATWA3 - &quot;Religion Holds Steady in America&quot; (December 2025) \u2014 PRIMARY https:\/\/pewrsr.ch\/4bLrZ1y - &quot;Decline of Christianity in the U.S. Has Slowed, May Have Leveled Off&quot; \u2014 Religious Landscape Study (February 2025, n=36,908) \u2014 PRIMARY https:\/\/pewrsr.ch\/4bZp7Nm &amp;nbsp; PRRI (Public Religion Research Institute) - &quot;Religious Change in America&quot; (March 2024, n=40,000+ via American Values Atlas) \u2014 PRIMARY https:\/\/bit.ly\/4s6Y2xM - &quot;Exodus: Why Americans Are Leaving Religion\u2014and Why They're Unlikely to Come Back&quot; (2016 baseline data) \u2014 PRIMARY https:\/\/bit.ly\/3PGWdu1 - &quot;Religion and Congregations in a Time of Social and Political Upheaval&quot; \/ Health of Congregations survey (2024) \u2014 PRIMARY https:\/\/bit.ly\/4tjNAUC - &quot;Unveiling the Exodus: Americans' Reasons for Leaving Religious Traditions&quot; (2024) \u2014 PRIMARY https:\/\/bit.ly\/3PRRy8z &amp;nbsp; SURVEY CENTER ON AMERICAN LIFE \/ AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE - &quot;Young Women Are Leaving Church in Unprecedented Numbers&quot; (2024) \u2014 PRIMARY https:\/\/bit.ly\/4chJXZK - Note: This is an AEI project, not PRRI \u2014 frequently conflated in church media. &amp;nbsp; PRRI CENSUS OF AMERICAN RELIGION (2024) - Substack analysis by Melissa Deckman (PRRI CEO) \u2014 SECONDARY analysis of primary PRRI data https:\/\/bit.ly 3PK3I3k ","author_name":"The Pro Church Tools Show with Brady Shearer","author_url":"http:\/\/prochurchpodcast.com","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/40697695\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/item\/40697695"}