Survey: Views on Homosexuality Major Factor for Millennials Who Left Church

A recent survey has revealed that nearly one in four millennials are religiously unaffiliated, and many of them say they left the church due to teachings on homosexuality.

The Christian Post reports that 25 percent of Americans are religiously unaffiliated, according to a survey conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute.

The survey found that religious affiliation has been declining noticeably since the 1990’s. The numbers of people who have left the church are greater the younger the demographic.

For example, only 13 percent of those aged over 65 say they are religiously unaffiliated, 17 percent aged 50 to 64 say the same, 29 percent in the 30 to 49 age group do not believe in religion, and a sizeable 39 percent of 18 to 29-year-olds say they are religiously unaffiliated.

The survey also explored the reasons for lack of religious affiliation. A major finding was that 39 percent of religiously unaffiliated millennials said the church’s teaching on and treatment of gays and lesbians was a major factor in their decision to leave the church or to remain unaffiliated with it.

The survey also separated non-churchgoers into three categories:

Rejectionists--those who “say religion is not personally important in their lives and believe religion as a whole does more harm than good in society.”

Apatheists--who “say say religion is not personally important to them, but believe it generally is more socially helpful than harmful.”

And, lastly:

Unattached believers--who say religion is personally important to them, but yet do not attend corporate worship.

Publication date: September 23, 2016