The Religion and Life survey, just released from the Pew Research Organisation, reveals a turnaround in the religious faith of the new adult generation born between 2000 and 2006, aged 18- 24, who are becoming increasingly religious. This contrasts with the rise in the ‘no religion’ cohort among those who became adults in the 1990s.
Note the increase in the percentage of Christians in the other cohorts – of those who came of age in the 50s, 60s, 70, and 80s.
These age groups are becoming more Christian in later life. But the young adults are turning to Christ while young.
The overall effect produces this graph.
Pew makes the important point that a return to further decline might be expected. This is because older cohorts are more Christian and when they go to meet their Saviour, the next oldest chort will be less Christian.
But the upturn in the last two hears has been great enough to overcome that tendency. These graphs show that continued decline in Chrsitianity in western countries is not ineveitable. That is good news.