Emerging Adulthood and Faith

Is the Church losing the next generation of young people? Jonathan P. Hill critically examines this question, interpreting sociological data that takes into account the broader cultural and historical context. He challenges common assumptions and draws conclusions that are counterintuitive, complex and encouraging.

Reviews

"Emerging Adulthood and Faith challenged me to embrace Hill's questions both professionally and personally. As a professor at a Christian college, I found the book to be thought-provoking; I felt affirmed in my work and influence in teaching college students within a Christian community. At the same time, the author inspired a desire in me to read more about the social pressures and historical changes that young adults confront. Additionally, I appreciated Hill's reminder and reassurance to continue to invest in and provide a religious context for faithful growth for my own children at home."
—Michelle C. Hughes, Associate Professor of Education, Westmont College

"This is a really nice little book that should serve to temper the alarmism and anxiety over the 'exodus' of young people from the church, the 'danger' imposed by 'secular' institutions of higher education on young people of faith and the apparent 'faith crisis' raised by modern science." Read more »
—Wes Ellis, Theology Blogger 

"Hill uses sociological data to unpack and challenge the assumptions and interpretations that have given rise to the fear of losing our youth. It truly is a book you can read through in a couple of hours." Read more »
—Kristy Quist, Contributing Editor at The Banner

About the Author

Jonathan P. Hill is assistant professor of sociology at Calvin College. He is the author of several articles and book chapters on higher education and religious faith and coauthor of the book Young Catholic America: Emerging Adults In, Out of, and Gone from the Church (Oxford, 2014). He is also the director of the National Study of Religion and Human Origins, a project that explores the social context of beliefs about human origins.

Resources

Figure 1: Percent favoring capital punishment by age

Figure 2: Percent believing in the American Dream by age

Figure 3: Percent who report praying daily or more by age in 2012

Figure 4: Percent who report praying daily or more by age in 1983

Figure 5: Percent attending religious services weekly or more from age 15 to 29

Figure 6: Religious tradition of 18-29 year olds, 1972-2012

Figure 7: Protestant church attendance of 18-29 year olds, 1972-2012

Figure 8: Frequency of prayer of 18-29 year olds, 1983-2012

Figure 9: Strength of religious affiliation of 18-29 year olds, 1972-2012

Figure 10: Percent of 18-23 year olds attending worship services weekly by educational attainment

Figure 11: Percent of 18-23 year olds who definitely believe in miracles by educational attainment

Figure 12: Percent of 18-23 year olds who have had at least a few doubts about their faith by educational attainment (only includes those who identify with a faith tradition)

Figure 13: The percentage point gap in evangelical Protestant affiliation between college graduates and everyone else by birth decade, age 25+

Figure 14: The percentage point gap in belief in an afterlife between college graduates and everyone else by birth decade, age 25+

Figure 15: The percentage point gap in belief that the Bible is a "book of fables" between college graduates and everyone else by birth decade, age 25+

Figure 16: The percentage of creationists at age 16-20 who maintain their creationist beliefs at age 18-23 by college attendance

Figure 17: Percent reporting that they did not change their beliefs about human origins after learning about evolution in high school

Figure 18: Percent reporting that they did not change their beliefs about human origins after learning about evolution in college