The Future of Christianity
Why Do I Want to Touch Reality?
We are designed to seek reality. From birth, our five senses shape how we know the world. The stronger the connection of an event to our senses, the more “real” it becomes in our minds.
Think about it: if I tell you something is good to eat, hearing it isn’t enough. But if you can see it, smell it, touch it, and especially taste it, the experience becomes undeniable—good or bad. That multisensory encounter leaves a mark you will never forget.
When my son Casey was young, one of his first real bonds was with Sandy, a little shaggy dog that adored him more than anyone else in the family. One day, Sandy darted into the road and was struck by a car. She was gone in an instant. Casey saw her lying still, but his mind couldn’t process the reality. He ran back to the house screaming.
Later, before I buried her, I asked him quietly: “Do you want to see her one more time?”
He reluctantly walked over and knelt down. It was as if he didn’t want to, but his subconscious told him he had to. He quickly reached out to touch her and then ran back into the house. It was painful, but that touch confirmed the reality. His mind knew—this wasn’t a stuffed animal or a bad dream. That moment seared the truth into his heart.
The Bible gives us a similar picture in John 20. When Jesus appeared after the resurrection, Thomas doubted. He had seen the crucifixion. His senses told him Jesus was gone. That’s why Jesus invited him: “Put your finger here… reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Reality confirmed through the senses.
Younger generations crave the same kind of reality. They don’t want faith that denies what their eyes see, their hands touch, or their minds know from science. And when the church insists on explanations that contradict reality, many quietly walk away.
The Data Behind the Exodus
This is not just anecdotal—it’s measurable.
- 35 million young people raised in Christian homes will abandon their faith in the U.S. by 2050.
- In the worst-case model, that number could rise to 42 million, shrinking the Christian share of the U.S. population from about 73% today to around 54% by mid-century.
- Even the best-case model shows 26 million leaving.
- That works out to more than 1 million young people leaving every year for the next three decades.
Barna’s research adds more detail:
- 59% of young adults raised in church disconnect after adolescence.
- By their late 20s, that number climbs to 64%.
- Only 10% become what Barna calls “resilient disciples”—those who sustain mature faith even when challenged.
And here’s the stats that catch my attention:
- 29% say churches are out of step with science.
- 25% believe Christianity is anti-science.
These aren’t fringe complaints. They are deal-breakers.
The Core Problem: Reality Can’t Be Ignored
There are many reasons young people disengage—questions about sexuality, judgment, hypocrisy, doubt, or relevance. But for me, one stands out as foundational: the perceived conflict between science and faith.
When a belief system requires you to deny reality at its core, everything built on top of it begins to crack.
Young people today grow up immersed in science—biology, geology, psychology, cosmology. They learn about the age of the Earth, the universe’s expansion, fossils, DNA, and evolution. If the church tells them the Bible requires belief in a 6,000-year-old Earth and that all of science is a lie, they don’t just doubt the timeline.
They begin doubting the Bible. And soon, faith itself.
People don’t place their hope in something they know defies reality.
The foundation collapses.
Why I Wrote This Book
When I first began writing Creation, Life, and Purpose, my goal was simple: I wanted my kids to know that faith doesn’t mean closing your eyes to truth. It means opening them wider.
At first, I thought I was writing only for my family. But as the book developed, the clearer it became—this wasn’t just my family’s struggle. It was a generational struggle. Millions are walking away, not because they don’t care, but because the answers they’ve been handed don’t make sense.
That’s why I focus on harmonizing science and Scripture. Because truth should never compete with truth.
This book is for every parent, student, or seeker who has ever heard the message: “You have to choose between faith and facts.”
I’m here to say: You don’t.
The Future of Christianity Depends on This
If projections hold, the church will lose a staggering share of its next generation by 2050. But this isn’t inevitable.
What the data shows is that young people aren’t rejecting God. They are rejecting versions of faith that can’t stand up to reality. The church can no longer afford to offer explanations that crumble when compared with evidence.
Faith that is shallow, anti-intellectual, or dismissive of reality will not survive. But faith that aligns with truth becomes unshakable.
Take the Next Step
If you’ve wrestled with these questions—or know someone who is—I hope you’ll explore what I’ve discovered in Creation, Life, and Purpose.
➤ Read a Sample Chapter
➤ Get the Book on Amazon
➤ Share this with a pastor, teacher, or thoughtful skeptic
Closing Thought
The old explanations don’t work anymore. But that doesn’t mean the Bible is wrong—it means it’s time we understood it better.
Let’s stop asking the next generation to choose between God and science. They were never meant to be enemies.