• Thirty-four percent have not returned to church by age 30.
• Only 20 percent of the church dropouts said that while attending church in high school, they planned on taking a break from church once they finished high school.
  • Most young adults reason for leaving was "I simply wanted a break from church" (27 percent).
  • Transitioning into college was also a major reason for quitting church (25 percent);
  • Twenty-three percent said "work responsibilities prevented me from attending;"
  • Twenty-two percent said they "moved too far away from the church to continue attending."
• Although some still wanted to attend church, 22 percent said they "became too busy" and 17 percent "chose to spend more time with friends outside the church."
• More than half (52 percent) said "religious, ethical or political beliefs" contributed to their departure from church.
  • More specifically, 18 percent said "I disagreed with the church's stance on political or social issues;"
  • Seventeen percent said "I was only going to church to please others;"
  • Sixteen percent no longer wanted to identify with a church or organized religion;
  • Fourteen percent disagreed with the church's teachings about God.
• On church or pastor-related reasons for leaving, 26 percent said they left because "church members seemed judgmental or hypocritical" and 20 percent said they "didn't feel connected to the people in my church."
• The primary reason church dropouts eventually return to church is because of encouragement from family or friends.
  • Thirty-nine percent returned as a result of their parents' or family members' encouragement and 21 percent attribute their return to their friends or acquaintances.

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