Reasons
Young People Leave their Faith
(March 30 Generations of Faith presentation at St.
Mary of the Valley – with illustrations from Monroe High School course on World Civilizations)
1- Our young people are
poorly catechized and are unable to respond to challenges to their faith,
for example:
·
All
Religions are basically the same. As Pastor Steve pointed out in our meeting
with Principal Lombardi, the text has the underlying assumption that all
religions are man-made inventions. Response: Depends on what you mean by “basic.” Ask a serious Christian, Moslem, Jew or
Buddhist. Those who make this claim are
usually referring to the fact that all “religions” contain parts of the moral
law (“law written on the human heart”– Rom 2:15).
·
Buddhism
and Christianity are the same. These are the two main religious options a
young American would consider. The text
leads a student to conclude that they are the same: “guidance of saints” and Buddha as “divine savior” who “became a
god.” Jesus also made into a god. Response: New Testament shows that Jesus knew he is
God. Jn 8:38 “Before Abraham came to be, I AM.” (v. 39
– they picked up stones…) Also Mark 2: forgives
sins (v. 5), bridegroom (v.19), Lord of the Sabbath (v.28),
etc. Such claims of authority, together with the “I AM” statements in John give
ample evidence that Jesus knew exactly who he is.
·
St.
Paul is true founder of Christianity. Response:
Gal 2:2, ICor 15:3, etc.
·
Christianity
is “exclusive” and “intolerant.” Response: Astronomy excludes astrology; psychology is intolerant of
phrenology. It is true that Christianity
has “zero tolerance” for certain practices. An early Christian writing
called The Didache
or Teaching of the Twelve Apostles states:
“You shall not murder, commit
adultery, fornication, pederasty, murder a child by abortion or expose a child
after birth.” Christianity does
exclude certain teachings, for example, Marcion
who taught that the “Old Testament God” was bad while the “New Testament God”
is good.
·
Christianity
is syncretistic (absorbed by pagan practices). Response: Make up your mind – are we exclusive or
inclusive? The answer of course is that we
have excluded teachings and practices contrary to the faith of the apostles and
have embraced those things which can be included within the “regula fidei” (rule of faith). Christianity includes Judaism and all that is
good in ancient paganism. We share
monotheistic faith with Islam. Together with Buddhists we recognize that this
world does not offer salvation. We share basic moral teachings with Confucius,
Shinto, native religions, etc.
·
Christianity
is too complex. Text refers, for example, to “complex
doctrine of Trinity” which it proceeds to incorrectly state. Response: Christianity contains mysteries, which we will
need eternity to explore. Nevertheless, it is possible to state them
accurately. For example, Wikipedia gives an accurate one-sentence
statement of doctrine of the Trinity.
Also Wikipedia gives a
basically accurate presentation of Christian origins and teachings. The World Civilization course does not. It contains fuzzy statements: Christians believe Jesus came to “redeem sin”
(!), he had “no intention of founding a new religion.” (But, did he found the
Church?)
·
Christianity
has changed over the centuries. Response:
Yes, but is the change organic, like an acorn changing into an oak? Or is it a deformity, like an oak tree
sprouting vines? The Church is a living organism planted in many cultures. (With
Bible, regula fidei, magisterium – and above all and in all, Holy Spirit – to
guide development.)
2. Deeper reason for
leaving the faith: Incoherence of moral
life, especially in the area of sexuality.
·
Materialistic
world view gives an easy way of dealing with guilt: “Science” seems to excuse immoral behavior by
claiming that there is very little difference between us and higher
animals. We don’t blame a dog or an ape,
so why should we feel any guilt? And
when you get down to it, humans and amoebas both follow the same impulses – to
survive and reproduce. So what’s the big
deal if two young people do “what comes naturally”?
·
Response: It is hard to refute materialism, because it
“explains everything.” However, as
Chesterton pointed out, materialism
explains everything only by leaving out everything we most prize: freedom, goodness, truth, even beauty.
Furthermore, materialism is ultimately ineffective in dealing with guilt. It does not face the reason for guilt, but
only denies it by saying that guilt is a neurosis caused by the imposition of
morality. (“By people who themselves
don’t live up to the morality they proclaim” – a fact we admit.)
·
A current illustration is the push
for “gay marriage.”
Those who follow the gay lifestyle have higher rates of drug abuse,
alcoholism, promiscuity and suicide.
They say that would not be the case if society accepted - and celebrated
- sodomy and pederasty as normal practicess.
The ancient Greeks, however, did do that - with dubious results. A materialist philosophy does not face the
real cause of guilt and leads to rage and despair. Jesus gives the only true solution to guilt
by enabling us to face sin and receive mercy.
Conclusion: As pastors we need to help our young people
respond to the common challenges to their faith. We also need to help them live the Christian
life, especially in the area of sexuality - why God made us male and female.
And we must help them understand that when we fall in any area of Christian
living, (that) Jesus is ready to pick us up, forgive us and get us back on the
right track.
-Fr. Phil Bloom
Pastor, St. Mary of the Valley