Realized mid drive the other day that I am part of the oft-quoted (in my old church circles) 80% attrition rate of young adult church-goers.
After high school, purportedly 80% of young adults who were previously faithful members stop attending church. I thought this figure probably had to do with kids no longer being forced by their parents plus a little "I don't have time" or simply losing the habit.
Disillusionment and deconstruction never really crossed my mind back then as a real reason. And potentially more the point that actually struck me, even though my journey (due to social distancing and a worldwide shutdown) included the fairly standard dwindling and infrequency to eventually nothing - it was both a conscious and unconscious choice.
I don't plan to go back. And I didn't at the time. And I started building a routine that just naturally left church out until here I am, years later, realizing I am one of the ones who no longer goes to church and it was never a direct reaction to the church, but an (in)direct result of other choices.
