The Outsiders

A new Barna study finds:

• young non-Christian Americans do not view Christianity favorably
• the number of young non-Christian Americans is growing significantly
• young Christian Americans have noticed and are concerned about the perception of Christianity as decidedly un-Christian.
  

I don't know what they expected, but I'm not surprised. The rise of governmental influence by the childish theocratic Christian right; the ridiculous eschatology hoaxes brought on by Y2k (and then egged on by 9/11); vicious, hysterical campaigns such as Terry Schiavo, "smear the queer" anti-gay marriage initiatives, and the "war on Christmas;" and the embarrassing rich hypocrisy of so many evangelical leaders...hell, most of the Christians I know have a negative opinion of Christianity.

Half of young churchgoers said they perceive Christianity to be judgmental, hypocritical, and too political. One-third said it was old-fashioned and out of touch with reality.

Dur-hey! Let's hope they grow up to be vociferous Christian secularists, unlike their wishy-washy moderate Christian elders who sit silently in their pews and let contemptible fundie trash act as their spokesholes.