Young adults often go through a faith crisis like Griffing's near the end of high school, leading some to drop religious practice altogether. More than 6 in 10 religious "nones" who were raised in a religion (62 percent) say they abandoned their childhood faith before they turned 18, according to Public Religion Research Institute.
These findings are alarming for faith leaders, as well as parents hoping to raise their kids to be faithful adults. Youth programs and parenting routines designed to pass on religious practice appear to be failing, and 1 in 4 Americans are considered nones today, compared with 12 percent 20 years ago, PRRI reported.
However, research on the nones and the experience of young adults like Griffing offer clues on how best to address the exodus of teenagers and young adults away from faith, according to experts on unaffiliated Americans. For example, PRRI's study showed that only one-third of nones don't believe in God.
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