The Age of Disbelief: When Do People Lose Their Religion?

There is a stereotype of people losing their faith while attending a secular college. They may be ruined by the pleasures of the world, bullied by atheistic professors, or simply lose their faith as they grow in “wisdom” after being freed from their parents’ brainwashing. As a state university graduate, I can confirm the atmosphere of hostility to faith, but many people lose their faith well before they are college age. While many people do lose their faith during this period, research indicates that a significant number of Catholics abandon their faith before adulthood, underscoring the importance of early religious formation. The survey data shows dual threats to Catholic faith, with different risks at different ages.