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“We are living in an historical moment of transformations in religion, technology, generations, education, culture, family & society” (John Roberto, CMD). Hmmmmmmmmmm… What are the most dramatic changes you have experienced in your lifetime? (Name 3-4 of them...) 2

 GENERATIONAL  FAMILY LIFE  ROLE OF WOMEN  ETHNIC & CULTURAL  FAMILY PRACTICE & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT  RELIGIOUS  TECHNOLOGICAL  RECREATIONAL, etc. 3

iGeneration (2000 -) Millennials ( ) Generation X ( ) Baby Boomers ( ) Builders (pre 1946) 4

The 1950s Family The 2013 Family 5

20% of Americans claim no religious affiliation. 32% of year olds claim no religious affiliation. 18% of year olds say that they are “spiritual, but not religious.” _________________________________ 15% of year olds claim no religious affiliation. 21% of year olds are unaffiliated. 6

7 According to Pew Research, Americans do not generally become more affiliated as they move through the life cycle from young adulthood through marriage, parenting, middle age, senior years, and retirement.

With few exceptions, the unaffiliated say they are not looking for a religion that would be right for them. Overwhelmingly, they think that religious institutions are: too concerned with $$ and power, too focused on rules, and too involved in politics. 8

The number of religiously unaffiliated is growing…. because Americans who rarely go to church are more willing than in the past to drop their religious attachments altogether. Because of generational replacement, (the gradual supplanting of older generations by newer ones). 9

Changing Participation Patterns in Church Attendance Fewer Marriages & Later in Life Fewer Baptism s Fewer Young Familie s Lower Sunday Worship Fewer First communions Fewer Confirmations 10

Religious Practice in a Modern Parish Minimal Engagement with Faith and the Community Vibrant Faith & Active Engagement In the Community Spiritual but Not Religious Not Religiously Affiliated 11

TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTIONS SOCIAL NETWORK REVOLUTION INTERNET REVOLUTION – MOBILE REVOLUTION All three “revolutions” are coming together to shift people’s lives away from densely-knit family, neighborhood, parish and group relationships toward more far-flung, less tight, more diverse personal & communal networks. 12

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