Changing Shape: The Faith Lives of Millennials

by Ruth Perrin

The generation known as 'millennials' are now emerging into adulthood. They face opportunities and challenges no generation has previously faced. For the church they are the 'missing generation'.

Ruth Perrin's landmark study of emerging adults who as teenagers described themselves as Christians, reveals what has happened to this apparently "lost generation" - those who have lost faith altogether, those with a faith but who have withdrawn from the church and those with an ongoing active faith which is nonetheless now broader and deeper than previously.

Considering the factors which help shape millennial belief, Changing Shape reflects on the challenges and opportunities that 'missing generation' bring to the Church, and considers what lessons the Church can learn from the Millennial mindset.

Genres: Theology

256 pages, Paperback

Published January 31, 2020

Reviews

[Andries de Jong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een aanrader voor iedereen die betrokken is op de kerk en zich afvraagt waar de jongvolwassenen blijven. Ik weet niet waar ik moet beginnen aan wie ik het boek moet uitlenen...

[Magpie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was unimpressed with this. Apparently being part of an accepting and affirming church and being in a same-sex relationship isn't an option given for LGBTQ+ Christians. A lot of why millennials are part of the church/should remain a part of the church seemed to be centred around community and lack thereof outside of a church context. It should come as no surprise to any reader that Ruth is part of a church that is "welcoming but not affirming" to LGBTQ+ people, and takes a view that celibacy is the acceptable way to be gay (if you must be gay). It also reads very much as someone who is on the inside of the community looking out and trying to make sense of it all.

2 stars for what the book tried to do. It lost the remaining three for the execution of it.

[Blake A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting survey of millennials and their faith journeys

The author interviews 30+ millennials and identifies key patterns related to their faith journey (the context is Great Britain, though reading it you would never know it wasn’t speaking of Americans as well). Here is a summary:

“Many Millennial Christians, then, are not opposed to church – they just want it to be more honest, more hospitable, more relational, more radical, inspiring and passionate about Jesus.”

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hard-hitting, sobering yet important read for those involved in ministry particularly involving Millennials to any degree. It also unexpectedly helped me understand myself (as a Millennial) better with many a hard truth but clearly spoken in love!

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well researched and well written guide to understanding the faith development of Millennials based on quantitative research. Perhaps the best thing I have read on the subject.

[Phil Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely superb. Ruth is a leader in her field and this research is full of compassion as well as a rallying call to the church at this time. I am so grateful for her insights.