Young people are finding community outside of organized religion

About 3 in 10 U.S. adults identify as atheists, agnostics or having no particular religious affiliation. That number is nearly double the percentage of 2007 and is higher for millennials and Gen Z.
Organized religion can offer built-in multi-generational community and connections with other people. Even so, younger segments of the American population are turning away.

Andrew Mayer, associate professor of Sport Foundations at Baylor University found in his research that they're finding other things to fill that void.

"We might leave a church or an organized religion but we seek meaning in other areas of our lives . . . . .for instance, through sport," Mayer said.

Children of the digital age may be leaving organized religion because they can find like-minded people through the internet.