Handing Down the Faith: How Parents Pass Their Religion on to the Next Generation

A new examination of how and why American religious parents seek to pass on religion to their children

The most important influence shaping the religious and spiritual lives of children, youth, and teenagers is their parents. A myriad of studies show that the parents of American youth play the leading role in shaping the character of their religious and spiritual lives, even well after they leave home and often for the rest of their lives. We know a lot about the importance of parents in fai...