Relevant Magazine

The Main Reason Why Christians Leave Church Isn’t What You Think

The Main Reason Why Christians Leave Church Isn’t What You Think

Monday, May 11, 2026
Most of us know the story: Someone who once seemed deeply involved quietly stops showing up, and before long, the explanations start circulating — church hurt, politics, hypocrisy, burnout. But two new major studies suggest the most common reason Americans leave Christianity is more direct: They don’t believe what they were taught anymore. Pew Research…