Faith Begins at the Family Table: Study Finds Childhood Conversations Predict Lifelong Belief

A new analysis by Communio, in partnership with researchers at Harvard, suggests that a person’s religious life is often shaped more by conversations at home than by time spent in the pew. The study surveyed more than 16,000 adults who currently attend church to identify which childhood practices best predict continued faith in adulthood.

Key findings

The research found that regular conversations about faith during childhood are among the strongest predictors of practicing faith as an adult. Respondents who recalled frequent faith conversations with their parents also reported higher levels of forgiveness toward those who hurt them and a greater sense of belonging to their church community.

Statistically, adults who remembered having at least weekly faith talks with their parents had more than 2.5 times the odds of holding regular faith conversations with their own children. Those who recalled daily conversations in childhood had more than 7.5 times the odds of continuing that pattern with the next generation. Despite this, fewer than half of respondents (about 48%) said they now have weekly faith conversations with their children.

Role of fathers

The paper highlights a particular role for fathers: adults were more likely to attend church regularly if they remembered attending church with their father weekly (or more) at age 12. A good or very good relationship with one’s father was also linked to greater forgiveness and belonging.

Unexpectedly, the research also found that stronger father–child relationships were sometimes associated with a lower likelihood of openly discussing faith with one’s own children. The report does not explain why; the authors frame this result as a pastoral teaching opportunity, noting that positive relationships and regular attendance are valuable but not automatic solutions for transmitting faith.

Practical guidance for parents

JP De Gance, Communio’s founder and president and author of the study’s Pastor’s Guide, urges parents that ‘‘any Christian parent not already having these conversations with their kids can take a step today to make this a regular part of their routine.’’

The Pastor’s Guide recommends "sanctifying" ordinary moments—mealtimes, errands, or daily routines—with short, open-ended questions about faith. Suggested prompts include:

"How did you see God show up in your life this week?"

"What should we pray for today?"

"What are you grateful to God for right now?"

The guide emphasizes that parents do not need to be theologians to lead these talks; simple, consistent, open conversations can have a lasting influence on children’s faith formation.

Why it matters

Framed against a 2024 Pew Research Center finding that 28% of U.S. adults describe themselves as religiously unaffiliated, the study points to family practice as a key lever for reversing generational decline in religious affiliation. The findings suggest that small, everyday moments of conversation can play an outsized role in whether faith endures across generations.