As National Grandparents Day (Sept.13) approaches, Scripture Union-USA is highlighting a surprising research finding: a grandparent’s warmth may be the strongest predictor of whether faith is passed on to the next generation.
In a new article on the Scripture Union-USA website, Senior Editor Sharon Sacks examines what three bodies of research reveal about how faith actually moves from one generation to the next. The answer has less to do with programs and more to do with relationships.
Sociologist Vern Bengtson’s Longitudinal Study of Generations followed more than 350 families for 50 years. Its central finding on religious transmission was unexpected: grandparent warmth — the emotional closeness of the relationship — was a better predictor of whether faith carried forward than church attendance or doctrinal instruction. Bengtson’s team also found that a faithful, engaged grandparent could bridge the gap when a parent was absent or disengaged.
That finding matters more when set against what researchers have documented about parents. Barna Group research shows that while 73% of parents are concerned about their children’s spiritual development and 85% accept personal responsibility for it, fewer than 10% have any kind of plan. Most report no training, tools, or accountability. Sociologist Christian Smith’s research — drawn from more than 200 in-depth interviews with religious parents — points to one reason: many parents are so worried about pushing too hard that they default to inaction, hoping Sunday morning will be enough.
The combination leaves a gap that grandparents are uniquely positioned to fill and often want to.
“Grandparents are often looking for a way to connect with their grandchildren around something that matters,” said Gail A. Martin, President of Scripture Union-USA. “Our CONNECT Family Prayer Guide gives parents and grandparents the one thing most families are missing — a simple plan to sit down together, open the Bible, and talk about what God is doing in their lives.”