We all have stories of friends and loved ones whose once-vibrant faith is now a distant memory. As church leaders and hurt family members watch them leave the faith of their upbringing, they are often left asking, “Why are they falling away?”

Brian Simmons, professor of communications at Cascade College in Portland, Ore., brings his sociological training to bear on that exact question.

“Falling Away” presents sociological research to explain why people leave the faith of their youth. The sociological model directs the book, with the addition of two chapters about biblical texts, and undergirds the book’s premise that apostasy is real and can be recognized and lessened.

A lifelong member of Churches of Christ, a graduate of two Christian colleges and now professor at a third, Simmons illustrates his points with stories from his real-life interaction with people, especially students during their formative college years. read more

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