Man as the center of the universe. Western culture is permeated by a form of subjectivism that professes the absolute subjectivity of the individual and denies the existence of objective truths or values. This exaltation of the individual means that the Church is no longer accepted as a doctrinal and moral authority.
A variation on this is the baby boom hippie influenced generation who rebelled against all authority, inc. the church. This influence was many decades in developing, but culminated with the Vietnam War era and the Nixon debacle.
Many baby boomers simply did not participate with their families in an organized faith growth experience - esp. that of the church.
There are signs that Gen Xers are searching to fill that spiritual void. At my church, the vast majority of visitors and new members for the past several years have been those joining through "Profession of Faith", meaning they have never been a member of another church family. These are mostly couples in their 20's and 30's with small children who want their children to have what they missed in their youth - religious training and the nurturing of a church family.
This is an encouraging sign.
Indeed! We can only pray that it catches on. Sadly, I know several families with young children who have turned away from God for all the reasons cited above. Their children have never been baptized. When I asked one dad why he would deny his daughter this gift that had been given him, he said he would leave it up to his daughter to pick a religion when she is older. This is the tragic consequence of secularism. Oftentimes, those raised without any religious foundation, are unable to choose one later in life.
Anti-clericalism and hostility to the organized Church is nothing new in some parts of the world. It used to be said that in Southern Italy, everyone follows the Church: One half with a candle, the other half with a club.