Is Gen Y losing religion?

There’s a HUGE difference between organized religion and faith.

I have faith in droves, but try to get me to celebrate any sort of organized religion, and I’m out.

But I don’t think the whole generation is losing the value of religion, just that religion – as it’s traditionally been presented, doesn’t work for us. We don’t like the traditional structures, we like sleeping in.

It’s not a lack of morals, either, but we also seem to like our own “custom” version of God. I personally don’t buy that an all-powerful, all-knowing and all-seeing deity would show traits like vengeance, anger, or jealousy. The universe is not so poorly designed.

Anyway, great video, great post!

-Nick Armstrong

Personally I have completely moved away from going to church and believing there is a God somewhere up there.

As it was said, that whole structure of believing something that hasn’t been proven just doesn’t work for us.
I personally see it as believing in an illusion and its a waste of time, and money too.

@ Nick – I like that you’ve presented it as not liking traditional structures. In many other cases – like companies – we’re creating new structures. Do you see this happening with religion? Tat’s the part I worry about. By losing the traditional structure of religion, it seems we’re replacing it with such custom structures as you mention. I hope this means we’re all becoming incredibly tolerant of other people’s beliefs. Thanks for the comment!

@ Leslie – Thanks so much for sharing your experiences. It’s always interesting to hear what other cultures do. My boyfriend was raised similarly to you and doesn’t currently identify with either religion. It’s interesting. If someone were to ask, I would say I was raised Lutheran, but don’t currently go to church. Which makes me wonder what I will do for my wedding some day, and ultimately, my funeral too…

@ tomasz – I appreciate you sharing another viewpoint, thank you. I’m curious, not believing in a God, what do you in those situations that are steeped in religious traditions, like new life, marriage, funerals and death? And since religion seems to often to provide the purpose in life, or the “meaning of life,” where do you find such answers?

@ Norcross – That’s quite the history! Thanks so much for sharing. It always interests me to hear how people came about to their current religious views. Similarly to you, I had an experience that makes me want to believe in God, but beyond that, it’s difficult for me to adhere to the certain tenets of many religions. I wonder as we grow older if our opinions will sway back towards more faith or less?

@ KO – Thanks so much for sharing a different perspective. I like the idea of not being religious, but being spiritual. And while I definitely understand and respect organized religion, I do see how it’s not for everyone. I appreciate you sharing the ways your building your own traditions.

I think with all questions like this, we have to define “religion.”

If we mean the commonly accepted organized religions led by belief systems in God(s), etc. or if we mean any type of organized belief requiring personal sacrifice and adoption of a specific set of morals (which could include certain secular practices or quasi-religious practices).

I suppose I would say Gen Y is losing the tradition concept of organized , God(s)-led religion, but is eager to substitute other things that are very religious in nature. The Eco-conscious movement is one example, or the adoption of certain socio-political beliefs as another.

I think that humans are innately driven to seek community, order, and principles-based living, and even if they are fleeing from Christianity, for example, they will find surrogates for the need to have a “higher purpose.”

Hey Rebecca! Great video! I’ve frequented your site for a while now but never posted. This video however just seemed to interesting to pass up. I apologize if there are any formatting issues, I’m not accustomed to posting comments to sites.

I too can very directly identify with this concept of losing religion. Growing up my family was, and in many cases still is, very religious. Through a set of experiences both growing up and into adult life I’ve concluded that I cannot accept the idea of a personal God or consciousness that is somehow involved at all with our day to day routines. The idea that there is “a higher power” seems plausible to me but is often, in my opinion, a mask for a “god who isn’t god” concept.

As for areas of life that have been infused with religiousness, I tend to either ignore them (Lent for example) or simply focus on the more secular versions (Christmas as a time for reflection and giving for example). My wife and I were married within a church by a minister. I found no real conflict with this, I did not utilize the ceremony as an opportunity to seek God’s blessing but viewed the ceremony as a cultural tradition I was willing to indulge for the sake of those in which it was important too (family, friends, my wife wanting an actual ceremony). Though, since that time, I have developed stronger opinions on religion and could possibly see myself facing a greater dilemma if I were to find myself needing to remarry. As for funerals, I think they may be the easiest to comprehend without a religious idea attached. To focus on the life one lived and fond memories would be fine for me. I need not have my family comforted with the idea of me existing beyond death but out of their reach. I am fonder and even aim for a memory of a person that willingly accepted this life as “all there is” and therefore aimed to make the most of it while he could.

I’m sure this will spark some passionate conversation and debate.

My family is Italian-Catholic (extended family that is). I was however, baptized and attended church on major holidays with my family growing up. my parents have been extremely open and exercises what I would call faith AND spirituality, but I don’t call myself Catholic or find an affinity with a particular religion. My family meditates and passed that ontp me, as a way to release stress, spend time with yourself and reflect. They also appreciate and believe in a higher power, which I do too.

I feel like 90% of my Gen Y friends are not religious. That’s a broad statement, but it’s true. I have friends of “all religions” but it sort of ended with their parents, and their open-minded choice seems to embrace many thoughts and practices. I think that Gen Y is losing religion and I don’t think it’s a bad thing, but I do believe in BELIEVING IN SOMETHING. I think exercising faith is good for prosperity and growth and if we lose that, where to next?

My most religious friends, that are still practicing, are Jewish. I love the community they’re part of and that they believe and practice their denoted religion. It’s beautiful. The part about religion that really turns me off is when it’s imposed upon someone else. I have a hard time believing there is only ONE way and that if I “sin” then I should feel guilty. Says who, sinning, what?

I almost want to send out a poll to Gen Y and see the reactions and answers to religion (like you have here). Interesting as always, Rebecca :)

I think this is the real crux of the matter in “young people aren’t religious anymore.” The truth is that we are NOT a religious generation. I’ve spent a lot of time and brain efforts trying to figure out why that is. For awhile I considered that maybe we have become so disenfranchised with the commercialization and insincerity of a lot of organized religions. Then I thought about the lies and power plays that organized religion makes. All these things have been contemplated and “done before” though (hello existentialism or Spanish Inquisition?!)

I believe that we are a generation that for the first time has been extremely exposed to different thoughts and experiences and cultures like none before us. Wherein before only the philosophers and vagrant travelers mixed east and west beliefs now all we need is to Google “reincarnation” or pop in a eastern yogic DVD or heck even pick up a copy of Eat, Pray, Love. We don’t have a religion because our beliefs have been formed by many religions…we have become spiritual beings, not followers of a particular sect or church.

For Gen Y, I think the shift comes down to 2 (over-simplified) things:

– Distrust of large, authoritarian entities (see Gen Y’s love/hate relationships with corporate America, big business and “because-I-said-so” leadership)
– Rapid technological advancement leading to a deeper understanding of global neighbors

In other words, we no longer trust structures or people “just because.” And many religious arguments (apologetics) eventually devolve into that line of reasoning. Gen Y doesn’t buy it.

And, we’ve been exposed to more people and ideas than previous generations. We know more about world religions because we’ve traveled to other countries, seen and learned about other faiths and been exposed to different ideas. Our parents might not have had these experiences and thus became/stayed Christian(s) because that’s what everyone they knew did.

As most people have said, there is a BIG difference between religion/faith/church attendance. On the whole, America’s religious landscape is shifting (and has been for 200+ years. Gen Y brings the discussion of that shift to the forefront – because they blog about it. :)

For me, that’s what makes it all so exciting.

Great discussion starter, Rebecca.

In many ways I look at the evolution in religious beliefs a lot like homosexuality. Though homosexuality is much more understood and accepted now in 2009 than it was 20 or 30 years ago, and especially 40+ years ago, I don’t necessarily believe that less people were gay in those times. I believe people feared coming out and were ignorant to their own feelings because of the way people were raised and what was culturally acceptable.

With religion, I think it is a very similar phenomenon, where many people questioned religion altogether for years however it was so taboo to express these concerns and doubts. Now, we’ve evolved as a country, as independent thinkers, and as a generation where we fear less what others will think.

I am an atheist and I have felt this way for a long time, however growing up I questioned it even more because I was such a minority. The more people speak openly about their ability to leave a meaningful, deep, and happy life without any religious beliefs, the more others will feel comfortable doing the same.

This is not to say that there is a right or wrong, but atheism has always been the worse case scenario. It’s bad enough if you aren’t the same religion as everyone else, but if you are atheist – well then what do you believe in?

We’ve got a long way to go, but I’m proud to be part of a generation unafraid to express their religious views or lack of.

I feel that the younger generation is more about “purpose” and less about “protocol.” I actually think people are more into “relationship” and less about “religion.”

I can only speak for the Christian church because I am a Christian. I was also a Youth Pastor at one point. I can say that as an organization, the church is ineffective. They are not relevant, practical or friendly as a whole. Of course there are some that are exceptional, but as a whole I’d call it a “spiritual recession.”

Churches that are pro-social justice and serve the community stand out. It’s not about “telling” it’s about “showing.” People want to see what you’re all about, not be told how to live.

So I will conclude by saying, Gen Y is seeking the truth. I’m just not sure the “church” is where to find it.

I think it has to do with our generation’s way of thinking and questioning. I don’t feel that we’re necessarily losing religion I just feel that it’s becoming less of a focus. I personally questioned my religion because I didn’t like the idea of having to follow what my parents believe. So basically it’s our independent thinking that’s causing us to be looked at as less religious.

I seem to be late to the party. It’s interesting to see that a majority of the commenter’s here seem to not recognize a particular religion but still have faith in something greater.

I think the truth is that we have a lot more information available to us about religion via the internet and a lot of organized religions flaws has been brought to the forefront.

I am personally an atheist. I grew up Christian, went to 8 years of bible camp, ran some bible studies while in high school and gave up when i got to college. I looked up to people like C.S. Lewis and Josh McDowell who seemed to have it all figured out. In the end however I am comfortable with the randomness that is me and want to enjoy it as much as possible. I don’t know what happens when I die but I find comfort in not thinking there is anything afterwards and that this life is my gift … not the next life.

I haven’t read the other comments, so forgive me if I’m merely going over territory already covered, but I think the heart of this question goes to how organized religion is perceived in America today.

Turn on any news channel, scan any political website – left or right – and organized religion, for the most part, looks like that thing crazy bible thumpers do on weekends. Belonging to a church, it would seem, means you hate gays, love guns, and think Jesus was a white guy with a beard. (And his dad’s a whiter guy with a white beard.)

I know because after years in Democratic politics I thought I knew exactly what organized religion stood for. Then I found the Episcopal Church, and discovered a place that puts reason on par with scripture and tradition. That performs – gasp! – gay marriages. And that believes the questions and the search matter more than the answers. (Other denominations are like this, too, I just happen to like mine the most!)

Unfortunately, as in the political word, us moderate Christians aren’t as loud as our extremist brethren. So it’s no surprise when people think that religion, as you put it, creates a “space between ourselves and our faith.”

While you can certainly have a relationship with God or a higher power outside of church, you miss out on the thousands of years of beautiful and insightful thought that has gone in to answering those most fundamental and important questions. You pass up lifetimes of soul searching, and have far more difficulty “standing on the shoulders of giants” to explore a deeper and more meaningful relationship with God.

In the same way a great professor can make a text come alive, church services with a well educated pastor/preacher/priest/imam/rabbi/lama can open up a world of ideas that would have otherwise taken years to unfold through individual study. That’s just one of the reasons I’ve decided to give up on a successful political career to pursue a graduate degree in divinity. :-)

One final bit of advice. When picking up a bible, don’t read it like a science book. Algebra (at least for most people) doesn’t stir the soul. Faith in God doesn’t come from reason and the fundamental truth of why we exist can’t be expressed by a formula. So read the Bible – or any religious text – like you would read poetry, and measure it by those standards instead.

Good post – interesting, relevant topic.

I’m not sure that we’re losing religion per se – rather, we are sensibly responding to the modern condition.

Millenials are delaying marriage, children, and permanent employment. David Brooks of the NYtimes has noted that in 1960, roughly 70 percent of 30-year-olds had achieved these things. By 2000, fewer than 40 percent of 30-year-olds had done the same.

Married people and families are more likely to participate in religious communities. Princeton sociologist Robert Wuthnow argues that our society provides lots of structural support for children and teens, but leaves younger adults to fend for themselves during their 20s and early 30s – the decades when they’re making crucial decisions about family and work. This lack of structural support and increased self-reliance – along with delayed marriages – are all factors contributing to the decline in religious participation among millenials.

There’s a lot of literature on this topic – check out “After the Baby Boomers” by Wuthnow.