The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life released the findings of its recent survey regarding the religious practices of the so-called Millennials, the generational cohort 18-29 who came of age after 2000.The report's summary declares, "Compared with their elders today, young people are much less likely to affiliate with any religious tradition or to identify themselves as part of a Christian denomination. Fully one-in-four adults under age 30 (25%) are unaffiliated, describing their religion as 'atheist,' 'agnostic' or 'nothing in particular.' This compares with less than one-fifth of people in their 30s (19%), 15% of those in their 40s, 14% of those in their 50s and 10% or less among those 60 and older."
They are less religiously affiliated. "Yet in other ways, Millennials remain fairly traditional in their religious beliefs and practices. Pew Research Center surveys show, for instance, that young adults' beliefs about life after death and the existence of heaven, hell and miracles closely resemble the beliefs of older people."
Generally, religion is just a little less important for the Millennials than for the Generation Xers who preceded them. The more significant shift relates to formal affiliations. Hence the report's title and subtitle: "Religion Among the Millennials: Less Religiously Active Than Older Americans, But Fairly Traditional In Other Ways."
In my estimation this report further fills in the emerging outline of religion in the American Experience. The shift away from affiliations while keeping much of what is called "spirituality" differentiates Americans from the rest of Western Civilization, but in an increasingly transformed fashion.
Spirituality matters still matter, while institutional religion further ebbs.
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So, do you deduce some meaning from this? What will these kids' offspring believe? Will they be less traditional because they aren't exposed to formal religion? Will the Millennials as parents talk to their kids about religion/spirituality?
kimc: I envision several consequences: 1)a growing secularization seems most likely; 2) an even greater proliferation of alternative religions and religious alternatives will attract a few of non affiliated Millennials; 3)a call for schools and similar institutions to be much more explicit in teaching values, especially civic (communal) values.
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