Why are the young people non-religious

[Anonymous]

So I grew up going to Church, I haven't attended regularly in almost 20 years. I think the last time I went was because my mother was receiving some sort of award and wanted the family to attend or it was my grandmother's funeral can't remember.

But, God or Christianity has never been a benefit in my life, in fact, my days in Chruch school or Church were some of my most miserable surrounded by some of the most horrible people. The biggest church goes and most faithful people I know are the biggest phonies and have been the cruelest to me, why would I want part of that?

Then add to that that that they all seem to think they are super special, but at the same time can't give a good clear reason for why the believe or why I should. No thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many of them don't like the intolerance of social issues and the hypocrisy of some Religious leaders (Catholic priests, those Evangelicals caught in extra-marital affairs, etc)

At least in this country, a lot of people, on both the right and the left, seem to buy into the idea that "real" religion = conservative and evangelical. The fact that there are lots of liberal mainline Protestants/Jews/Catholics for example, is generally ignored (let alone Hindus, Buddhists, and other religions), and only a narrow slice of religion is recognized. They are turned off by the intolerance, hypocrisy, cruelty, white supremacy, and right-wing politics that characterize the narrow slice of religion that's portrayed as legit. So they reject religion entirely, because that's all they see religion do.

+1. The Protestant churches quietly running soup kitchens and coat drives don’t get press attention. Evangelicals stumping loudly next to Trump do.

It's more like we see the Evangelicals stumping loudly next to Trump and the Protestant Churches being too quiet saying nothing about it.

No, my Protestant church has been very vocal against Trump. The media just never reports on it, for whatever reason.

[Anonymous]

I forgot to add the other thing that puts me off is the Christians who do anything to be hip and modern not because they actually care just to fill seats

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many of them don't like the intolerance of social issues and the hypocrisy of some Religious leaders (Catholic priests, those Evangelicals caught in extra-marital affairs, etc)

At least in this country, a lot of people, on both the right and the left, seem to buy into the idea that "real" religion = conservative and evangelical. The fact that there are lots of liberal mainline Protestants/Jews/Catholics for example, is generally ignored (let alone Hindus, Buddhists, and other religions), and only a narrow slice of religion is recognized. They are turned off by the intolerance, hypocrisy, cruelty, white supremacy, and right-wing politics that characterize the narrow slice of religion that's portrayed as legit. So they reject religion entirely, because that's all they see religion do.

+1. The Protestant churches quietly running soup kitchens and coat drives don’t get press attention. Evangelicals stumping loudly next to Trump do.

It's more like we see the Evangelicals stumping loudly next to Trump and the Protestant Churches being too quiet saying nothing about it.

No, my Protestant church has been very vocal against Trump. The media just never reports on it, for whatever reason.

Not just speaking out against rump, but calling out so called Christians who support him

[Anonymous]

People used to need church for social opportunities and now they don't.

[Anonymous]

The attitude that they are above criticism and are being persecuted makes me what nothing to with Christianity?

Even right here in this forum people start calling names and becoming nasty if you question anything about Christianity at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 42 and I think most religious beliefs are absurd. Take a step back and most of it isn't that far off from fantasy novels or science fiction (without the science).

Or mythology -and there are some religious people who think religion is mythology and value it as such. They also value Jesus, not for his supernatural powers or position as son of god (which they don't believe in) but in his value as a human teacher.

Well, sure. At one time, all mythology was an actively practiced religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nah, just trolls trying to deflect from the Pew post, which obviously wasn't the answer OP was looking for.

Here it is again.

Re millenials in particular, the Pew article points out that millenials are slow to make any attachments. They work several gigs instead of a full-time job, or they job hop. They live with partners instead of getting married. They decide how to vote at the last minute. All these examples are straight from the Pew article, which says, "But we're also seeing the millenials' slowness to make any kind of attachments, and to limit this to just religion is to miss the extent of what's happening."

Anybody want to say anything about this, which is in direct response to the thread topic?

1. Considering the youngest millennial is 25, only a very small portion of them can accurately be considered "young people."
2. Assuming the thesis above is accurate, and I have no reason to believe it isn't, it doesn't preclude any *other* reasons people have suggested about why young people appear less religions. More than one can be true. You seem to have a vested interest in arguing (i) the Pew article is accurate; (ii) it is the only reason young people aren't very religions; and (iii) it isn't any issue with religion itself, it's other societal norms. It almost seems like you're looking to absolve religions (I am assuming Christianity in particular) from any responsibility for declining religious affililation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 42 and I think most religious beliefs are absurd. Take a step back and most of it isn't that far off from fantasy novels or science fiction (without the science).

Or mythology -and there are some religious people who think religion is mythology and value it as such. They also value Jesus, not for his supernatural powers or position as son of god (which they don't believe in) but in his value as a human teacher.

Well, sure. At one time, all mythology was an actively practiced religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 42 and I think most religious beliefs are absurd. Take a step back and most of it isn't that far off from fantasy novels or science fiction (without the science).

Or mythology -and there are some religious people who think religion is mythology and value it as such. They also value Jesus, not for his supernatural powers or position as son of god (which they don't believe in) but in his value as a human teacher.

Well, sure. At one time, all mythology was an actively practiced religion.

Someday, people will be studying Christian mythology in school.

I know a guy who became an atheist in grade school, while studying Greek mythology and making that connection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nah, just trolls trying to deflect from the Pew post, which obviously wasn't the answer OP was looking for.

Here it is again.

Re millenials in particular, the Pew article points out that millenials are slow to make any attachments. They work several gigs instead of a full-time job, or they job hop. They live with partners instead of getting married. They decide how to vote at the last minute. All these examples are straight from the Pew article, which says, "But we're also seeing the millenials' slowness to make any kind of attachments, and to limit this to just religion is to miss the extent of what's happening."

Anybody want to say anything about this, which is in direct response to the thread topic?

1. Considering the youngest millennial is 25, only a very small portion of them can accurately be considered "young people."
2. Assuming the thesis above is accurate, and I have no reason to believe it isn't, it doesn't preclude any *other* reasons people have suggested about why young people appear less religions. More than one can be true. You seem to have a vested interest in arguing (i) the Pew article is accurate; (ii) it is the only reason young people aren't very religions; and (iii) it isn't any issue with religion itself, it's other societal norms. It almost seems like you're looking to absolve religions (I am assuming Christianity in particular) from any responsibility for declining religious affililation.

1. Millennials are 25 to 40, so yeah, many aren’t married or raising children yet, and are still in the job-hopping phase of their lives.
2. Love your speculation about religion, but Pew didn’t speak to any of that and you have no proof besides your gut hatred of religion which, let’s face it, doesn’t constitute any type of evidence.
3. Why do you people assume it always has to be about Christianity? You really have a bee in your bonnet about that religion, don’t you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nah, just trolls trying to deflect from the Pew post, which obviously wasn't the answer OP was looking for.

Here it is again.

Re millenials in particular, the Pew article points out that millenials are slow to make any attachments. They work several gigs instead of a full-time job, or they job hop. They live with partners instead of getting married. They decide how to vote at the last minute. All these examples are straight from the Pew article, which says, "But we're also seeing the millenials' slowness to make any kind of attachments, and to limit this to just religion is to miss the extent of what's happening."

Anybody want to say anything about this, which is in direct response to the thread topic?

1. Considering the youngest millennial is 25, only a very small portion of them can accurately be considered "young people."
2. Assuming the thesis above is accurate, and I have no reason to believe it isn't, it doesn't preclude any *other* reasons people have suggested about why young people appear less religions. More than one can be true. You seem to have a vested interest in arguing (i) the Pew article is accurate; (ii) it is the only reason young people aren't very religions; and (iii) it isn't any issue with religion itself, it's other societal norms. It almost seems like you're looking to absolve religions (I am assuming Christianity in particular) from any responsibility for declining religious affililation.

1. Millennials are 25 to 40, so yeah, many aren’t married or raising children yet, and are still in the job-hopping phase of their lives.
2. Love your speculation about religion, but Pew didn’t speak to any of that and you have no proof besides your gut hatred of religion which, let’s face it, doesn’t constitute any type of evidence.
3. Why do you people assume it always has to be about Christianity? You really have a bee in your bonnet about that religion, don’t you.

"you people"??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many of them don't like the intolerance of social issues and the hypocrisy of some Religious leaders (Catholic priests, those Evangelicals caught in extra-marital affairs, etc)

At least in this country, a lot of people, on both the right and the left, seem to buy into the idea that "real" religion = conservative and evangelical. The fact that there are lots of liberal mainline Protestants/Jews/Catholics for example, is generally ignored (let alone Hindus, Buddhists, and other religions), and only a narrow slice of religion is recognized. They are turned off by the intolerance, hypocrisy, cruelty, white supremacy, and right-wing politics that characterize the narrow slice of religion that's portrayed as legit. So they reject religion entirely, because that's all they see religion do.

+1. The Protestant churches quietly running soup kitchens and coat drives don’t get press attention. Evangelicals stumping loudly next to Trump do.

It's more like we see the Evangelicals stumping loudly next to Trump and the Protestant Churches being too quiet saying nothing about it.

No, my Protestant church has been very vocal against Trump. The media just never reports on it, for whatever reason.

I and lots of others do that all the time. You just haven’t been paying attention.

Not just speaking out against rump, but calling out so called Christians who support him

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I forgot to add the other thing that puts me off is the Christians who do anything to be hip and modern not because they actually care just to fill seats

What? You have issues.

[Anonymous]

My 14 yo DD and ALL of her friends are either atheist or follow science. They ABHOR religion.