What god? Young people reveal their secular side
6 August, 2006 - SMH
FEWER than half of Australia's young people believe in a god and many believe there is little truth in religion, a new study has found.
The three-year national study, a joint project between Monash University, the Australian Catholic University and the Christian Research Association, found many young people followed a secular, rather than a religious path.
The study, The Spirit of Generation Y, found just 48 per cent of Generation Y, defined as those being born between 1976 and 1990, believed in a god.
Andrew Singleton, from Monash University, a co-author of the study, said they were surprised by the findings. [...]
The survey, of 1619 people, found 20 per cent did not believe in a god and 32 per cent were unsure.
Meanwhile, 31 per cent of Generation Y were classified as humanists, rejecting the idea of a god, although some believed in a higher being.
Dr Singleton said that by comparison, baby boomers now had higher levels of regular churchgoers and believers in a god. Instead, those in Generation Y had more in common with their Generation X counterparts - those born between 1961 and 1975.
He said the trend away from organised religion was likely to continue. "We live in a very individualistic society and I don't see a lot of things challenging that," he said.
"One of the many predictors of whether we become religious is our parents and unless there is a massive cultural shift, the trajectory will continue," Dr Singleton said.
The researchers said many young Australians were humanists, rejecting belief in a god for a belief in experience and reason.
Anglican Bishop of South Sydney, Robert Forsyth, said the results were expected.
"This is the first generation who probably know nothing about Christ, except those who go to Christian schools," he said. "It is sad, but in my view, it is entirely what we expected to happen." [...]
MoonlightSonata said:
ok so you point was that most people dont believe in GOD and only ussually are religious because of their parents etc., i can deffinately agree with you on that that,.. most people dont,.... but my main argument is that,.... most people hav'nt
experienced GOD, and is usually becuase they dont seek HIm or some drama in life has happend and blame GOD,.. those are just a couple of examples. And if you havnt experienced, how
can people know there is a GOD? may i share my story of how i became a christian? (im going to whether you like it or not.) i myself grew up in an average household, no religon in my family, didnt go to a christian skool, on knew of GOd being some guys dying on a cross, and without influence from friends family etc. i go to church, and experience GOD in my life... and i am still attending today without any of my family being christains. think im just a random, that goes to church, i know many of my friends, with the same story. data dosnt mean anything.
