Generation Next in the United States
Another research on Generation Next in the United States, conducted by The Pew Research Center. A lot of information about lifestyles, values, use of technology, politics and social issues, and, for those interested in religiosity among American youngsters, the report presents some findings with respect to religion and Generation Next.
The main findings with respect to religious issues are:
A plurality of Gen Nexters (44%) identify themselves as Protestants, one quarter are Roman Catholic, and less than 10% are affiliated with some other religion, according to data compiled from all Pew Research Center surveys in 2006. The combined 2006 data also show that nearly as many Gen Next Christians as older Christians describe themselves as “born again†or evangelical Christians. However, 20% of today’s 18-25 year-olds say they have no religious affiliation or are atheist or agnostic. Only 11% of those over age 25 fall into this category. The gap between young and old has increased substantially over time. In the late 1980s, 11% of young people were non-religious,
compared with 8% of those over age 25.
Gen Nexters are among the least likely to attend church regularly: 32% attend at least once a week compared with 40% of those over age 25, and 16% say they never attend (compared with 12% among the older age groups).
In terms of religion and public life, Gen Nexters are divided about whether churches should keep out of political matters or express their views: 43% say churches should keep out and 54% say they should express their views. Nexters views on this issue are nearly identical to Gen Xers and Boomers. It is the oldest age group, arguably the most religious, that leans toward saying the church should keep out of political matters (52% keep out vs. 44% express views). Even so, Nexters are among the most likely to say the will of the American people, not the Bible, should be a more important influence on U.S. laws.
There is a clear generational divide on the issue of evolution. Nearly two-thirds of Nexters (63%) believe humans and other living things evolved over time, while only 33% say all living creatures have existed in their present form since the beginning of time. Gen Xers share a similar perspective, though they are slightly more open to the idea of creationism. Here the generational divide is among those under age 40 and those over age 40. Baby Boomers and Seniors are more closely divided over how the world came to be.
Full report here.
