Collegiate Religion

The current generation of college-aged young adults—often called either Generation Y or the “Millennials”—lives in a culture of unprecedented choice and individualism.

“The iPod, Moveon, and Tivo allow their users to bypass the ‘middleman’ and take control of their own experiences, whether they are creating a song list or acting politically,” explains a new study, released April 11 at the Brookings Institute.

The merits of these technologies remain open to dispute, and there are concerns that the individualism of modern culture may erode the moorings of traditional culture. The study, “OMG! How Generation Y Is Redefining Faith In The iPod Era,” explores the role religion and tradition play in the lives of tech-savvy 18-25 year-olds.

Many of today’s young adults are uncomfortable with traditional religious practices and seek to “experiment in the making of meaning,” according to Roger Bennett, co-founder of Reboot, the organization that commissioned this study. “[We have a] generation that is a generation of seekers,” he said.

Spirituality and religion for Generation Y is very personal. Youth don’t go to church as often, said Anna Greenberg [pictured] of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, but are likely to attend Christian rock concerts or other informal venues.

Malia Lazu of the Institute for Policy Studies observed, “Churches are also using a lot more cultural stuff to get more young people to come to church.” She cited the growing popularity of hip-hop gospel music and programs such as “Dunk the Vote,” a Boston-based ministry that combines political advocacy and basketball tournaments.

The report echoes Lazu’s comments. “Do not underestimate the power of culture – music, DVD’s, the written word – as a mechanism to distribute and convey meaning through personal networks as opposed to institutional membership,” it concludes.

While the younger generation is shying away from traditional religious practices, tradition is not on the verge of extinction. A large number of religious youth identify as “born again,” and many religious youth are at odds with popular culture and the prevalence of choice. “[There is a] rising fervor of the godly to anti-choice,” said Bill Galston, director of the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. Among these young adults, “There is a deep ambivalence on the prominence of choice,” he said.

Organized religious practice, however, retains some importance. “Religion remains incredibly important in young people’s lives organizationally,” Greenberg said.. Young adults who take part in religious practices are more likely to be closer to their families, engage in civic participation, and have a clear idea of their direction in life.

Young people for whom religion plays little role—27%—have lower self-esteem than their religious counterparts. “God-less youth were drifting,” said Greenberg.

A quarter of 18-25 year-olds are “comfortable with traditional forms of religious practice,” according to the report. Forty-six percent are “uncertain, yet positive, about their religious identities.”

Larry Scholer is a staff writer at Accuracy in Academia.