Old Content:

Atheist America? Try ‘Generation’

October 22, 2007 by Kyle Brady
Tags: America, Future
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The BBC seems to think that America is experiencing a "phase" of Atheism, and that we are supposedly the "most religious country in the world." There's a few things wrong here...

The BBC

Does it seem weird to anyone else that the BBC, a most-definitely non-American news source, is reporting on one of the hardest things to track... inside America? Something tells me their Canadian/British point of view might have skewed things a little bit, especially considering we kicked the Union Jack to the ground a long time ago...

American Duality

I'm not going to assume that the rest of the world knows this, but within America people are more than aware of the dual nature of things, and the ability to create smoke-and-mirrors like no other culture, country, or organization. Why is this important? All children are brought up in America knowing the Pledge of Allegiance, which includes the phrase "One Nation, Under God", and seeing the phrase "In God We Trust" on our currency. And yet, these same children are also taught of the innate separation of Church and State, and the importance of that dynamic.

Many Americans pride themselves on being able to say one thing, and do another... this is a perfect example. While we claim that America is not affiliated with any religion, think about the religious preferences and other characteristics of our current and past Presidents. One phrase comes to mind: "WASP" (or a slight permutation of it).

Religion

There are more religions inside the boundaries of America than I can even count; some of them aren't even real (*cough* Scientology *cough*). With so many choices, it would be hard to pin a certain religion to any group of people, especially when you consider that many Americans "believe in God" but don't associate themselves with a specific church or religion, and may not attend any services/gatherings.

Difference of Generation

It's widely known that today's younger generations (15 - late 20's), across the world, have been radically changing behaviors and ideas that were previously accepted the de facto standard. Asia is a good example of this, with the lessening importance on their past culture and a greater focus on Americanization.

Now, consider statistics you may find on atheism/agnosticism. What you should discover is that there exists the typical pockets of "non-believers" in the science/engineering/academic sectors, but that there is an interesting correlation ... today's teenagers and young adults believe in God (or some equivalent) substantially less than previous generations.

Why?

(There are no real reasons you can define for this, so I'll just provide my own personal speculations, which may or may not be valid.)

With the advent of technology and a greater awareness of science, those involved statistically don't believe in a higher being. Considering the rate of adoption for technology in the younger age groups, this is a valid point to consider. Does an understanding of how a computer works lead to a disbelief in God? Or does the understanding of DNA, and the science behind evolution?

Not only does science/technology seem to play a great role in this, but perhaps a mere factor of "time" as well. Between video games, school, the Internet, friends, sports, etc. an American's time is very much divided... and sitting with a group of people in a room or building being, for all intents and purposes, silent may be seen as a waste of time, or not an efficient use. Church is no longer just "boring" but it "doesn't fit" into their schedules.

Future

I'm not arguing that religion has disappeared from America's horizons, but instead suggesting that it may do so in the near future. Analysts have suggested that when my generation matures in 20 years there may be significant changes in things currently taken for granted... can religion be one of these? We all expect to have computers implanted in our heads, cellphones in our ears, and other such technological advancements.

Where is the room for a belief in a controlling supernatural force?

Old Content posts are leftovers from a less structured, less civilzed era that are kept for posterity.
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