OMG! How Generation Y Is Redefining Faith in the iPod Era. - Circle

Portrait Of The God-less
(Percent Responding)
The God-less
The
Undecided
middle
The Godly
Total 27 46 27
No denominational
66 32 2
preference
Jewish 40 47 14
Men 33 44 23
College Educated Men 39 36 26
Northeast 41 49 10
Asian Americans 38 39 23
OMG! 2004
The Undecided (46 percent of Generation Y) Middle
A plurality of Generation Y falls in the middle, somewhere in between religious attachment and
disinterest in the face of other more pressing matters. They may have had sporadic religious training or
practice during their formative years and that minimal commitment continues into adulthood. They may be
moving away from the traditions of their parents –especially if they are the children of immigrants and are
in the process of integrating into American society. They may be dropping off from religious attachment
but will re-engage when they marry and/or have children and want their families to have a religious
commitment. Their religious attachment is mainly informal, more expressive than ritualistic and integration
into traditional religious institutions is limited to the occasional visits during the holidays.
Youth in the Undecided middle do not reject religion –over half strongly agree that religion is an
important part of their lives and nearly half will call themselves religious (48 percent). Most identify with
a religious denomination, with only 16 percent saying they are nothing. They are almost as likely as the
Godly to worry about their relationship with God (21 vs. 29 percent very worried respectively), but they
are more worried about getting a STD (41 percent), finding a job (37 percent), and grades at school (29
percent). Their religion (38 percent very important) –as a way to describe themselves– is tied with sexual
preference (39 percent), but somewhat higher than their gender (33 percent), their generation (32 percent),
and their job (30 percent).
But they are not particularly integrated into formal religious practice –26 percent say they go to
worship services every week and only 37 percent say they volunteer through a religious group (and only 22
percent say they volunteer regularly). They are somewhat more likely to say that they engage in religious
practices informally –by praying before meals (41 percent daily, 60 percent weekly), talking with friends
about religion (6 percent daily, 31 percent weekly) and reading religious materials (7 percent daily, 27
percent weekly). Few regularly participate in religious group activities (informal religious groups 8 percent
weekly, religious music group 3 percent weekly, and volunteer 7 percent weekly).
23
How Generation Y Is Redefining Faith In The iPod Era