When asked to give examples of spirituality, they mentioned specific practices such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, prayer, tarot card reading, and art appreciation, and for many, spirituality is simply believing in It has become clear that this is something that people should do instead.
Young people do not believe that institutions play the same role in spirituality as religion. “devout Christians go to church a lot,” explained Evelyn Stobin, who grew up in Federal Way, Washington. In contrast, someone who is spiritually Christian may “follow faith in God and the Bible.” “They may still go to church, but it’s not as important as their personal faith,” she said.
Most people said they could customize their spirituality, and many people said they adopted many traditions and community practices. Gina Akorede, a 19-year-old from Antioch, Illinois, said her peers feel spirituality offers more options than religion and doesn’t “demand too much from us.” said. She added that spirituality is “like choosing your own adventure.”
Spirituality avoids the pitfalls of religion
Most of the young people we spoke to believed that their generation was more interested in spirituality than their parents. When asked why they thought so, the most common response was how spirituality can avoid the pitfalls of religion.
Some viewed religious institutions as corrupt and said they believed spirituality would avoid this type of burden (although this was not always the case). Lesleen Brown, 21, from Paterson, New Jersey, whose parents are devout Seventh-day Adventists, said young people turning to spirituality often have a negative image of religious groups. “I’m still invested in finding something,” he said. Higher truth. ”
Most of the young people we spoke to considered spirituality to be more in line with their values than their parents’ religion. Blair Carpenter, from Portland, Maine, said religion “can be rooted in outdated, conservative values that are no longer aligned with our more progressive vision of the future.” Ta.
Kianna Smiliani, 25, from Hudson, New Hampshire, said she stopped attending services because she disagreed with the moral teachings of her parents’ evangelical church. “My parents are able to put those differences aside and enjoy the community and the church life,” Kianna said. “It just wasn’t enough for me.” Mackenzie Fitzpatrick, 27, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, shared a similar reason for leaving the church during her childhood. She was raised Catholic, but when she asked her priest why women weren’t ordained, she said, “She couldn’t get an answer that wasn’t deeply rooted in sexism.” ”. That’s when she realized she “couldn’t align with that belief system anymore.”
The issue that drives young people away from religion the most is the anti-LGBTQ+ stance of some religious communities. A recent study by PRRI found that 60% of young people who no longer identify with their childhood religion leave the religion because of negative teachings and treatment of gays and lesbians. . Stobin, who identifies as queer, says this has to do with the growing interest in spirituality within the community. “Some people who were raised Christian are more spiritual because while the faith may still be important to them, the system is hostile.”
