Introduction
There have been several studies conducted to see how age affects religion. However, can this information be used to answer complex questions? This is where my question comes in: “How did religious values evolve through generations in America?”. I formulated this question because of my deep curiosity about religion and the effect it has on so many people. As someone who has lived in the United States their whole life, I have been exposed to a slew of religions, from Christianity to Islam to Hinduism and much more. Still, the most interesting take away from it all is how much these individuals value their religion, regardless of what religion it is. How do these values affect individuals’ morals, practices, and beliefs? While these observations are intriguing, they made me think even more that religious values vary depending on what generation you are a part of. This thought finally made me formulate my question, and I want to know how these values changed overtime. Whether older generations have more religious values then younger generations or vice versa; and if so why? What made this change occur?
What is religious value?
Every individual in society has their own set of values. Religious value is very simple: it is the beliefs and practices of a religion. However, religious values can vary depending on the individual. This is relevant because everyone has their own ideals. Most of these values stem from a person’s religious background and how they identify with their own religious identity. Religion’s values are supplementary in the sense that they provide objects or instruments for interests that have formed independently. To add on, “The values of religion are “disciplinary” in so far as they fulfil a remnant of interests only at the cost of abandoning the rest.”( Perry 12) This lesson of experience teaches one, not how to get what one wants, but what not to want, or how to do without. An example would be a child that began to learn that in order to possess at all he must give up. In religion, this emerges itself in the understanding that the god will only assist his devotees on a conditional basis. He will not answer all prayers, but only those for specific items. Through this, individuals learn to be thankful for favors and regard god. Thus, Religion can promise you what you desire, or it can teach you how to minimize your wants and promise the remnant. It might offer you new values in exchange for what you want. This journal entry illustrates how religion symbolizes the maximum level of good that we may hope for or anticipate in this life. Consequently, losing one’s religion is akin to receiving bad news, which lowers one’s expectations and leads to the abandonment of hopes.
Religious Values of Older People
Religion and values appear to have an influence on elderly folks. A number of studies have shown that religious involvement varies by age, with older people being more religious compared to younger people. The journal article “Religious Values” shows a study that utilizes 35 years of survey data from 420 four-generation households and in-depth interviews with a subset of 25 families. The study looked at whether religiosity increased with age. The answer is yes for a large number of people.
When asked, “How would you describe God’s role in your life?” For example, Several Gls in the sample described God as an abstract, external influence, a powerful God, or a tremendous natural force controlling people’s lives from on high. Adding on, Myrna Jackson, a 95-year-old who is a “Bible-believing Christian,” described her beliefs this way: “I know that there’s another power above us. All I have to do is look out in the morning and see the sunshine and, all the different—the birds singing.” (Harris 372) Jackson is a christian, believes in god that has power above us and in the bible. This supports the claim that older people are more religious with a strong belief system.
As Kenneth Brigham, an 88-year-old “nondenominational Christian,” put it: “I believe there is a higher entity, sort of bird-dogging you, watching you, and [so] you’ve got to be a good person.”(Harris 372) Similar to Jackson, Brigham also believes there’s a higher power above that is watching over our daily actions. These examples demonstrate how religious values are important to the two elder individuals and it motivates them to be morally good people.
According to “Religion and spirituality in older people” states “More than 90% of elderly people identify themselves as being religious/spiritual” (Intriago 1). The elderly regard religion as a positive , believing that it helps them face life with more endurance and faith. Religion is beneficial in both mental and physical ways. A sense of community is a huge benefit for elderly people who join a church or spiritual group. Religious groups offer supportive relationships that can assist with both practical requirements like meals and transportation along with emotional and mental assistance. Religious people live longer for various reasons. Since they tend to exercise more, eat healthy, smoke less, and attend preventive screenings. Through this, The elderly religious people have decreased rates of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and blood pressure. For these reasons, religious values are vital to the older generation.
Religious Values of Younger Generations
Did you know Generation Z is the least religious generation? This generation’s trend toward non-religiousness is most likely to continue. For instance, the article “Gen Z Is the Least Religious Generation. Here’s Why That Could Be a Good Thing.” states “My 17-year-old daughter, Sheila, does not believe in God. She attended church twice when we were trying to decide whether to raise her with religion (we decided against it). Her circle of close friends is diverse in many ways: white, black, Latina, Jewish, Indian; three identify as bi or gay” (Manning 1). However, They are less diverse when it comes to religion and it’s values. The parent believes that religion isn’t significant to this generation. Sheila and her companions represent an increasing tendency among her generation’s youth. Since they are more likely to identify as atheists or agnostics, Gen Z looks to have even less religious affiliations than Millennials (21 percent vs. 15 percent). This generation’s trend toward non-religiousness is likely to continue and demographic factor is one of them. The drop in religious connection that began with the Baby Boomers, each following generation is raising fewer children in religious families. Those who do keep religion will typically take a “religious-lite” approach, attending services only on occasion and celebrating holidays as cultural events that have lost much of their original meaning and value. Traditional options are largely rejected by Generation Z. An example is identifying as sexual identity this flexibility can extend to religion. When Gen Z Responds none to a religious question on a survey, they are essentially opting out of current religious groups. Some individuals perceive the decline of religion among young Americans as a conflict with a valid reason. “A significant body of literature suggests that youth with high religious commitment do better on a variety of social measures (use of drugs and alcohol, promiscuity, depression, grades in school) than those with weak religious ties”(Manning 9). This implies that young people who were not raised in a religious family are more resistant to societal pressure and tolerate diversity than their religious peers. Younger generations’ religious values appear to be relatively poor.
Counterclaim
After extensive research it is clear that older people are more religious and have several more religious values than younger individuals in America. On the contrary, it can be argued that this statement is false. There are many who push the narrative that religiousness and religious value between age groups don’t vary as much. The article “Younger people are less religious than older ones in many countries, especially in the U.S and Europe” contrary to the article’s title it gives plenty of convincing evidence that the gap of the disparity in religious beliefs between generations is not as severe as it appears. When discussing the difference in religious age gaps in America it is said that “ 43% of people under age 40 say religion is very important to them, compared with 60% of adults ages 40 and over”(Kramer 26). This evidence proves that although there is a difference between religious amongst different ages 43% of Americans 40 and below are still very religious. Therefore, religion is not lost amongst the younger generation contrary to popular belief.
When analyzing countries such as Poland you can see that, “including Poland, where just 16% of adults under 40 say religion is very important, compared with 40% of older people who say this”(Kramer 34). In Poland the demographic of religious individuals under the age of 40 is significantly less compared to those in the United States. In addition, outside of the United States there are several regions in the world that show almost no religious age gap especially in the Sub-Saharan African region. This information is displayed “ sub-Saharan Africa –world’s fastest population growth – also has the smallest age gap on importance of religion and has a high rate of religious commitment overall.”(Kramer 10) Due to sub-Saharan Africa being the world’s most fastest growing region and a “average country in the region, 88% of younger adults and 89% of older adults say that religion is very important in their lives” (Kramer 10) which illustrates that all age groups are religious and most likely hold similar religious values. You may now ask how does this relate to America at all? Well, due to Sub-Saharan-Africa being the fastest growing population growth in the world that will cause migration. People will begin to migrate to different countries such as the United States bringing their culture, religion, and religious values. As all immigrants from various countries do, they carry their religion with them to America and pass it down to their children making it last for generations upon generations. Therefore, religious values and religiousness will continue and stay strong through all age groups.
Although those that oppose have a strong argument, there is not enough evidence to back their claims. Yes, it is true that the differences in religion and age is not that large of a gap, it is most definitely there and increasing as we speak. Also, young adults and teenagers are becoming more spiritual and regardless of their parents’ efforts of passing on their culture and religious values they don’t care and give into modern western society and do what they please. This trend will continue as time goes on and the statement older people are more religious than younger individuals will always stand.
Summary and Conclusion
How did religious values evolve through generations in America? To answer this another question must be asked and answered : does religiousness increase with age? The answer is yes, religiousness increases with age and this statement is correct for a large group of elderly people. With extensive research and questioning of older people most of them say to believe in a higher power or God. They go to church and practice their religions, if not everyday fairly often. Nevertheless, this will cause people to wonder why? Why are older people more religious than younger people? Unfortunately, there is no definite answer. Some believe it’s because they use it as hope because they don’t know what awaits them after death. While others lean to the idea that it’s because of the relationship they had with their parents at a young age which influenced them to carry on their religion and religious values. This leads us to the analysis of religiousness of younger generations. As you could assume younger generations or younger people are less religious than older generations but why is this true? In short, since baby boomers each generation raises fewer children in religious families. Also, for those who claim to be religious in younger generations like Gen Z or Millennials it is not truly religious. They will occasionally go to church( mosque,synagogue, depending on religion) or only practice on holidays or events that have cultural and religious meaning. Younger generations are also less religious because of religious treatment towards sexuality. In most religious if you are not heterosexual it is considered a sin making religion a turn off for a lot of younger individuals because they do not feel including or welcomed. Therefore, because younger generations are less religious they have little to no religious values that they use in their everyday lives. As a result, of analysing the religiousness of older and younger generations it is safe to assume religious values in America have changed from being a huge part of Americans lives to now not being such an important part of their lives.
Sources
Bengtson, Vern L., et al. “Does Religiousness Increase with Age? Age Changes and Generational Differences Over 35 Years.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, vol. 54, no. 2, [Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Wiley], 2015, pp. 363–79, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24644346
Perry, Ralph Barton. “Religious Values.” The American Journal of Theology, vol. 19, no. 1, University of Chicago Press, 1915, pp. 1–16, http://www.jstor.org/stable/3155893
Apr.30.2021, J. I. J. I. U., Intriago, J. I. J., & Intriago, J. (2021, November 3). Religion and spirituality in older people. SeniorsMatter. Retrieved November 15, 2021, from https://www.seniorsmatter.com/religion-spirituality-older-people/2492159/
Manning, C. J. (2019, May 6). Gen Z is the least religious generation. here’s why that could be a good thing. Pacific Standard. Retrieved November 15, 2021, from https://psmag.com/ideas/gen-z-is-the-least-religious-generation-heres-why-that-could-be-a-good-thing
Kramer, S., & Fahmy, D. (2020, May 31). Younger people are less religious than older ones in many countries. Pew Research Center. Retrieved November 15, 2021, from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/06/13/younger-people-are-less-religious-than-older-ones-in-many-countries-especially-in-the-u-s-and-europe/
