It seems that the millennial generation are rejecting faith in God and religion, and are firmly fixed on both materialism and woke social justice concerns, however those two, contradictory values, hang together. I wonder what Dr Steve Turley thinks about this; must add a comment to his YouTube site.
“Younger Americans are reshaping the country with a philosophy of life that rejects faith in God and organized worship at the same time defining success and morality in terms of personal happiness and economic social justice, a survey from the Cultural Research Center (CRC) at Arizona Christian University found.
The American Worldview Inventory (AWVI) 2021, an annual survey that examines the perspectives of adults aged 18 and over in the United States, found that while 57 percent of Millennials (born 1984-2002) consider themselves to be Christian, 43 percent “don’t know, care, or believe that God exists.”
Comparatively, 70 percent of Generation X (Gen X) Americans (born 1965-1983), 79 percent of Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964), and 83 percent of the Builder Generation (born 1927-1945) consider themselves to be Christian, while 31, 28, and 27 percent, respectively, “don’t know, care, or believe that God exists.”
According to the survey, only 48 percent of Millennials say one should “treat others as you want them to treat you,” compared to 53 percent of Gen Xers, 81 percent of Boomers, and 90 percent of Builders.
At the same time, 38 percent of Millennials agree with the statement “you try to get even with people who have wronged you,” while 33 percent of Gen Xers, 12 percent of Boomers, and 10 percent of Builders say the same.
“Gen X and the Millennials have solidified dramatic changes in the nation’s central beliefs and lifestyles,” said sociologist George Barna, CRC director of research. “The result is a culture in which core institutions, including churches, and basic ways of life are continually being radically redefined.”
Barna said the shift in America’s spiritual landscape started almost 60 years ago with progressive changes among Boomers, but that Millennials have aggressively cut ties with core biblical views and lifestyle values.
According to the survey, Millennials are “far more likely” than other generations to:
- Define success in life as happiness, personal freedom, or productivity without oppression
- Consider an abortion performed to reduce personal economic or emotional discomfort to be morally acceptable
- Consider premarital sex with someone expected to be their future spouse to be morally acceptable
- Deem reincarnation a real possibility
- Be liberal regarding fiscal and social policies
- Champion liberal theology
- Be among the “Don’ts”—people who either do not know if God exists, do not believe that He exists, or do not care if He exists
Barna included in his summary of the worldview of Millennials, as presented in his research, their tendency to perceive expansion of government will facilitate a better life and that public programs and policies should have flexible boundaries.
In addition, the sociologist noted the survey suggests younger Americans are seeking “fewer formal marriages” and “the reduced appeal of raising children.”
U.S. Census Bureau data revealed in 2020 that 42 states and Washington, DC, have continued to see their birth rates decline.
Breitbart News reported in December 2019 the U.S. birth rate, overall, has dropped for the fourth consecutive year.”
The endgame of this will ultimately be social collapse, especially given impending resource shortages from the runway demands of China, and the surging populations of Africa. I wonder how these materialists will fare in a world of scare resources? Not for long, that is for sure! Such is the clear limit of materialism, because the goodies can run out. Good times always come to an end, and the rich fruits of today, will shrivel on the vine tomorrow.
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
3 What does man gain by all the toil
at which he toils under the sun?
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,
but the earth remains forever.
5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down,
and hastens to the place where it rises.
6 The wind blows to the south
and goes around to the north;
around and around goes the wind,
and on its circuits the wind returns.
7 All streams run to the sea,
but the sea is not full;
to the place where the streams flow,
there they flow again.
8 All things are full of weariness;
a man cannot utter it;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there a thing of which it is said,
“See, this is new”?
It has been already
in the ages before us.
11 There is no remembrance of former things,[d]
nor will there be any remembrance
of later things[e] yet to be
among those who come after.
Ecclesiastes 1