It's headline news: "American's are Losing their Religion."
"New research shows young Americans are dramatically less likely to go to church - or to participate in any form of organized religion - than their parents and grandparents." Harvard professor Robert Putnam conducted the research that found 30 to 40 percent of younger Americans answered "none" to questions asked about their religious affiliations, but weren't necessarily atheists. Historically this number was much lower, tallying up to 5 to 10 percent at most. Putnam calls this a "stunning development." His research will be included in a forthcoming book called "American Grace."
Have we really lost our religion? Is it something we desperately need to find, like our keys? Or have we purposefully let go of it when it was time, like tossing an empty Starbucks cup in the trash? Maybe we've simply had our fill in our childhoods, and see no point to return to those buildings for weekly worship while dropping 10% of our income into a wicker basket.
This is news? Sounds more like common sense to me. Each generation is radically different from the previous, or at least would like to think so. Most of us Generation X and Y-ers aren't going to work the same job for 30 years, collect a retirement package at age 65, pass go, move to Florida, and live happily ever after. All that social security we are paying into probably won't pan out for us. We traded in fat-free for organic, baggy button-downs for t-shirts, and religion for self-reflection and private practice.
My generation is waking up to faiths that preach to be kind to everyone and serve the poor, while rebuilding their multi-million dollar churches every year and abusing children. We don't always lose faith in God. We have lost it in the people clenching the velvet ropes. We see the sham, the ridiculousness, the corruptness that spiritual power raises in people. We don't need a building that runs like a corporation to talk to God. Heaven save us if we start meditating and realize that God is within us. All of us. Everything you need to know is right there inside of you. Meditation is free, you don't have to be anywhere in particular to practice, and you might just start to lose lots of things that you don't need anymore. Our generation is waking up to how things actually are.
Posted via web from timmmii
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