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Chapter 18. Religious Identity: Young Adults versus Older Cohorts

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Religious Identity: Young Adults versus Older Cohorts

This activity explores the religious affiliations, practices, and beliefs of U.S. adults, focusing on cohort-specific data.

Click the 'Get Started' button below to start this activity

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Religious Identity: Young Adults versus Older Cohorts

According to Pew Research Center’s 2014 Religious Landscape Study, Millennials—those born between 1981 and 1996—are less religious than the three older U.S. cohorts. This decrease is attributed to the fact that, as they pass away, older adults are being replaced by younger individuals who are much less religiously attached than their parents and grandparents were at that age.

Click on the religious behaviors to see how many people in each of the generations engaged in those behaviors in 2014.

Data from Pew Research Center, November 3, 2015.





Religious Identity: Young Adults versus Older Cohorts

While the number of U.S. adults reporting that religion is “very important in their lives” increased slightly from 2007 (64 percent) to 2014 (66 percent), fewer young people believe in God, in heaven, or that their religion’s scripture is truly the word of God. As the chart below suggests, religious identity tends to increase with age.

Data from Pew Research Center, November 3, 2015.





Religious Identity: Young Adults versus Older Cohorts

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Question 1 of 1

1. Religious Identity: Young Adults versus Older Cohorts

The data in this activity show changes in religious beliefs with age, but data alone cannot ascertain reasons. Do you think the changes are more related to cohort or maturation?
Your answer will depend on your own religious beliefs and experience, along with your culture—both now and over the course of your development thus far.

Congratulations! You have completed this activity. You have received a provisional score for your essay answer, which has been submitted to your instructor.

REFERENCES

Pew Research Center. (2015, November 3). U.S. public becoming less religious: Modest drop in overall rates of belief and practice, but religiously affiliated Americans are as observant as before. Religion & Public Life. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.

Pew Research Center. (2008, June 1). U.S. religious landscape survey: Religious beliefs and practices. Religion & Public Life Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.