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Millennials are abandoning organized religion. A new study provides insight into why (www.psypost.org)

submitted 3 days ago by bytesonbike@discuss.online to c/atheism@lemmy.world

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Over the past few decades, the number of Americans who identify as religiously unaffiliated—often referred to as “nones”—has grown rapidly. In the 1970s, only about 5% of Americans fell into this category. Today, that number exceeds 25%. Scholars have debated whether this change simply reflects a general decline in belief, or whether it signals something more complex. The research team wanted to explore the deeper forces at play: Why are people leaving institutional religion? What are they replacing it with? And how are their personal values shaping that process?

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[-] MolecularCactus1324@lemmy.world 13 points 3 days ago

Gen-Z is all about it though. Gen-Z is stupid and backwards… voting for Trump, going to church. What a bunch of losers.

[-] Microplasticbrain@lemm.ee 8 points 3 days ago

It's cool they'll learn there's no god when trump drafts their asses

[-] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 8 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

To understand these trends more fully, the researchers analyzed interview data from 54 participants whose religious involvement had significantly declined over the decade.

These interviews revealed a recurring theme: many young people left institutional religion not because they stopped caring about spirituality, but because they felt a growing disconnect between their personal values and the teachings or practices of religious organizations. They spoke of churches that felt judgmental, hypocritical, or out of touch—particularly on issues of gender and sexuality. Participants described feeling alienated by institutions that seemed to limit, rather than support, their pursuit of authenticity, justice, and self-understanding.

[-] twice_hatch@midwest.social 3 points 3 days ago

I'm not technically leaving religion, I was raised atheist and just never got the hang of believing in supernatural things.

I believe some CRAZY stuff but it's not supernatural

[-] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago

I don’t consider myself spiritual but I meditate sometimes because it helps my mental health. Not sure how I’d be counted in this survey.

[-] athairmor@lemmy.world 13 points 3 days ago

Meditation and its benefits can exist absent any religious/spiritual beliefs.

I would never answer in the affirmative a poll asking if I was religious or attended religious services based on my meditation habits.

[-] Zachariah@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago

sounds like disorganized religion

[-] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago

I also consider myself a Last Thursdayist so that tracks

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this post was submitted on 16 Jun 2025

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