What does religion mean?
The Oxford Dictionary defines religion as, yes, belief in God, but also as "a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance." The question of millennials' religious tendencies, therefore, is twofold: belief in God and importance in their lives. According to the article, 80% of millennials still believe in God, therefore 80% ascribe to the first definition of religion. While that might be a low number in the history of American belief, it's still a significant majority. Where the falloff occurs is in the other definition of religion. Millennials are not placing belief in God as their supreme pursuit or interest, but that is not to say they ascribe that importance to nothing. Social issues and political activism - what I will refer to as politics - have taken the forefront. Indeed, as the article points out, "millennial members have different views on certain social matters than their older counterparts. For example, despite their religious ties, they are more likely to believe homosexuality and gay marriage should be accepted." Because a certain "religion" might not align with their belief in equal rights, they cease to attend church and affiliate with a certain sect, simultaneously reinforcing their religion of political/social activism.
Faith, Love, and Politics
At the recent World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, I attended a lecture on interfaith marriage by author Naomi Schaefer Riley at which she described data from her recent survey and book regarding the increasing number and nature of interfaith couples in America. An interesting statistic, though, was that while interfaith couples have steadily increased, inter-political couples have remained very stagnant at a low percentage. She ascribed this to Americans being more comfortable with talking openly about politics. On a first date, for example, Americans are generally more willing to engage in political conversation than in faith debates, she said. Not only are they more willing, but they think it is even more important.
I have seen this phenomenon within my own acquaintances. A friend will question why I think it is important to discuss religious expectations with my significant other (who is Jewish; I am Catholic) and tell me I shouldn't let religion get in the way; she simultaneously says to me she would never be able to date - never mind marry - anyone who isn't a staunch and radical feminist. She would obviously bring up an intense political topic on a first date and make a judgment call on whether to take the relationship further based on the answers; his religious affiliation would probably not arise or, if it did, be promptly brushed off. Political affiliation and beliefs are key to pursuing a life together, it would seem, and faith is not.
What do they believe?
"Religions" today are being boiled down to their political beliefs. Millennials are choosing to no longer affiliate with certain churches because they don't support homosexual marriage, they don't support abortion, they don't support women, etc etc the list goes on. Are these topics, though, what these churches are really about? The answer is no, but in today's climate the same issues are talked about again and again and retaliation and full participation in the conversation is necessary, thanks to globalism and social media and all that jazz.
But let's get back to the basics. Basic tenants of Catholicism (aka the Nicene Creed): I believe in God the father; in Jesus the son who was born of a virgin, died on a cross, and rose again; in the Holy Spirit; the holy universal church; the communion of saints (dead people in heaven); the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of my body at the end time so that I live eternally. That's it! There's no add-on of "Oh, and that homosexuality is wrong." Homosexuality just is NOT the prime concern. It's not why Christ came. It's not why the Church started or has carried on. So why do we have to torture this topic to death when there are so many other things to think about that define Catholicism (or all other religious sects that face this issue) more deeply?
The Right to Religion
The very first part of the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights, the beginning of the Constitution of the United States, is: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Religion was the first and foremost concern of the founding fathers. Why is it, then, that every election season the public is lambasted with prideful statements of "I Voted" and "If you don't vote, you don't have a say" and claims that voting is the first and foremost American right? Voting is extremely important, and an awesome right, but to say it is the first right is just simply wrong. Religion is. But this proves my point exactly: religion still is, in some sense, just in the form of politics. Voting - political power - is now of supreme importance, not the freedom to practice a certain kind of faith.
Millennials may be changing their religion, but they are still religious. What they need to remember is the "free exercise" clause, and allow others to believe things perhaps differently than they do, all the while pursuing mutual understanding and respect. In the meantime, I am going to start wearing a sticker that says "I went to church" each Sunday.
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