I was impressed a couple years ago when I heard that 20% of Americans aged 18-25 had no religious affiliation or were atheist/agnostic.
Apparently, I should have been looking to Britain.
It turns out if you survey British children aged 13-18, the stats are even more favorable for non-theists.
According to a new study of 1000 teenagers (by Penguin books in the UK — I’m not sure the methodology or reliability), this is what was discovered:
- 60% of them go to church only for weddings/christenings
- 60% of them don’t think religious studies should be compulsory in schools
- 59% of them think that religion “has a negative influence on the world”
- 55% of them are not bothered about religion (Hemant adds: This means they’re essentially apathetic about religion. Thanks, commenters!)
- 50% of them have never prayed
- 41% believe nothing happens to your body when you die
- 30% of them (only 30%!) believe in an afterlife
- 16% have never been to church
- 10% of them (only 10%!) think they will be reincarnated as an animal/human
Is this just an isolated case of British awesomeness or a continuing trend toward non-religiosity?
I would love to know the results of a similar study with that age group had it been done in America. I suspect the numbers would not have been as favorable as the ones you see above, but they would’ve been close — a trend we saw occurring with Generation Next.
(Thanks to hoverFrog for the link!)
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