The number one trusted online resource for Catholic values
Menu
A+ A A-

The least religious generation in U.S. history: A reflection on Jean Twenge's "Igen"

  • BISHOP ROBERT BARRON

Jean Twenge's book iGen is one of the most fascinating — and depressing — texts I've read in the past decade. 


twengeA professor of psychology at San Diego State University, Dr. Twenge has been, for years, studying trends among young Americans, and her most recent book focuses on the generation born between 1995 and 2012.  Since this is the first cohort of young people who have never known a world without iPads and iPhones, and since these devices have remarkably shaped their consciousness and behavior, Twenge naturally enough has dubbed them the "iGen."

One of her many eye-opening findings is that iGen'ers are growing up much more slowly than their predecessors.  A baby-boomer typically got his driver's license on his sixteenth birthday (I did); but an iGen'er is far more willing to postpone that rite of passage, waiting until her eighteenth or nineteenth year.  Whereas previous generations were eager to get out of the house and find their own way, iGen'ers seem to like to stay at home with their parents and have a certain aversion to "adulting."  And Twenge argues that smartphones have undeniably turned this new generation in on itself.  A remarkable number of iGen'ers would rather text their friends than go out with them and would rather watch videos at home than go to a theater with others.  One of the upshots of this screen-induced introversion is a lack of social skills and another is depression. 

Now there are many more insights that Dr. Twenge shares, but I was particularly interested, for obvious reasons, in her chapter on religious attitudes and behaviors among iGen'ers.  In line with many other researchers, Twenge shows that the objective statistics in this area are alarming. 

As recently as the 1980s, 90% of high school seniors identified with a religious group.  Among iGen'ers, the figures are now around 65% and falling.  And religious practice is even more attenuated: only 28% of twelfth graders attended services in 2015, whereas the number was 40% in 1976.  For decades, sociologists of religion have been arguing that, though explicit affiliation with religious institutions was on the decline, especially among the young, most people remained "spiritual," that is to say, convinced of certain fundamental religious beliefs.  I remember many conversations with my friend Fr. Andrew Greeley along these lines.

Her book should be required reading for those who wish to evangelize the next generation.

But Twenge indicates that this is no longer true.  Whereas even twenty years ago, the overwhelming number of Americans, including youngsters, believed in God, now fully one third of 18 to 24 year olds say that they don't believe.  As late as 2004, 84% of young adults said that they regularly prayed; by 2016, fully one fourth of that same age cohort said that they never pray.  We find a similar decline in regard to acceptance of the Bible as the Word of God: one fourth of iGen'ers say that the Scriptures are a compilation of "ancient fables, legends, history, and moral precepts recorded by men." 

Her dispiriting conclusion: "The waning of private religious belief means that young generations' disassociation from religion is not just about their distrust of institutions; more are disconnecting from religion entirely, even at home and even in their hearts." 

Now what are some of the reasons for this disconnect?  One, Twenge argues, is the iGen preoccupation with individual choice.  From their earliest years, iGen'ers have been presented with a dizzying array of choices in everything from food and clothes to gadgets and lifestyles.  And they have been encouraged, by practically every song, video, and movie, to believe in themselves and follow their own dreams.  All of this self-preoccupation and stress upon individual liberty stands sharply athwart the religious ideal of surrendering to God and his purposes. 

"My life, my death, my choice" (a rather iGen friendly motto which I recently saw emblazoned on a billboard in California) sits very uneasily indeed with St.  Paul's assertion, "whether we live or we die, we are the Lord's."  A second major reason for iGen dissatisfaction with religion is one that has surfaced in lots of surveys and polls, namely, that religious belief is incompatible with a scientific view of the world. 

One young man that Twenge interviewed is typical: "Religion, at least to people my age, seems like it's something of the past.  It seems like something that isn't modern."  Another said, "I knew from church that I couldn't believe in both science and God, so that was it.  I didn't believe in God anymore."  And a third — also attested to in lots of studies — is the "antigay attitudes" supposedly endemic to Biblical Christianity.  One of Twenge's interviewees put it with admirable succinctness: "I'm questioning the existence of God.  I stopped going to church because I'm gay and was part of a gay-bashing religion."  One survey stated the statistical truth bluntly enough: 64% of 18-24 year olds believed that Christianity is antigay, and for good measure, 58% of those iGen'ers thought the Christian religion is hypocritical.

Dismal stuff, I know.  But Dr. Twenge performs a great service to all those interested in the flourishing of religion, for she lays out the objectivities unblinkingly, and this is all to the good, given our extraordinary capacity for wishful thinking and self-deception.  Further, though she doesn't tell religious educators and catechists how to respond, she unambiguously indicates what is leading this most unreligious generation in our history away from the churches.  Her book should be required reading for those who wish to evangelize the next generation.

This is Meaghen Gonzalez, Editor of CERC. I hope you appreciated this piece. We curate these articles especially for believers like you.

Please show your appreciation by making a $3 donation. CERC is entirely reader supported.

dividertop

Acknowledgement

barron Bishop Robert Barron. "The least religious generation in U.S. history: A reflection on Jean Twenge's 'Igen'" Word on Fire (October 24, 2017).

Reprinted with permission of Bishop Robert Barron.

The Author

barronBishop Robert Barron is the founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries and bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota. He is also the host of CATHOLICISM, a groundbreaking, award-winning documentary about the Catholic Faith, which aired on PBS. Bishop Barron is a #1 Amazon bestselling author and has published numerous books, essays, and articles on theology and the spiritual life. He is a religion correspondent for NBC and has also appeared on FOX News, CNN, and EWTN. Bishop Barron's website, WordOnFire.org, reaches millions of people each year, and he is one of the most-followed Catholics on social media. His regular YouTube videos have been viewed over 150 million times. Bishop Barron's pioneering work in evangelizing through the new media led Francis Cardinal George to describe him as "one of the Church's best messengers." He has keynoted many conferences and events all over the world, including the 2016 World Youth Day in Kraków, Poland, as well as the 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, which marked Pope Francis' historic visit to the United States. He is author of Exploring Catholic Theology, And Now I See: A Theology of Transformation, Thomas Aquinas: Spiritual Master, Heaven in Stone and Glass: Experiencing the Spirituality of the Great Cathedrals, Eucharist (Catholic Spirituality for Adults), The Priority of Christ: Toward a Postliberal Catholicism, and Word on Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ

Copyright © 2017 Bishop Robert Barron