Religion... oh and we're now called 'Generation Whatever'
July 17th 2008 08:24
If sloth were a sin, I'd be going to Hell- oh wait. Err, the point is, the TV station SBS is running a 6 part series on Generation Y and their thoughts on various issues, so it's like this blog on TV... only I'm in no way involved.
Well the first episode aired last night and seeing as World Youth Week or Day or whatever is currently on, it's perhaps not surprising that the topic was religion. The program interviewed Gen Yers ranging from a nun to a humanist and they spoke about their religious beliefs and what had happened to make them hold such views.
A common opinion held by just about all who participated (regardless of religious persuasion) is that the messages that religions try to send of loving one another and living under perfect justice are good and worthwhile, but the religious establishments that serve a faith seem to deviate from these messages. Those that have shunned their religious beliefs did so because they simply did not connect with the traditional rituals and felt the words they were hearing were empty. They felt that organised religion was impeding the personal and internal search for the answers to things like 'is there anything up there' and 'what is a soul'. Even those that went on to further study the religions they were brought up by said it was a personal journey because the teachings of the establishments had left them confused.
Baby Boomer sociologists who were asked to comment on Gen Y and religion labeled us 'Generation Whatever' and think that we are more lacking in apathy and more selfish than any humans before us.
Our new label is meant to reflect the fact that we will be friends and mingle with persons of all religious persuasions and because we seem to be more eclectic. The analogy they used was of a religious supermarket where one can pick and choose theories and values from multiple theologies and blend them to come up with their own divine beliefs. The danger identified in this however, is that multiple individuals that co-exist but do not share a common bond/belief are easier manipulated by governments and/or corporations because they do not have the herd to protect them. You know, strength in numbers and all that.
So, in closing, Gen Y has a tad of religiousness about it but it's mostly nothing too serious. Who wants to comment me with an opinion?
Well the first episode aired last night and seeing as World Youth Week or Day or whatever is currently on, it's perhaps not surprising that the topic was religion. The program interviewed Gen Yers ranging from a nun to a humanist and they spoke about their religious beliefs and what had happened to make them hold such views.
A common opinion held by just about all who participated (regardless of religious persuasion) is that the messages that religions try to send of loving one another and living under perfect justice are good and worthwhile, but the religious establishments that serve a faith seem to deviate from these messages. Those that have shunned their religious beliefs did so because they simply did not connect with the traditional rituals and felt the words they were hearing were empty. They felt that organised religion was impeding the personal and internal search for the answers to things like 'is there anything up there' and 'what is a soul'. Even those that went on to further study the religions they were brought up by said it was a personal journey because the teachings of the establishments had left them confused.
Baby Boomer sociologists who were asked to comment on Gen Y and religion labeled us 'Generation Whatever' and think that we are more lacking in apathy and more selfish than any humans before us.
Our new label is meant to reflect the fact that we will be friends and mingle with persons of all religious persuasions and because we seem to be more eclectic. The analogy they used was of a religious supermarket where one can pick and choose theories and values from multiple theologies and blend them to come up with their own divine beliefs. The danger identified in this however, is that multiple individuals that co-exist but do not share a common bond/belief are easier manipulated by governments and/or corporations because they do not have the herd to protect them. You know, strength in numbers and all that.
So, in closing, Gen Y has a tad of religiousness about it but it's mostly nothing too serious. Who wants to comment me with an opinion?
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