Religion in Millennials

Religion is a difficult topic to discuss.  It has always been a dividing point in societies.  Religion has been at the basis of many wars and disputes.  In our current Millennial society religion is often viewed as forgotten, but it is still at the center of many of our everyday actions.  Religion is closely associated with morality and ethics and in today’s society where many of our decisions are permanently documented our decisions are more public than ever.  For this reason it would appear that religions sentiments should be heavily ingrained in society even if religious practice is not.

In the screening of The Secret Life of the American Teenager there is an extreme depiction of how religious beliefs can impact ones life.  The concept of sex penetrates all aspects of the show.  The shows main character is faced with the dilemma of what to do as a pregnant teen.  Her two friends quarrel over the course of action that should be taken and whether or not abortion is a legitimate option.  This contention with abortion is one that resonates with a lot of religious groups.  The most blatant display of religion in the show is when Grace, a very religious girl, comes to school with a promise ring.  Her boyfriend is shocked by this new accessory and realizes that he is unable to live within the confines of a religious abstinence driven life.  He cheats on his girlfriend and then seeks forgiveness, quoting that God forgives for sins.  He claims that he is a Christian and a Man but that he doesn’t know how to be both.  In the olden days when religion was ingrained in culture in some societies it would’ve been impossible to be perceived as a true man if you weren’t Christian.  For this troubled teenager the two definitions of Man and Christian could not appear any more different.  Our social definitions are not always in line with factual definitions, in this show dominated by sex the extreme differences between socially accepted norms and religiously accepted norms are on display.

The show Supernatural provided a very different examination of religious sentiments.  Supernatural is a show not based on reality but instead on a fictitious life where demons have come to try to take over.  In this show the main character has arisen from the dead and returned from hell.  The show builds on many commonly accepted traits such as TV and radio static symbolizing trouble.  The cliché references turned me off of the show.  I also found it incredible that the main characters so quickly accept the concept of demons, but when Castellano confronts Dean and claims to be an angel of the lord Dean asserts that there is no such thing.  It says something that we are so quick to accept demons and bad and yet we hold such reserves against the possibility of a good angel existing.

As described in the “Religion Among the Millennials” article although religion as an organization may be dying, the sentiments still resonate strongly in society.  Religion is a complicated front that many people feel uncomfortable discussing and yet the beliefs it embodies have not been forgotten.  I personally do not strongly associate with an organized religion and yet God and the moral values religion embraces drive my life.  I feel that this is the thought of many Millennials.  This viewpoint gives our generation the benefits of ethical guidance without the dangers of religious corruption.

 

 

 

One comment

  1. I think this a great write up of current millennial feeling regarding religion and participation in that experience. Your sentence, “This viewpoint gives our generation the benefits of ethical guidance without the dangers of religious corruption.” relates directly to how I interpreted our readings and feel that the morals and values are still present within the millennial generation.

    Also like your post on Bonds! Lots of SF/LA rivalry.

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