Secular As Kids, Religious As Adults?

[cbayer]

http://www.religiondispatches.org/dispatches/sarahposner/7836/secular_as_kids__religious_as_adults/

April 30, 2014 1:51pm
Post by SARAH POSNER

At Vox.com, Dylan Matthews argues (with charts) that the retention rate among people raised with no religion is much lower than among people raised with religion -- in other words, that people raised with no religion as children are more likely than people raised with religion to change their religion as adults, in this case, to become religious.

"Do kids raised without religion actively seek it out and convert all that often," as has been popularized in television, he asks? "As it turns out, yes."

Matthews admits the data he uses is imperfect, but that it "does suggest that religion has a somewhat easier time transmitting across generations than irreligion does."

This struck me as a bit off the mark, so I posed the question to Phil Zuckerman, a professor of sociology at Pitzer College, founder of that institution's unique Department of Secular Studies, and author of, among others, the forthcoming book, Living the Secular Life. Zuckerman told me he found the data "sort of bizarre" and that it "runs counter to all that I know on the topic."

more at link

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. I don't know how common it is, but I do know people who were raised in non-religious homes

who became religious as adults. They talk about always having been interested in religion, longing for something spiritual, and having mystical experiences as far back as they can remember.

Often they make several stops along the way before settling on the variety of religion that fits best.

[MellowDem]

2. If the data is correct...

my theory is that secular parents generally are less likely to indoctrinate their children in atheism. There isn't the same incentive, much less dogma, to do so like in religion, nor the social structure specifically set up to do so, unlike religion. In the US, our society is overtly religious, it permeates our culture.

People raised with no religion haven't necessarily ever thought about religion at all. Then they see the power and privilege it is given in society, and they're drawn to the benefits of religion.

People indoctrinated in religion, on the other hand, who then become atheist, do so usually with a deliberate mindset as to why they do or don't believe. They have reasons for why they're atheists.

People raised indoctrinated are less likely to change their beliefs, unsurprisingly.

And given the growth in nonbelievers, I feel like religion is definitely on the downhill across society, whatever their retention rates among secular people are.

The fact remains that the vast majority believers are a product of childhood indoctrination, and the social consent that religious indoctrination is OK. But as religion becomes less powerful and privileged, it will become less attractive. I already have the feeling that many secular converts are usually leaning more "spiritual" as it is.

But, just my theory from my observations and experiences.

[cbayer]

5. I know you have lots of theories from your own observations and experiences,

but the article pretty profoundly debunks the initial data presented.

I think you will find that the data is on your side.

[AtheistCrusader]

3. I would be VERY careful with the collection of that data.

I SUSPECT some of it might be 'surprising' due to social/geographical issues, not national statistics.

I know a LOT of atheists, and a LOT of kids/now adults, and um.. I'm thinking hard, and I know of NONE that have 'found' religion. Not one. Out of hundreds of people. Not one. Still an anecdote, but I think the region (Seattle/King Co./PacNW) has a lot to do with that. I wouldn't necessarily expect that of children of an individual atheist or atheist pair bond in say.. the deep bible belt.

[cbayer]

4. Perhaps you should read the article all the way through.

[AtheistCrusader]

6. Yeah, it doesn't say much about the data sampling.

I'll have to track down the original studies.

[trotsky]

7. "Matthews admits the data he uses is imperfect"

A phrase like that would be MORE than enough for you to dismiss any study you don't like.

Whatever makes the religious feel better as the overall level of disbelief increases in society.