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Comparing Personal Religious Practices Across the Generations

Deborah A. Bruce
Research Services, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
dbruce@ctr.pcusa.org

 

Abstract 

About 300,000 worshipers in over 2,000 congregations participated in the U.S. Congregational Life Survey (www.USCongregations.org) conducted by the Research Services office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in April 2001.  Congregations were selected by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago using hyper-network sampling to be representative of congregations of all denominations and faith groups across the country.  All worshipers in each participating congregation completed a survey in worship, providing extensive data about individuals actively involved in religious life in America.  Survey topics included worshipers’ faith background and current membership, their participation in activities of the congregation, and their values regarding congregational life. 

Using data from the U.S. Congregational Life Survey, personal religious practices were compared among worshipers in different age groups (Gen Y, Gen X, Boomers, and Older Persons).  Practices examined include traditional indicators of religious life such as private prayer, Bible reading, and saying grace before meals, as well as alternative expressions of spirituality such as meditation, reading New Age books, and visiting religious Web sites.  It was hypothesized that younger worshipers would be less likely to be involved in traditional religious practices and more likely to be pursuing alternative religious practices.  Support was found for the former, but not for the latter.  Few worshipers in any age range pursue alternative practices on a regular basis.  Further, generational differences were found to be less important predictors of religious behaviors such as worship attendance and private devotions than other factors.

The Sample

We contracted with the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago to identify a random sample of U.S. congregations attended by individuals who participated in the General Social Survey (GSS) in the year 2000.  All GSS participants who reported that they attended worship at least once in the prior year were asked to name the place where they worshiped.  Since the GSS involves a national random sample of individuals, congregations identified by GSS participants comprise a national random sample of congregations.  NORC researchers verified that each nominated congregation was an actual congregation and then invited each congregation to participate in the project.  Of 1,214 nominated and verified congregations, 807 agreed to participate (66%), and 434 returned completed surveys from their worshipers (36%).  (Congregations that chose not to participate gave many different reasons.)  Surveys were given in worship at the end of April 2001. Worshipers in these congregations, representing all 50 states, completed 122,287 attendee surveys, which are the primary source of the findings reported here.

For generational analyses, respondents were divided into four groups based on their self-reported year of birth:

Group  Year of Birth    Age Number Percent of 
Sample
Gen Y Born 1975-1998 15-26 11,354  10%
Gen X  Born 1965-1974 27-36  13,580 12%
Boomers  Born 1946-1964 37-55 43,663  39%
Older  Born before 1946 56 plus  44,418   39%

 

Table 1
Where do Young People Attend?
Larger Percentages in Larger Congregations

 

< 100 in Worship

100-350 in Worship

More than 350 in Worship

Gen Y

8%

9%

10%

Gen X

8%

10%

12%

Boomers

33%

36%

40%

Older

50%

45%

38%

 

 

 

 

Table 2
Where do Young People Attend?
Larger Percentages in Catholic Parishes and Conservative Protestant Churches

 

 

Catholic

Mainline Protestant

Conservative Protestant

Historically Black

Other

Gen Y

10%

7%

13%

9%

10%

Gen X

12%

8%

14%

13%

9%

Boomers

38%

36%

41%

41%

38%

Older

40%

49%

32%

36%

43%

 

Table 3
Demographics by Age Group 

 

Gen Y

Gen X

Boomers

Older

Gender:

 

 

 

 

         Female

58%

62%

61%

62%

         Male

42%

38%

39%

38%

Education:

 

 

 

 

         Not a college graduate

85%

51%

52%

70%

         College graduate

13%

34%

30%

17%

         Graduate degree

2%

15%

18%

13%

Marital Status:

 

 

 

 

         Currently married

13%

68%

78%

67%

         Not married

87%

32%

22%

33%

Children:

 

 

 

 

         Some

23%

68%

88%

92%

         None

77%

32%

12%

8%

Race-ethnicity (mark all that apply):

 

 

 

 

         White

66%

66%

77%

87%

         Hispanic

22%

21%

13%

8%

         Black

6%

7%

5%

3%

         Asian

7%

6%

5%

2%

         American Indian or Alaska Native

2%

1%

1%

1%

         Some other race

3%

2%

1%

2%


Table 4
Generational Differences in Congregational Activities and Experiences
 

 

Gen Y

Gen X

Boomers

Older

Time attending current congregation:

 

 

 

 

         Visiting

8%

7%

5%

5%

         5 years or less

46%

60%

37%

21%

         6-20 years

40%

22%

39%

25%

         More than 20 years

6%

10%

19%

49%

Previous congregation (those attending 5 years or less):

 

 

 

 

         First-timer

11%

10%

7%

4%

         Returnee

14%

21%

20%

14%

         Switcher

20%

15%

18%

16%

         Transfer

56%

55%

56%

66%

Worship attendance:

 

 

 

 

         Weekly

70%

68%

78%

86%

         One to three times a month

18%

21%

16%

9%

         Less often

12%

11%

6%

5%

Participation in small groups:

 

 

 

 

         Sunday school, religious education

24%

22%

26%

16%

         Prayer groups, Bible study

14%

16%

20%

21%

         Social groups, fellowships

23%

21%

27%

30%

Participation in outreach/service activities:

 

 

 

 

         Community service

15%

12%

19%

22%

         Evangelization

10%

10%

12%

15%

         Neither

74%

74%

67%

62%

Leadership roles:

 

 

 

 

         Committee or task force

2%

5%

8%

8%

         Lead or assist in worship

9%

8%

14%

14%

         Choir member, leader, musician

8%

6%

7%

6%

         Any leadership role

28%

29%

41%

40%

Giving to the congregation:

 

 

 

 

         5% or more

24%

36%

45%

57%

         Less than 5%

46%

58%

52%

40%

         Do not contribute

30%

7%

4%

3%

Membership in congregation:

 

 

 

 

         Yes

64%

68%

79%

83%

         No, but in process of joining

4%

5%

2%

1%

         No, but regularly participate

17%

15%

11%

7%

         No

14%

12%

8%

8%

Change in congregational participation:

 

 

 

 

         Participate more in last 2 years

32%

35%

30%

20%

         Participate the same

33%

36%

47%

58%

         Participate less in last 2 years

16%

9%

12%

13%

         Not applicable (coming less than 2 yrs.)

19%

19%

10%

9%

Growth in faith in last year:

 

 

 

 

         Much growth through congregation

26%

34%

33%

33%

         Much growth through own activities

16%

14%

14%

16%

         Much growth through other groups

11%

7%

6%

6%

         Some growth

40%

39%

40%

37%

         No real growth in faith

7%

6%

6%

8%

 

 

Table 5
Generational Differences in Personal Spiritual and Religious Practices

 

Gen Y

Gen X

Boomers

Older

Frequency of personal devotions:

 

 

 

 

          More than once a week

49%

56%

64%

69%

          Occasionally to weekly

29%

28%

25%

22%

          Less often or never

22%

16%

12%

9%

Pray privately:  *

 

 

 

 

          Weekly or more often

74%

70%

80%

83%

          Never

5%

2%

2%

Say grace before meals:  * ns

 

 

 

 

          Weekly or more often

57%

51%

57%

49%

          Never

10%

5%

6%

6%

Pray with family or friends:   *  ns

 

 

 

 

          Weekly or more often

36%

35%

37%

30%

          Never

15%

17%

23%

22%

Read religious books or other materials:  *

 

 

 

 

          Weekly or more often

14%

15%

24%

25%

          Never

27%

21%

16%

13%

Private Bible reading:  *

 

 

 

 

          Weekly or more often

19%

17%

23%

27%

          Never

18%

17%

21%

22%

Watch or listen to religious programs:  *

 

 

 

 

          Weekly or more often

25%

15%

20%

17%

          Never

39%

36%

29%

22%

Bible reading with family or friends:  * ns

 

 

 

 

          Weekly or more often

5%

6%

6%

6%

          Never

39%

49%

48%

56%

Attend a prayer group:  *

 

 

 

 

          Weekly or more often

4%

1%

3%

6%

          Never

42%

60%

60%

57%

Visit religious Internet sites:  * ns

 

 

 

 

          Weekly or more often

1%

2%

3%

3%

          Never

59%

65%

64%

70%

Shop at Christian bookstores:  *

 

 

 

 

          Weekly or more often

1%

2%

2%

1%

          Never

43%

36%

30%

35%

Read new age books:  * ns

 

 

 

 

          Weekly or more often

3%

2%

2%

1%

          Never

79%

83%

83%

86%

Practice Eastern meditation:  *

 

 

 

 

          Weekly or more often

2%

4%

1%

          Never

87%

92%

88%

92%

Seek help from horoscope, tarot, fortune teller:  *

 

 

 

 

          Weekly or more often

2%

3%

2%

1%

          Never

76%

84%

90%

96%

Use psychic healing, crystals, or channeling:  * ns

 

 

 

 

          Weekly or more often

1%

1%

          Never

94%

98%

96%

97%

* Item answered by sub-sample of entire sample; n=1,182.

 

Table 6
Other Generational Differences 

 

Gen Y

Gen X

Boomers

Older

Importance of religious or spiritual beliefs:  *

 

 

 

 

         Very important or important

74%

89%

90%

96%

Do you consider yourself a spiritual person?  *

 

 

 

 

         Yes

89%

96%

96%

95%

* Item answered by sub-sample of entire sample; n=1,182.

 

Table 7
Predicting Frequency of Worship Attendance

Dependent Variable: How often do you go to worship services at this congregation?

Range 1-7, where 1=“this is my first time” and 7=“more than once a week” 

 

Standardized Beta

Without Age Group

Standardized Beta With Age Group

Personal Demographics:

 

 

 

 

    Employed

.062

***

.048

***

    Has children

.015

***

-.029

***

    Gender (1=female; 2=male)

.008

 

.004

 

    Age Group

.109

***

Congregational Characteristics:

 

 

 

 

    Den 1 (Catholic)

-.020

*

-.024

**

    Den 2 (conservative Protestant)

.010

 

.012

*

    Den 3 (mainline Protestant)

-.123

***

-.130

***

    Congregation’s size

-.012

**

-.011

*

Congregational Involvement:

 

 

 

 

    Currently a member

.323

***

.320

***

    Length of time attending this congregation

-.189

***

-.211

***

    Involved in small groups

.119

***

.124

***

    Holds leadership role in the congregation

.104

***

.100

***

Congregational Experiences:

 

 

 

 

    Worship helps with everyday living (R)

-.144

***

-.132

***

    Has close friends in the congregation

.080

***

.083

***

    Experienced conversion/faith commitment

.006

 

.012

**

    Feel inspiration in worship (R)

.049

***

.036

***

    Feel boredom in worship (R)

.036

***

.018

***

    Feel sense of fulfilling obligations in worship (R)

-.035

***

-.029

***

    Feel frustration in worship (R)

-.025

***

-.021

***

    Experience joy during worship (R)

.018

***

.008

 

    Feel God’s presence in worship (R)

-.015

**

-.013

**

    Feel spontaneity in worship (R)

-.014

**

-.004

 

    Feel mystery or awe in worship (R)

.003

 

.000

 

 

 

 

 

 

R2

.279

***

.288

***

Significance of R2 Change

 

 

 

***

(R) = reverse scored
* p<.05
** p<.01
*** p<.001

 

Table 8
Predicting Frequency of Private Devotions
 

Dependent Variable:              
How often do you spend time in private devotional activities (such as prayer, meditation, reading the Bible alone)?

Range 1-6, where 1=“every day or most days” and 6=“never” (R) 

 

Standardized Beta

Without Age Group

Standardized Beta With Age Group

Personal Demographics:

 

 

 

 

    Employed

-.046

***

-.034

***

    Has children

-.011

*

.041

***

    Gender (1=female; 2=male)

.098

***

.101

***

    Age Group

-.119

***

Congregational Characteristics:

 

 

 

 

    Den 1 (Catholic)

.118

***

.126

***

    Den 2 (conservative Protestant)

-.007

 

-.007

 

    Den 3 (mainline Protestant)

.059

***

.070

***

    Congregation’s size

.006

 

.005

 

Congregational Involvement:

 

 

 

 

    Currently a member

.030

***

.033

***

    Length of time attending this congregation

-.023

***

.000

 

    Involved in small groups

-.059

***

-.064

***

    Holds leadership role in the congregation

-.050

***

-.047

***

Congregational Experiences:

 

 

 

 

    Worship helps with everyday living (R)

.147

***

.133

***

    Has close friends in the congregation

-.009

 

-.013

**

    Experienced conversion/faith commitment

-.068

***

-.075

***

    Feel inspiration in worship (R)

-.022

***

-.018

**

    Feel boredom in worship (R)

-.065

***

-.044

***

    Feel sense of fulfilling obligations in worship (R)

.010

*

.003

 

    Feel frustration in worship (R)

.029

***

.027

***

    Experience joy during worship (R)

.006

 

.017

**

    Feel God’s presence in worship (R)

.116

***

.114

***

    Feel spontaneity in worship (R)

-.014

**

-.025

***

    Feel mystery or awe in worship (R)

.054

***

.059

***

 

 

 

 

 

R2

.136

***

.146

***

Significance of R2 Change

 

 

 

***

(R) = reverse scored
* p<.05
** p<.01
*** p<.001


 

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