Is God Alive?
In April 1966, TIME magazine published a black cover with three red block letters on top- Is God Dead? It sparked controversy across America and conversations about the changing definition of a higher being in the 20th century. Canada has become incredibly diverse- both culturally and religiously throughout the last 49 years, and new reforms established by human rights movements have reshaped our society. Law has become more secular in nature, so in turn, the role of religion and its relevance in youth culture is a question that is evermore relevant today.
An online survey conducted by Angus Reid Institute earlier this year shows that 30% (1 in 3) of Canadians are inclined to embrace religion, while 26% (1 in 4) are “inclined to reject” it. This means a decline by 15% in the former since 1985, while the latter, according to the census, “has increased significantly from one in twenty-five in the 1971 census of Canada”. Religion amongst the Western world has become distanced from the political and professional sphere, where identity is built from one’s achievements alone, and not affiliated with one’s belief. To many, faith has become a pastime on Sundays, and no longer a predominant way of life.
But what does this mean for Canadian youths? I decided to create my own short survey titled “Religion in the Western World” and sent it to several people through social media. I received 68 replies in total, the majority aging between 18–25 years old, and 58 participants who are currently students. I asked questions regarding their personal beliefs as well as their thoughts on religion regarding Canadian youths and institutions. And to my surprise, 55% checked yes when asked if they identified with any religion, although several explained that they were born into the faith, and some are unsure of their position.
“I believe that I am non-religious because I am born into a non-religious family,” one of the replies stated, while another one said, “there are so many religions. Who says one is true over the other? I abide over my own personal creed rather than a set of rules.”
Universities and colleges across Canada have increasingly become places of free expression and pursuit of the unconventional. Contemporary youths have become more skeptical of what they choose to believe in, whether it is religion, health tips, or political platforms. One of my participants wrote, “I believe we can never be sure unless we have concrete evidence of a deity or lack thereof”. The idea of individualism has become one of the major pitfalls for contemporary churches, where youths fear that their freedoms may be bound by their rules. Studies in science and philosophy have overtaken a large portion of explaining and giving meaning to life, and several atheist and agnostic participants answered that they believed in science rather than institutionalized faiths.
When asked if they thought Canadian youths were interested in religion, I received a 62% “no”, with the explanations including:
- “It’s not mainstream enough”
- “I don’t think that the youth have an understanding about what each religion entails and how it’s relevant to them. This makes it harder for them to have an informed interest or any interest at all.”
- “It may seem too traditional or spiritual to believe in something that is not certain.”
One of the responses particularly interested me, “yes, if it doesn’t require them to change,” which is, ironically, what most religions do for its believers. Despite the ever-evolving pace of the western society and the mosaic nature of Canada’s culture, religion is being left behind, as, according to the general theme of my results, religion and contemporary culture do not co-exist well. In a society where individuals are encouraged to “indulge” and “just be themselves”, religious doctrines that teach “self-reflection” and “obedience” have become widely unpopular. Other factors including events of extremists have also affected the image of religion amongst the population.
While this is the case, according to the Angus Reid’s survey, “the remaining 44 per cent acknowledge that they are somewhere in between the two positions. They still hold many conventional beliefs and sometimes engage in religious practices, including occasional religious service attendance. They do not see themselves as particularly devout; but they also have not abandoned religion”. Despite the secularization of mainstream society, religious symbols and themes still influence contemporary art and language. Canadians are, in general, respectful and inclusive of different cultures, keeping the involvement in religion within the social sphere.
When asked how big a role religion should take part of in society, most respondents agreed that it should be separate from the state and not be forced onto anyone who does not believe. But there were other answers saying,“I think it should play a big part of society so we have a better understanding of each other,” and that “religions should take enough of a role that allows everyone to practice their various faiths in a peaceful manner and should play a large enough role that influences society as a whole to be motivated to treat others well!” There is a general agreement that religion, at its essence, can help better society and its individuals. One of my survey’s participants stated,
“When hardship come upon a persons life, they need help, just like any other human. Sometimes only a spiritual answer is the only one and sometimes the right one for youth.”
Another finding from Angus Reid’s survey is that “additional analyses shows a similar, though somewhat weaker pattern holds for the religious self-designations of younger arrivals from other countries: 42 per cent of those who are 18 to 34 say they are embracing religion, while 39 per cent are ambivalent, and 19 per cent are rejecting faith.” With a continued rise in immigration, Canada will be faced with a wave of new cultures and ideas of faith.
So we have to ask ourselves again- is God dead? According to Time “the new approaches to the problem of God…lead to a more realistic, and somewhat more abstract, conception of God.” Canadian youths do not want to abandon the idea of faith; they are pursuing it differently, from all its varying perspectives- through science and progressive thinking. Perhaps a better question to ask is- how is God alive amongst our culturally diverse institutions?
