3 ms·
The data in the study broadly contradicts the insecurity argument - belief/adherence to religion is generally higher the lower the lifespan/education level/econ
by stevenwoo 8y ago
The data in the study broadly contradicts the insecurity argument - belief/adherence to religion is generally higher the lower the lifespan/education level/economic disparity/GDP across a country's population. The long term studies of the USA referenced (because that is where they have the data long term) shows young people have not always deviated from old people in their religious convictions, either, so maturity is not a complete explanation.
- denverkarma 8y agoBut the study specifically says that the data may indicate that people become more religious as they age.
- stevenwoo 8y agoI read all of that as hypothesis, are you talking about this part? "Another theory is that differences in religious commitment reflect change during the life course. Although young adults often start out less religious than their elders, they tend to become more devout as they age, have children and begin to face their own mortality (or so the theory suggests)." They have a lot of hypothesis that could all be true - i.e. the younger people who started off with a lower percentage religious as measured would end up with a higher percentage religious if measured as a group later, but still less than the current age group measured right now. Or maybe this one? While not ruling out the influence of other factors – such as when and where people live – one research team argued that “life course trajectories may trump generational placement as predictors of religious behaviors and orientations.” Lastly, they have the caveat that America is kind of special case with several contravening indicators, with some conditions among the best and among the worst.