"I think we(humans) are now more connected than ever through the internet." Said Kevin Le, a biochemistry major, "This contributes to the sharing of ideas and more people being open minded, also as a way for people to think in a way they've never thought before"
Le here was responding to a research study and interview done by David Masci on statistics by the Pew Research center that suggest that the United States is becoming less religious. Masci said that the decline was modest yet steady over the course of the past few years. "decrease in religious beliefs and behaviors is largely attributable to the “nones” – the growing minority of Americans, particularly in the Millennial generation, who say they do not belong to any organized faith."
Though the population of those who are the "nones" is steadily rising, still, three quarters of the U.S population identify with a religion according to the Pew Research.
"I've flip-flopped through my life but I have found a steady place as a catholic." Stated Gabriel Ortiz, a business major. Ortiz then went on to point out the diversity of students at De Anza. This is true, De Anza College is located in the center of Cupertino, California, where it is basically a melting pot of many cultures and many beliefs. Most of the students interviewed exhibited an agnostic, or even atheist view, however, there were those who respectively expressed there beliefs.
To be exact at how the statistics are changing of those who practice religion; the Pew Research study said that the population of those in the U.S that believe in God went down from a remarkably high 92% down to about 89%, from 2007-2014. The research then said "The share of Americans who say they are “absolutely certain” God exists has dropped more sharply, from 71% in 2007 to 63% in 2014."
Back to the library; another student I talked to, a 22 year old psychology major by the name of Tim Flemming weighed in on the discussion, "I used to be atheist, now I do believe in a creator, but I would have to think of myself as 'none of the above' if I had to write it down."
This is where Kevin Le's point, mentioned in the beginning of this entry, comes back into light, that people are now more connected than ever, and that there is a melting pot of beliefs, too complex maybe to write down on paper.
Josh Padilla, another student, this time found in the cafeteria, said, "you get out of life what you put in, that was the lesson my parents taught me." Padilla said he has many family members who share various beliefs. "Some from my Moms side of the family are Jehovahs Witnesses, while my Fathers side is either Catholic or doesn't practice a religion."
Padillas acquaintance, Regina Puente, a journalism major bounced off the previous statement saying, "I do feel a trend that not only are we(humans) blending physically, but we are also blending together in our ideas, I'm glad that we live in an area where we are all open and people can express themselves."
This was a profound point, those that live in the De Anza College area are privileged to experience a friendly atmosphere where people, regardless of beliefs, can come together and share ideas. In the article by David Masci, who interviewed a psychology professor at New York University names Michael Hout. Hout was asked if these trends in those following religion was likely to last, Hout said "I'm reluctant to make a prediction, but...There used to be this view that there was a religious life cycle, that when you got older and married and had kids you got more active in organized religion. But that doesn’t seem to be happening. In the past 20 years, we really haven’t seen a lot of evidence of that cycle continuing."
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| Statistics provided by the Pew Research center |
Sources: http://www.pewforum.org/2015/11/03/u-s-public-becoming-less-religious/
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/01/08/qa-why-millennials-are-less-religious-than-older-americans/
Kevin Le, De Anza student, biochemistry major
Gabriel Ortiz, De Anza student, business major
Tim Flemming, De Anza student, psychology major
Josh Padilla, De Anza student
Regina Puente, De Anza student, journalism major
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