A new study showed that Americans have a problem with God—fewer of them pray or believe in God than ever before.
The research led by San Diego State University psychology professor Jean M. Twenge found that the percentage of Americans who claim they never pray reached an all-time high in 2014—five times more than in the 1980s, according to the journal Sage Open where the study was published on Monday.
The study found that today's Americans are less likely to engage in a wide variety of religious practices, including attending religious services, describing oneself as a religious person, and believing that the Bible is divinely inspired, with the biggest declines seen among 18- to 29-year-old respondents.
However, the study found a slight increase in belief in the afterlife.
"It was interesting that fewer people participated in religion or prayed but more believed in an afterlife," Twenge said. "It might be part of a growing entitlement mentality — thinking you can get something for nothing."
The researchers analysed data from 58,893 respondents to the General Social Survey, a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults administered between 1972 and 2014.
"Most previous studies concluded that fewer Americans were publicly affiliating with a religion, but that Americans were just as religious in private ways. That's no longer the case, especially in the last few years," said Twenge, who is also the author of the book, "Generation Me."
"The large declines in religious practice among young adults are also further evidence that Millennials are the least religious generation in memory, and possibly in American history."
Twenge's findings bore similarity to previously published studies, which declared "millennials are slowly taking America to hell," Charisma News reported.
Another study published by David Voas at the University College of London and Mark Chaves of Duke showed basically the same findings. "While 68 percent of Americans over 65 years old currently have no doubt that God exists, only 45 percent of young adults aged 18 to 30 agree. In terms of church attendance, 41 percent of people over 70 attend at least once a month compared to only 18 percent of people 60 years old and younger," the study said.
Charisma News noted that despite the research evidence, Christian revival in America is evident. One indication of this is Greg Laurie's recent Harvest Crusade which attracted more than 82,000 people at AT&T stadium earlier this month.
Another proof was the 6.6 million people who watched the airing of The Passion Live, which told the story of Jesus' final hours, Charisma News said.
Meanwhile, according to the American Bible Society, 60 percent of the American people want to read their Bibles, and that 88 percent of American households own a Bible.
