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Home > People > Bishop Porteous > Addresses > Article	Printable Version

Generation Y – where to?

An Opinion

By Most Rev. Julian Porteous
Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney
6/8/2006

A recent survey of some 1600 young people nominated as “Generation Y” (born between 1976 and 1990), conducted by the Monash University and the Australian Catholic University, claims that 48% believe in God, while 20% do not, and 32% are unsure about the existence of God.

These figures can be surprising to some. Certainly we are aware of the fact that young people of this age group do question and search, and they may suspend belief in God in a testing of other alternatives. However, the figures do indicate that half this generation are not convinced about the existence of God. This is a matter for some consideration.

The survey further notes that 31% of those who are not believers describe themselves as humanists. They have opted for a belief in the human project, and may express this in some form of sympathy with or allegiance to various social justice or human welfare initiatives.

Does this result indicate a trend towards the replacement of belief in God with a belief in man? Is this an expression of a tendency to opt for secular ideals in place of religious ideals? The question is worth asking.

In June 2004 the new European constitution was approved. One of the particular issues of debate about the constitution was whether the prologue should acknowledge that the history and culture of Europe has been fashioned for over 1500 years by Christianity. The framers of the constitution and certain forceful members of the EU were determined that there would be no reference to Christianity in the constitution. They sought to build a framework for the nature of the European Union on a purely secular basis. They believed that freedom from all worldviews, especially the Christian one, would initiate in a new era for the development of civilization in Europe.

Upon what, then, is the social construct of Europe now to be based? The prevailing view is that it is to be determined by consensus. There is the attitude that the members can arrive at what is appropriate for the social and political life of Europe by discussion and compromise. Who will do this? The bureaucracy and the trans-national courts. But upon what will they base their decisions?

Here is the rub. There is an inordinate confidence in the capacity of people to arrive at reasonable decisions, without, the framers of the constitution are most adamant, any “interference” of worldviews, like those inspired by religious belief. But, one must still ask, where does the substance for the making of appropriate decisions come from? One fears that it is from the commonly accepted “beliefs” of the opinion and legislative leaders. Thus, it is the current wisdom that abortion is acceptable as an expression of the rights of a woman over her body. It is the current wisdom that embryos can be used as raw material for experimentation because they are not considered human life. Will common opinion move to make decisions about which old or sick person has the right to use the struggling health services and who is not? Who draws the lines?

Can a civilization be truly established on the basis of human wisdom and perception alone? A civilization needs a transcendental orientation. Without something noble and beyond itself it will quickly become self-serving and eventually self-destructive. Surely our recent history has taught us this. An empire built on an atheistic humanism – Communism – quickly turned from a force of liberation to a force of enslavement. Will a humanism without an orientation beyond itself end up the same way? I fear it will.

Embracing humanism is an attractive proposition to those who want something to believe in and dedicate their energies towards once they have abandoned God. But this is a false trail and will eventually be destructive.

Generation Y have grown up in a world where the claims of religion are being strongly contested by those who want to be free of their critique of their lives. There has been sustained criticism, and at times ridicule of, particularly, the Christian faith. Generation Y has been exposed to a constant barrage of voices challenging the moral and spiritual authority of the Church. Many aggressive voices firmly believe that we are entering a new historical era where religion is a thing of the (unenlightened) past.

Despite all of this there is still the fact that half those interviewed do believe in God. There is also clear evidence that the current generation is searching for truly transcendental spiritual and moral ideals. The phenomenon of World Youth Days gives witness that there are strong currents of genuine faith in God and love for the Church running deep among Generation Y.

Great civilizations were not built by bureaucrats and judges, but by men and women of noble heart with lofty ideals. Young people today do not want a dull humanism moulded by compromise but they want a humanism that proposes altruism, sacrifice and ultimately transcendental results. Christian humanism, a view of human life, fashioned by faith in God and more particularly realized in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and fired by his teaching, is what will finally satisfy the searching and struggles of Generation Y.