Understanding millennial’s relationships troubled with religion

Millennials, or Generation Y, have earned a reputation for redefining workplace behaviour, reshaping our understanding of parenthood, and revolutionising the dating culture.
Unlike their predecessors, millennials don’t conform. They don’t play by the rules. Not even to seemingly rigid, age old practices such as religion. They create their own rules and push through, or adopt only what works for them.
Findings of a research published in 2014 by Pew Research Centre shows that there are more people today who don’t subscribe to any religion, and, predictably, majority of these individuals are aged between 18 and 35.
Yet most young people were raised in religious families, only to change up and choose their own independent paths upon attaining the age of consent.
Unlike before, young men and women today don’t mind dating or settling down with partners who don’t conform to any religion. This has given rise to a generation of children who are raised purely outside the confines of religion.
Some of the reasons given for this trend is that young people were never really attached to religion and its teachings, and that they toed the line simply because they parents demanded it. That there is no correlation between religion and morality, is the other argument.
Kenya considers itself a religious nation. But what does its young citizens think about religion? Four youth tell us.
Charsley Okemwa, journalist
“Religion is mental slavery created by the mighty to oppress the weak,” Charlsey says.
He doesn’t believe in the existence of God, arguing that when one leads a just life, good things happen to them.
‘‘Life is like a monetary transaction. When you invest money wisely, you get it back and with profits. You can’t get good returns if you are reluctant to invest. Human beings are entirely responsible for the quality of life they lead,’’ Charsley contends.
His viewpoint occasionally puts him at cross purposes with those close to him, especially his family.
‘‘I come from a strictly religious family. They believe in miracles, but I believe in opportunities that come to those who are morally upright.
“Satan does not exist as a being. He is, however, embodied in greed, jealousy, spite, and other forms of evil.
‘‘Being selfish and uncaring about the needs and feelings of others is what constitutes Satanism. Humans should live for others too, not just themselves.’’
According to Charsley, human beings can be happier and can lead better lives in a world that is devoid of religion.
‘‘Religious doctrines compromise the quality of life. While trying to observe these rules, human beings end up leading pretentious lives, which is ungodly,’’ he says.
So, does he think that his views on religion might change later on?
“I like to remain open to new knowledge and alternative perspectives. Nothing remains the same forever. Who knows, my stand might change someday. I believe that everything happens for a reason so I can’t rule it out,” he said.
Juliet Mwangi, Communication professional
Juliet’s parents introduced her to church from a very young age, and even with the rebellion that comes with teenage, she has held on to Christianity. She plans to pass this religion on to her children because she believes that Christianity has made her life more meaningful, and that because of it, she now has something to live for.
‘‘If I wasn’t a Christian, I probably wouldn’t be here today. My life would be totally different, probably a big mess,’’ she says.
While it provides a guideline for a fulfilling, joyous life, Juliet laments that religion in Kenya has been infiltrated by selfish individuals, including the clergy.
“The church has become a secret hideout for evil people.
‘‘It bothers me that innocent and naïve people are being taken advantage of in the name of religion. True religion preaches about caring for the less fortunate, and exists for the good of all, not for the benefit of a few,” she says, and notes that devious pastors and church goers have given Christianity a bad name.
But despite all this, Juliet admits that her Christian beliefs have greatly influenced her other life’s principles.
‘‘According to the Bible, I became a new being the moment I became a Christian. Therefore, my values and beliefs are solely grounded on the teachings of the Bible,’’ she says.
She says that Christianity has helped her avoid evil deeds that would otherwise have put her in trouble, and that she is safer for it.
Research shows that the rising number of families that don’t confirm to any specific religion globally is partly attributed to millennials who settle down with atheist spouses, and are subsequently influenced by them.
Would Juliet date or marry someone who doesn’t believe in any religion?
‘‘No. That would be problematic because we would disagree on so many issues,’’ she says.
Juliet notes that contrary to the notion that Christian life is boring, she greatly enjoys being one.
‘‘Through church activities, I have had so much fun and exposure. I’ve mingled with many young people from across the country and learnt a lot from them,’’ she says.
Kinyua Njeri, Teacher
Kinyua describes himself as an “irreligious theist”. He believes in God, but only selectively.
‘‘God created humans, and humans created religion,’’ he explains. ‘‘Man gave religion more attention than his creator, which, I think, is problematic.”
But Kinyua does not discriminate anyone on the basis of their religion. He associates with individuals from all faiths, including atheists and pagans.
As a young boy, Kinyua practiced Christianity to which he was introduced by his mother, but he abandoned it when he became an adult.
‘‘I consciously started to read the Bible, the Koran and even history, to get a deeper understanding about religion. However, I gave up on this subject when I discovered that most Christians defy the teachings of the Bible,’’ Kinyua narrates.
He argues that the history of major religions is riddled by death and shedding of blood, yet the Bible, Koran and other moral books teach against murder.’’
About whether there is any relationship between religion and morality, Kinyua says that religion is only meant to reinforce good deeds and behaviour.
‘‘Every society has its unique moral code that binds all its members. Charles Darwin and Richard Dawkins, are mostly theorists whose works aren’t anchored on the laws of science.
Stella Nzisa, marketing associate
For Stella, this subject is beyond human comprehension. She believes that man is a religious animal, and that religion is a social construct that only attempts to explain certain inexplicable phenomena.
‘‘Human beings are curious by nature, which is why we have different perceptions of God,’’ she argues and adds, ‘‘I have read several books and articles which all suggest that man is the only being on earth who yearns for something greater than him, and who believes in one or more deities.’’
‘‘I believe God is real. My very existence, yours and the entire universe, are all by his design. While the Big Bang theory attempts to explain the origin of the universe, it leaves so many questions unanswered, which suggests that there indeed is a greater power at work,’’ she says.

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