Yoohoo!

After a small survey of several months, I was finally able to establish the list of the main (=there are surely others!) reasons why many young people my age are not attracted to religion.

Reasons for unbelief

• "I understood the theory of evolution."
• "There's no need for God to explain [phenomenon]."
• "There are too many Christians who are hypocrites."
• "Religion is the opium of the people." / "It's a security blanket for adults."
• "Rational thinking shows that religion is false."
• "No scientific evidence or specific proof of a creator."
• "I realized that actually, I didn't believe."
• "I can make decisions for myself, I don't need to listen to a 2,000-year-old book."

Reasons to be wary of/oppose major religions

• "Religions divide more than they unite."
• "Religion has been the cause of far more evils than anything else."
• "I no longer follow any religion. I no longer attend services. I believe that religion is a very personal matter between me and my creator."
• "Religion, it's no longer religion today, it's a business."
• "Too many priest scandals in the church."
• "The church's view on homosexuality and sex in general (contraception, abortion, etc.)"

Reasons to be indifferent

• "I don't have a particular religion because I'm open-minded and I don't think there's a religion that's true or false."
• "I feel there's 'something' but I don't identify with any religion in particular."
• "I'm more spiritual than religious, actually. I can pray to God whenever I want. I believe in a spiritual power, but I don't need a church for that."
• "The word 'god' is poorly defined."

Reasons not to practice

• "I stopped going to mass when I arrived at university, and I haven't gone back. I was never really religious."
• "I don't practice any religion, I don't go to mass, and I don't practice any ecclesiastical rite."
• "I don't have time to go to mass."