Irreligion, generations in the United States and alcoholism

Below is information about irreligion and alcoholism in relation to various generations in the United States.

## Contents

* 1 Irreligion, baby boom generation and alcoholism
* 2 Irreligion, Generation X and alcoholism
* 3 Irreligion, millenials and alcoholism
* 4 Irreligion, excess alcohol drinking and the United States
* 5 See also
* 6 References

### Irreligion, baby boom generation and alcoholism[edit]

The Christian Chuck Norris, who is a member of the Silent Generation and a critic of atheism.[1][2] Norris encourages people to drink responsibly and avoid excess drinking.[3]

See also: Irreligion, baby boom generation and alcoholism

The baby boom generation was born between the years 1946 and 1964.

In 2011, the Pew research foundation reported concerning the United States:

“  |  Younger generations also are significantly less likely than older ones to affiliate with a religious tradition. This pattern began in the 1970s when 13% of Baby Boomers were unaffiliated with any particular religion, according to the General Social Survey. That compared with just 6% among the Silent generation and 3% among the Greatest generation.[4] |  ”

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Alcoholrehab.com reported in their article Generational Trends in Substance Abuse:

“  |  Baby Boomers

Baby boomers are the population that was born between the years 1946-1964, after World War II. So many babies were born during this generation that they are having major impacts on society as they age. Substance abuse among baby boomers is different from earlier generations. Baby boomers are the first generation to have multiple addictions to illegal drugs and alcohol. Prior generations were mainly addicted to alcohol and some legal medications. Alcohol abuse among baby boomers can be both binge drinking and heavy alcohol use. Baby boomers also have a higher rate of alcohol abuse than earlier generations.[5]

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### Irreligion, Generation X and alcoholism[edit]

See also: Irreligion, Generation X and alcoholism

Generation X is made up of individuals born between 1966 and 1980.

Using data from the American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS), Barry A. Kosmin & Juhem Navarro-Rivera reported:

“  |  Generation X became more secular and also less Christian (85% in 1990 v. 75% in 2008) as it aged and grew in size. However, the proportion of the cohort identifying with Other Christian denominations and non-Christian religions hardly changed. So the secularizing change mainly occurred at the expense of Catholic self-identification which fell from 33% in 1990 to 26% in 2008.[6] |  ”

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Alcoholrehab.com reported in their article Generational Trends in Substance Abuse:

“  |  Generation X, or Gen X, is the generation that came after the baby boomers. Gen X ranges from the early 1960s to around 1982. Gen X is also known for a high rate of alcohol abuse, like the baby boomers. Gen X is less likely to binge drink than younger generations. In addition to heavy alcohol use, Generation X is associated with illegal “club drug” and marijuana use.[7] |  ”

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### Irreligion, millenials and alcoholism[edit]

See also: Irreligion, millenials and alcoholism

The Pew Research Center defines "adult Millennials" as those who are 18 to 33 years old, born between 1981–1996.[8]

In 2010, the Pew Research Forum reported concerning the millenial generation:

“  |  By some key measures, Americans ages 18 to 29 are considerably less religious than older Americans...

Compared with their elders today, young people are much less likely to affiliate with any religious tradition or to identify themselves as part of a Christian denomination. Fully one-in-four adults under age 30 (25%) are unaffiliated, describing their religion as “atheist,” “agnostic” or “nothing in particular.” This compares with less than one-fifth of people in their 30s (19%), 15% of those in their 40s, 14% of those in their 50s and 10% or less among those 60 and older. About two-thirds of young people (68%) say they are members of a Christian denomination and 43% describe themselves as Protestants, compared with 81% of adults ages 30 and older who associate with Christian faiths and 53% who are Protestants.[9]

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Alcoholrehab.com reported in their article Generational Trends in Substance Abuse:

“  |  Generation Y

Generation Y is the generation of people born from the early 1980s to around the year 2000. Other terms for this generation are millenials and echo boomers. Gen Y is prone to alcohol and illegal drug abuse. Gen Y is more likely to binge drink than older generations. This is primarily because binge drinking is socially acceptable to Gen Y.[10]

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## Irreligion, excess alcohol drinking and the United States[edit]

The Barna Group found that atheists and agnostics in America were more likely, than theists in America, to look upon the following behaviors as morally acceptable: illegal drug use; excessive drinking; sexual relationships outside of marriage; abortion; cohabitating with someone of opposite sex outside of marriage; obscene language; gambling; pornography and obscene sexual behavior; and engaging in homosexuality/bisexuality.[11]

## See also[edit]

* Atheism and alcoholism

* Atheism and health

* Atheism and smoking

## References[edit]

1. ↑ http://www.totalgymdirect.com/
2. ↑ Chuck Norris article on atheism
3. ↑ Chuck Norris - Alcohol Awareness Month (Part 1 of 2)
4. ↑ The Generation Gap and the 2012 Election Section 1: How Generations Have Changed
5. ↑ Generational Trends in Substance Abuse
6. ↑ The Transformation of Generation X: Shifts in Religious and Political Self Identification, The Transformation of Generation X: Shifts in Religious and Political Self-Identification, 1990-2008, Barry A. Kosmin & Juhem Navarro-Rivera
7. ↑ Generational Trends in Substance Abuse
8. ↑ Millennials in Adulthood \- Pew Research Center
9. ↑ Religion among the millenials, Pew Research Center
10. ↑ Generational Trends in Substance Abuse
11. ↑ http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/58-practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard