Off the racial topic for a minute, but I wanted to share some insight that my wife gave me last night.
Occasionally I'll discuss some of our PS (and former SZ) conversations, and last night I mentioned my concern about the apparently growing number of atheists and agnostics in our little pilot group and in the public as a whole. (No need to discuss my concerns about that here - we've done that to death.)
Her hypothesis was that many if not most people today have never wanted for food on the table, a roof overhead, or whether they will live through a World War. My dad's generation had to worry about all of that, and consequently turned to faith for comfort, to give thanks, and to seek forgiveness.
Today's society is more well off and more secure than previous generations, across the board. It might not be rainbows and unicorns for some people, but I think it's safe to say that fewer people have the worries and wants that our parents did. Consequently, fewer people feel the "need" for religion or even faith in general, believing that their own efforts, and not Devine intervention, is what shapes their lives.
Just some top of mind thoughts.
I can't say that I disagree, but I would add - The social construct in the modern age (millennials, public school teacher unions, and the like) is all about conformity to a social order that permits very little individuality. Even thinking logically is frowned upon and frequently punished. The more self-centered any society grows, the more likely society is as a whole to abandon anything that fails to prop up the order of the day, which is all about obeying, and coloring inside the lines, ignoring the temptation to dream, excel, reach, or strive for a better outcome.
That Bernie Sanders - Hilary Clinton are the best the far left can put forth, is proof that individualism is being beaten out of our younger generation.