About the Nebraska Lectures
The Office of Research and Economic Development partners with the Office of the Chancellor and the Research Council, in collaboration with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, to sponsor the Nebraska Lectures: the Chancellor’s Distinguished Speaker Series. Typically offered once a semester, the Nebraska Lectures bring together the university community with the greater community in Lincoln and beyond to celebrate the intellectual life of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln by showcasing the faculty’s excellence in research and creative activity.
The topics of these free lectures reflect the diversity of faculty accomplishments in the arts, humanities, social sciences and physical sciences. For more than 10 years, this forum has crossed academic boundaries to build morale and a sense of common identity, allowing some of the great minds on the UNL faculty to share notable discoveries in a non-technical format, fostering a collective passion for education and research, and spurring the imaginations of those who share the need to know more. Read more about how lecturers are selected at the Research Council website.
Declining Religion in the U.S.: The Causes and Consequences of Religious Disaffiliation Among Young Americans
Philip Schwadel
Carl A. Happold Professor of Sociology
March 30, 2023, 2 p.m.
Register for the virtual lecture with live Q&A.
The percentage of Americans with no religion increased from 7% in 1990 to 30% today, and an even higher percentage of young Americans have no religion. Dr. Schwadel will review research on the causes and consequences of the decline of religion among young Americans. What leads them to leave religion, and what leads them to maintain religious beliefs? He will emphasize how family, friends and life transitions promote and inhibit religion. He also will discuss the impact of religious decline on social cohesion. Understanding the state of religion among today’s youth is key to understanding the future of American society.
More information about Declining Religion in the U.S.: The Causes and Consequences of Religious Disaffiliation Among Young Americans
