• Y Belief, I Believe
    By Niko Lei Ching Ching

    Are Buddhist families' children Buddhists usually? Students from Catholic schools read the Bible, so do they necessarily believe in Catholicism? Nowadays, the meaning of religion for generation Y in Macao may be a bit indistinct and ambiguous.

    The definition of religion has changed in youths' eyes. "I don't have religion," said Ms. Leong, a university student. "I believe in all gods when I 'need' them." Asked by the same question, "Do you have religion?" another student Mr. Chan said, "I believe in myself," which is obviously different from the definition of religion - believing in a superior being.

    Families play an important role in this issue. "I will follow my mum to do the rituals for worshipping my ancestors if she asks me to do so," Leong mentioned.

    Instead of saying "I have a religion," youths in Macao tend to say, "My family's religion is..." or "I will light incense sticks, but I am not a Buddhist." Examples would go on.

    Some young people although have religions, they sometimes do things which a believer is not allowed to do in their religions. For example, Ms. Yum, a Christian student, said she reads articles about astrology on the Internet sometimes. "I know I should not do so but it is just a pastime for me. I won't bear it in mind," she added.

    When asked what she would do if someone tells her that he or she doesn't have religion, Yum replied, "I can understand that. ...It is not easy to ask them (to believe in God), although I am supposed to do so."

    Will the young people change their ideas about religion in the future? The answer is possibly "yes". Mrs. Ho, a 28-year-old married lady, said that she didn't have religion when she was a student even though she studied in a Catholic school. "I became a Buddhist after I got married," she said.

    People need spiritual support no matter what generation they are. Things change when people go through different life stages. They may change their ways to seek spiritual support or the way they think about personal religion.