By Philip C. Johnson – July 29, 2025
Greetings, dear reader! If you’ve missed the first two installments of this series you can read them here: the “Greatest Generation” and the “Silent Generation.” Our generational journey continues with the Baby Boomers, those “we’re-never-quitting” folks born between 1946 and 1964. Numbering about 73 million, roughly 21% of the U.S. population at their peak, they’re the bold crowd that reshaped the world. Some say they steal the spotlight, but with 4 million live births in a single year—a first for the U.S.—their sheer numbers demanded change. New schools, hospitals, and suburbs sprang up to accommodate them. So, crank up the jukebox, grab some mac ’n’ cheese, and let’s unravel their colorful thread in God’s tapestry.
Defining Characteristics: Bold, Idealistic, and Center Stage
Baby Boomers didn’t just live—they roared. Born in the post-war boom, they chased dreams with gusto, blending idealism with ambition. About 64% supported the civil rights movement, and 1.2 million protested the Vietnam War, fueling their passion for change. Church was central, with 70% attending services regularly in the 1960s, yet they sought personal, heartfelt faith over tradition. Their drive built empires—Boomers held 80% of corporate leadership roles in the 1990s—but only 30% mentored younger generations, a gap they’re still addressing.
Shaping Events: Revolution and Revelation
Post-World War II prosperity, with a 50% rise in U.S. GDP from 1946–1960, gave Boomers a hopeful start. But the 1960s brought turbulence: Vietnam War protests, the civil rights movement (with 250,000 at the 1963 March on Washington), and assassinations of JFK, MLK, and RFK. The Cold War loomed, while the 1969 moon landing, watched by 94% of TV-owning Americans, sparked awe. Watergate shook trust, pushing 20% of Boomers toward spiritual renewal via the Jesus Movement. These events forged a generation wrestling with ideals, faith, and reality.
Pop Culture: Rock ’n’ Roll, TV Dinners, and Hippies
Forget TikTok—Boomers rocked to Elvis, the Beatles, and Woodstock’s muddy anthems, with 400,000 attending the 1969 festival. Toys like Barbie (1 billion sold by 1990), GI Joe, and Etch A Sketch fueled imagination. TV dinners (150 million sold annually by 1960) and Tang screamed convenience. Pop culture shifted to color TVs—85% of households owned one by 1970—with shows like The Ed Sullivan Show (50 million viewers for the Beatles’ 1964 debut) and films like Ben-Hur (1959) blending faith and spectacle. It was less “scroll away” and more “turn up the volume.”
Views on Marriage and Sexuality: Tradition Meets Turbulence
Marriage was a sacred covenant (Genesis 2:24), but the sexual revolution and divorce rates—up 100% from 1960 to 1980—challenged biblical norms. About 48% of Boomers married by age 25, yet 33% divorced by 1990. Many valued family, but 60% supported contraception legalization, and some embraced progressive views on sexuality, straining family structures. Those committed to biblical morality faced cultural pressure as the era tested marriage’s sanctity.
Views on Truth and the Bible: Seeking and Questioning
Church was vital, with 65% of Boomers identifying as Christian in the 1970s, but they questioned rigid dogma, spurred by the Jesus Movement, which drew 1 million young believers by 1975. They saw the Bible as God’s Word, though 40% wrestled with its application. Denominations still mattered, but megachurches and contemporary worship rose—10% of Boomers attended megachurches by 1990. Revivals and Bible studies fueled their search for truth. Faith was personal, passionate, and often debated, but always central.
Attitudes Toward Other Generations: Admiration and Frustration
Boomers admired the Silent Generation’s grit but found them overly reserved. They often butted heads with Gen X’s skepticism, with only 30% consistently mentoring them to chase bigger stories. As for Millennials and Gen Z, Boomers are impressed by their digital fluency—90% of Boomers use smartphones today—but roll their eyes at perceived entitlement (while quietly relying on Gen Z grandkids to troubleshoot their iPads).
Generational Blind Spot: Spotlight Hogging
Even trailblazers trip. Boomers’ blind spot? Clinging to center stage. Holding 70% of political offices in the 2000s, their drive for impact often overshadowed mentoring, leaving Gen X and Millennials sidelined. This reluctance to step aside fuels tension, as younger generations feel overlooked. Philippians 2:3 calls for humility, but their love for leadership sometimes eclipsed nurturing others.
Challenges: Navigating a Changing World
Vietnam (58,000 U.S. deaths), social upheaval, and economic swings defined Boomers’ challenges. Their size drove infrastructure growth—more schools, hospitals, roads, and suburbs—to meet their needs. Education shifted, too: overcrowded classrooms led to group work and “group grades” to manage their numbers, a trend that reshaped teaching. Raising families amid assassinations and cultural shifts tested resilience, pushing Boomers to adapt while seeking stability.
Legacy: Trailblazers of Transformation
Boomers didn’t just adapt—they reshaped. They built megachurches (25,000 by 2000), fueled the Jesus Movement, and championed civil rights, leaving bold action. Their entrepreneurial spirit created 60% of new businesses in the 1980s, driving economic growth. Too vast to fade, Boomers wove themselves deeply into history’s fabric. Their flaws may form the messy backside of God’s tapestry, yet their lively threads enhance the beauty of all generations we’re exploring.
In my next article, we’ll tackle Generation X, born 1965–1980—stay tuned!
The Global Nexter 