Growing a Faith that Matters

The National Study of Youth and Religion

Rodger Nishioka, Ph.D.Benton Family Associate Professor of Christian

EducationColumbia Theological Seminary

Decatur, GA

Smith, Christian and Melinda Lundquist Denton. Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.

National Study of Youth and Religion

Random sampling of 3,370 American youth (13-17 years-old) conducted July 2002-March 2003. Results here are for those identified as “Presbyterian” in the “mainline Protestant” group. Other categories were conservative Protestant, Black Protestant, Roman Catholic, not religious, Mormon, Jewish, more than one religion, other.

1. What percent of Presbyterian young people believe in God?

A. 96%

B. 86%

C. 76%

1. What percent of Presbyterian young people believe in God?

A. 96%

B. 86%<<<<<<

C. 76%

2. What percent of Presbyterian youth believe in a judgment day when God will reward some and punish others?

A. 83%

B. 73%

C. 63%

2. What percent of Presbyterian youth believe in a judgment day when God will reward some and punish others?

A. 83%

B. 73%

C. 63%<<<<<<

3. What percent of Presbyterian youth have made a personal commitment to live life for God?

A. 70%

B. 60%

C. 50%

3. What percent of Presbyterian youth have made a personal commitment to live life for God?

A. 70%

B. 60%<<<<<<

C. 50%

4. What percent of Presbyterian youth have had an experience of worship that was very moving and powerful?

A. 74%

B. 64%

C. 54%

4. What percent of Presbyterian youth have had an experience of worship that was very moving and powerful?

A. 74%

B. 64%

C. 54%<<<<<<<

5. What percent of Presbyterian young people pray alone at least once a day?

A. 52%

B. 42%

C. 32%

5. What percent of Presbyterian young people pray alone at least once a day?

A. 52%

B. 42%

C. 32%<<<<<<<

6. What percent of Presbyterian young people had a family that prayed regularly before or after meals?

A. 74%

B. 54%

C. 34%

6. What percent of Presbyterian young people had a family that prayed regularly before or after meals?

A. 74%

B. 54%

C. 34%<<<<<<<<

7. What percent of Presbyterian young people reported that their congregation was rarely or never boring?

A. 64%

B. 44%

C. 24%

7. What percent of Presbyterian young people reported that their congregation was rarely or never boring?

A. 64%

B. 44%<<<<<<<<

C. 24%

8. What percent of Presbyterian youth said they had adults in their congregation other than family members with whom they enjoyed talking and who gave lots of encouragement?

A. 84%

B. 54%

C. 34%

8. What percent of Presbyterian youth said they had adults in their congregation other than family members with whom they enjoyed talking and who gave lots of encouragement?

A. 84%<<<<<<<<<

B. 54%

C. 34%

9. What percent of Presbyterian youth said they believed that many religions may be true?

A. 77%

B. 67%

C. 57%

9. What percent of Presbyterian youth said they believed that many religions may be true?

A. 77%

B. 67%<<<<<<<<

C. 57%

10. What percent of Presbyterian youth agreed that for believers to be truly religious and spiritual, they needed to be involved in a congregation on a regular basis?

A. 47%

B. 37%

C. 27%

10. What percent of Presbyterian youth agreed that for believers to be truly religious and spiritual, they needed to be involved in a congregation on a regular basis?

A. 47%

B. 37%

C. 27%<<<<<<<

Major finding of the National Study of Youth

and Religion...

Young people tend to view God as a

moralistic, therapeutic deity.

What does that mean?

The Deity

•A God exists who created and orders the world and watches over human life on earth.

•God is all powerful and largely distant.

The Moralistic Deity

•God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to one another as taught in the Bible and most world religions.

•Good people go to heaven. Bad people go to hell.

The Therapeutic Deity

•The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about one’s self.

•God is not particularly involved in one’s life except when God is needed to resolve a problem or in some inexplicable way when tragedy occurs.

So what’s your point?

•This view of God as a moralistic, therapeutic deity does not place Christ at the center. It places ourselves at the center with God orbiting around us.

•The goal of life is not to be happy and to feel good about one’s self. The goal of life is to be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ as a response to God’s amazing gift of grace.

Then Jesus said, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”

Matthew 16:24-25

Christian Smith. Souls in Transition. The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults in America. New York: Oxford University Press, 2010.

1.Committed Traditionalists. “Deeply committed” 15%

2.Selective Adherents. “Important but...” 30%

3.Spiritually Open. “Spiritual just not religious” 15%

4.Religiously Indifferent. “Just doesn’t matter.” 25%

5.Religiously Disconnected. “Don’t know.” 5 %

6.Irreligious. “Makes no sense.” 10%

High parental High parental religious service & religious service &

attendance & attendance & importance of importance of

faithfaith

High parental High parental religious service & religious service &

attendance & attendance & importance of importance of

faithfaith

High teen High teen importance importance

of faithof faith

High teen High teen importance importance

of faithof faith

Teen had Teen had many many

personal personal religious religious

experiencexperienceses

Teen had Teen had many many

personal personal religious religious

experiencexperienceses

Teen had Teen had many many

adults to adults to turn to for turn to for support support and helpand help

Teen had Teen had many many

adults to adults to turn to for turn to for support support and helpand help

Teen Teen frequentlfrequently prayed y prayed and read and read the Biblethe Bible

Teen Teen frequentlfrequently prayed y prayed and read and read the Biblethe Bible

Teen had Teen had fewer serious fewer serious doubts about doubts about

religious religious beliefsbeliefs

Teen had Teen had fewer serious fewer serious doubts about doubts about

religious religious beliefsbeliefs