Eighty-two per cent of American teens are affiliated with a religious congregation, according to the National Study of Youth and Religion, produced by the University of North Carolina and funded by the Lilly Endowment. The study concluded that "religion really does matter" to teenagers, even though their religious knowledge is "meager, nebulous and often fallacious."
According to the report, those surveyed — teens between the ages of 13 and 17 — described an undemanding God who exists to solve problems and make people feel good. The report also states the trend reflects the same tendencies as American Baby Boomers.
"I agree that this trend isn't unique to teens: it increasingly characterises how many American adults feel about religion as well," said Dr. Mary Kupiec Cayton, a history professor at Miami University and a specialist in American spirituality. "Contemporary Americans are often looking to religion to meet their personal needs for community and emotional comfort. 'Belief' seems to depend a great deal on the degree to which these needs get met."
According to the survey, 52 per cent of American teens attend worship two to three times a month or more, 71 per cent feel "extremely", "very" or "somewhat" close to God, 65 per cent pray alone a few times a week or more and 50 per cent experienced what was believed to be a miracle from God.
The study also found that religiously devout teenagers are better off than their non-devout peers in emotional health, academic success, community involvement, concern for others, trust of adults and avoidance of risky behaviour.
