The Barna Research organization asked 604 American teens (ages
13 to 18) about their moral standards. The results show little
trust in moral standards that are always trustworthy. Teens
(and adults) believe they get to make up the rules as they go
along. Worse: On this issue Christian (born again) teens hold
the same values as those who aren't Christian.
One question asked teenagers to complete the statement: Moral
truth is... The teens had three choices: is unchanging,
depends on the situation, and don't know. Here's how they
responded.
A second question asked: Think about the choices you face
everyday. People make their decisions in different ways. When
you are faced with a moral or ethical choice, which ONE of the
following best describes how you, yourself, decide what to do?
In other words, where do those standards and principles come
from--what would you turn to in order to discover the
appropriate principles?
|
|
All
|
born again
|
non-born again
|
Moral truth...
|
|
whatever will make the most people happy or create the
least conflict
|
10%
|
12%
|
8%
|
|
whatever you think your family or friends would expect
you to do
|
10
|
6
|
11
|
|
follow a set of specific principles or standards you
believe in, that serve as guidelines for your behavior,
e.g., the Bible
|
7
|
12
|
2
|
|
follow a set of specific principles or standards you
believe in, that serve as guidelines for your behavior:
values taught by your parents
|
10
|
10
|
10
|
|
follow a set of specific principles or standards you
believe in, that serve as guidelines for your behavior:
other religious input
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
|
what you believe most other people would do in that
situation
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
|
whatever feels right or comfortable in that situation
|
38
|
34
|
40
|
|
whatever will produce the most positive outcome for
you, personally
|
16
|
13
|
17
|
We'd like to hear from you. What can Christians do to keep
their thinking straight about the Bible offering us unchanging
truth? What can Christians do to help others trust the truth
God offers us in the Bible?
