New study shows many 20-to-40-year-olds don't believe in Biblical truth
Pastor Dale Morgan
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New study shows many 20-to-40-year-olds don't believe in Biblical truth*
Posted: November 15, 2006
Barna Group
A poll comparing the moral and religious views of young adults in their
20s and 30s with the views of adults over 40 shows that the young adults
are abandoning the biblical faith of their elders at an alarming rate,
according to the Barna Group.
In terms of morals, adults in their 20s and 30s were at least twice as
likely as their elders to have:
* had a sexual encounter outside of marriage
* used illegal drugs
* gotten drunk
* used profanity in public
* lied
* taken revenge
* physically fought or physically abused someone
* viewed sexually explicit videos
* said mean things behind someone's back
The Barna poll also found that young adults are 10 times more likely
than older adults to download or trade music online illegally.
The difference between young adults and older adults didn't occur only
in the realm of moral behavior. Differences also appeared in what the
two groups believed.
For example, young adults were more likely than older adults to reject
the concept of absolute truth. They were also significantly less likely
to believe, as their elders do, that human beings should determine what
is right and wrong morally by examining God's principles. Also, young
adults were twice as likely as older adults to believe ethics and
morality are based on "what is right for the person."
Finally, even young Christian adults were more likely than older adults
to accept same-sex marriage and premarital sex.
"These poll results should be a grave concern to all serious Christians
everywhere," Dr. Ted Baehr, founder and publisher of MOVIEGUIDE: A
Biblical Guide to Movies and Entertainment, said that Baehr's
organization documents how the entertainment media plays a significant
role in leading children and young adults away from a Christian worldview.
"The mass media control the culture that elects the politicians and
influences young Christians," said Baehr. "Instead of putting their
money into building new buildings and trying to influence politicians
and voters in political campaigns, Christians should put their money
into redeeming the values of the mass media and evangelizing the world
with a Christ-centered, biblical worldview."
And Barna Group Vice President David Kinnaman suggested, "It seems
entirely possible that current events such as the Mark Foley scandal,
instances of abuse by clergy, and the sexually oriented school shootings
of recent months are not mere aberrations, but symptoms of a sexually
unrestrained society.
"It is important for churches to understand the natural skepticism of
[young adults] as well as their desire for spiritual and conversational
depth," he added. "Young adults do not want to hear on-the-stage
monologues about moral regulations."