A brand new survey has urged that the overwhelming majority of American teenagers have not less than a passing curiosity in figuring out extra about Jesus.
The survey, carried out by Barna Analysis, discovered that 77% of American youngsters are motivated to find out about Jesus, with 52% “very” motivated and the remaining 25% merely “considerably” motivated to know Jesus.
Ten per cent mentioned they weren’t motivated to know Jesus in any respect, whereas 6% reported being “considerably unmotivated”, with the remaining 7% claiming to be “uncertain”.
Barna described the outcomes as “encouraging information”, saying it was an indication that regardless of hesitation to go to church, there may be “curiosity about religious issues”.
Barna referred to as on church leaders to “create areas for open dialogue the place teenagers can discover their questions on Jesus with out stress”, saying that the obvious willingness to find out about Jesus alerts a “vital alternative for significant engagement”.
The group mentioned, “It is also essential to grasp that whereas teenagers categorical curiosity in Jesus, they could method religion in another way than earlier generations. Moreover, authenticity and relevance are key. Be ready to deal with troublesome questions truthfully and display how Jesus and the Bible relate to the world we reside in at the moment.”
Earlier analysis by Barna has urged that religion background of teenagers has an affect on who or what they belief most as a supply to find out about Jesus.
Amongst “dedicated Christian teenagers”, probably the most trusted supply is the Bible itself, with 95% contemplating it a reliable supply. This determine falls to 71% amongst “nominal Christian teenagers” and to 49% per cent amongst non-Christian teenagers.
Nominal teenagers place as a lot belief in relations as they do the Bible, whereas amongst non-Christian teenagers, probably the most trusted supply for studying about Jesus, at 53%, is themselves.
Apparently, non-Christian teenagers usually view Christians or church leaders because the least dependable supply of details about Jesus, with solely 40% contemplating them reliable.