Do American Teenagers Disrespect The Bible? Millennials’ Sense Of Individualism Drives Them Away From Religion

It's easy to assume that American teenagers would lose respect and interest for the Bible during this day and age. A new study, however, found that majority of teens in the U.S. believe biblical engagement is of utmost importance.

Evangelical Christian polling firm The Barna Group and the non-profit organization American Bible Society conducted a study titled "Teen State of the Bible 2016," which involved interviewing 1,013 teens aged between 13 and 17. According to the report, seven in 10 American teenagers own a Bible, with 86 percent of them viewing the holy book as sacred literature. That percentage, however, is higher in 2015 at 89 percent.

The study also found that 47 percent of teenagers think the Bible gives people hope, while 35 percent believe that the sacred texts contain "everything a person needs to know to live a meaningful life." As for biblical engagement, 63 percent of teens in the country read the Bible at least once annually, while 44 percent read the holy texts at least three or four times every year.

Only 25 percent of teenagers read the Bible weekly, and 41 percent admitted they are too busy to devote time to reading the scriptures. Fifty-three percent of teens wish they read the Bible more regularly.

It's safe to conclude that though are little changes over time, American teenagers still respect and have interest for the Bible. Teens in the country are often believed to be faithless and are anti-religion.

Arthur Satterwhite, senior manager of National Movements Mobilization at American Bible Society, said in a statement that many teenagers believe that the Bible "speaks to the complete human experience" and "the struggles and trials and triumphs of life." For young people, the holy book heavily influences their family's rules at home.

A study published on PLOS One in May 2015, however, found that American millennials are rapidly losing interest in religious involvement. U.S. adolescents with ages from 13 to 18 were surveyed between 1966 and 2014 and were found to be disapproving of religious organizations. These young people seldom pray and think that religion is not vital to their lives.

Jean Twenge, the study's lead author and a psychology professor at San Diego State University in California, said the young, self-centered generation is attracted towards atheism's sense of individualism, Raw Story reported. As more Americans take hold of their individualism, it should be expected that they would let go of religious practices. The inconsistency of religious teachings with scientific understanding commonly taught in U.S. schools also plays a part in the discord between millennials and religion.