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Faith ON Campus

Discussing sexual purity and the ethical decisions facing a generation of American youth on the topic of sexuality, this article wrestles with the concept that God wants everyone to be happy - and sex makes people happy. Grappling with such logic,it urges youth ministers to help form missional identities within youth in response to these cultural shifts.. 

 



Between the Times: Moral Failure in Student Ministry

How morality has become a salve for our conciousness has recently become a big topic in youth ministry today. This article deals with the education of the Bible, taking into account that previous methods of outreach have only served to create a culture in which the Bible is a set of stories meant to encourage good living, rather the Word of God. It deals with NSYR data and the developing phenomenon of therapeutic moralistic deism. 



Chad-Logan

This particular blog addresses the recent Youtube phenomenon of the "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus" video. Arguing that the NSYR data suggests that American youth today want a "feel good God," this article attempts to locate Jesus' message within a more complicated structure of religious history. 



Culture Making

A blog using an article found in Christianity Today, Culture Making praises Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers for giving new light to the youth ministry field. It is a call to arms for youth ministers to join the movement to better reach out to young Americans. 



Youth Ministry Today

A quick rundown of Kenda Creasy Dean’s Almost Christian, this summary highlights the main points of the NSYR study and Kenda’s book. Wrapping up, it provides a unique stance on the roles of parents and the implications of the study on youth ministries and churches. 



TruthSeeker

Kenda Creasy Dean’s work Almost Christian continues to influence youth ministry by revealing the discrepancies between what youth ministry goals are and it’s outcomes. Attempting to debunk theories surrounding American youth, this blogger focuses on engaging and challenging youth ministers to reform the traditional structure and action of youth ministry. 



Spirit 4 Parents

Parents need guidance too, and this blog focuses on NSYR data pertaining to parents. Inspired by Souls in Transition, it focuses attention on the role of parents in developing the religious beliefs of their children. Empowering adults to get involved is the central argument in this blog. 



Get Religion

An article published through GetReligion.org, it explores the concept of Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. MTD is explained and contextualized, while also discussing the history of the term and its origins. Critical of a CNN report on Kenda Dean’s book, this blog focuses our attention on Christian Smith’s foundational work with this phenomenon. 



Building Faith

Focusing on the nature of religious institutions and their adherents, this blog discusses NSYR’s impact on understanding today’s current religious climate. Taking these findings they then challenge readers and researchers alike to translate knowledge into action. 



Search Institute

A great summary of the NSYR results, this article is a breakdown of the kind of questions that are asked as part of our data gathering process. 



U.S. Catholics: Retro-actives

Focuses on Catholic formation, intergenerational gaps in religious understanding, an the dichotomous experience of Catholic youth today. This article uses NSYR data to begin a dialogue on the attitudes and perceptions of the millennial kids, those born after 1981. 



Will the Kids be Alright

This article outlines the struggle faced by the Episcopalian Church.
Their lowered membership is addressed as a lack of youth development. It displays NSYR data, hoping to begin dialogue on the specific information relevant to the Epis. Church.



Catholic and Enjoying It

Contrasts Catholic youth development with that of Mormons; focusing on the procedural differences between the two faiths and emphasizing a need for change in Catholic education. It further stresses the need
for a "proper" faith community to aid in the development of children
of faith.



Downstream

Summarizes NSYR data in two posts, with commentary on their importance to Christian life.


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Although the site links listed in this section are offered as possible resources, their listing here does not necessarily imply the endorsement or recommendation of the National Study of Youth and Religion. Project-users must exercise discretion in evaluating and using these sites.

National Study of Youth and Religion


The National Study of Youth and Religion, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc., is under the direction of Dr. Christian Smith, Professor of Sociology at the University of Notre Dame, and Dr. Lisa Pearce, Assistant Professor of Sociology at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.