Study: Faith Makes Little Difference on Moral, Sexual Rules for 'Buster' Generation
by Allie Martin
November 7, 2006
(AgapePress) - - A new study finds that there is a great divide between younger and older Americans when it comes to agreeing on how to live a moral life.The Barna Research Group study examined 16 different areas of moral and sexual behavior among adults in their 20s and 30s -- a group knows as the "Buster" generation -- and those over the age of 40. According to the study, Busters were twice as likely to have viewed sexually explicit movies or videos during that past month; two-and-a-half times more likely to report having had a sexual encounter outside of marriage; and three times more likely to have viewed pornography online.
Overall, Busters' views on moral and sexual behavior are less conventional than that of their predecessors in 13 of the 16 different areas.
The director of the research, David Kinnaman, says those who identified themselves as Christians were different from non-born again young adults on some issues.
"One of the conclusions from this research is that people's moral profile is actually more likely to resemble or be formed by their interaction," he explains, "and it's more likely to look like their peers than it is to look like their faith."
When it comes to born-again Busters, their profile on half of the behaviors was identical to that of non-born again Busters. "Faith made some difference but not a particularly strong difference in most people's lives," the research observes. "So, for instance, young Christian adults in their 20s and 30s look more like non-Christian adults in their 20s and 30s than they do like older Christians."
The research, Kinnaman states in the Barna report on the study, "paints a compelling picture that moral values are shifting very quickly and significantly within the Christian community as well as outside of it." Consequently, he says, churches must do a better job when it comes to disciplining younger believers -- and must understand that Busters have a natural skepticism and are trying to create a sense of identity.
"To earn access to their hearts and minds, you have to understand each person's unique background, identity, and doubts, and must tangibly model a biblical lifestyle for them beyond the walls of the church," he suggests.
More than 7,000 adults from across the U.S. were interviewed in seven separate surveys for the study.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
