American Teens Hold Deistic Beliefs

Researchers with the National Study of Youth and Religion at the University of North Carolina interviewed more than 3,000 teenagers about their religious beliefs and have released findings in a new book. The social scientists concluded that American teenagers believe:
• A god exists who created the world and watches over human life.
• God wants people to be nice to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions.
• The central goal of life is to be happy and feel good about oneself.
• God does not need to be involved in one's life except when needed to resolve a problem.
• Good people go to heaven when they die.
Commenting on the research, Gene Edward Veith writes, "Even these secular researchers recognized that this creed is a far cry from Christianity, with no place for sin, judgment, salvation, or Christ.
"Instead, most teenagers believe in a combination of works righteousness, religion as psychological well-being, and a distant, non-interfering god.
"Or, to use a technical term, 'Moralistic Therapeutic Deism.'"

Source: World (25 June 2005)