Smith 2, 3, Part II

What does chapter 2 (particularly Tables 22 and 23) reveal about how religion provides resources for coping with adult problems for teens?

This forum will be open for credit until TH 5/24.

Table 22 examines how teens who attend religious services evaluate the adults in their congregations, how parents of teens evaluate their congregation for the priority their congregations place on teen ministry and for their congregation's helpfulness to them as parents raising teens. Teens who attend religious services are less likely to view adults in their congregations as hypocrites. Tables 23 examines teens’ evaluations of their congregations’ pastoral and teaching effectiveness. 70% of teens say their congregations are a very good or fairly good place to talk about serious issues. I believe tables 22 and 23 indicate teens feel content with the resources that have been provided to them and their parents by their religious institutions when dealing with adult problems for teens

I agree with your thoughts that teens are more likely to be content with the resources handed to them by their parents and therefore less likely to critique their way of living. I think that this age group is interesting to asses in this matter because adolescents are generally vulnerable to their parents resources for survival and often have to comply to their parents beliefs. It is when the adolescent becomes independent that they may form independent beliefs as well.

I agree with your assessment, though i'm interested to hear what you think about the lack of connection that kids experience with the youth ministers. Especially in the light of the adult perception that their congregations are actively targeting and speaking to the teenagers, this disconnect between the teenagers and the minister who is specifically supposed to be taking an active hand in their religious education is fascinating to me.

I think that the disconnect between youth and youth ministers has to do with the youth's interest and the priority churches place on youth ministry. Based on the information provided for Catholic teens, they are the youth to engage in less religious activities in comparison to other religious youth. Catholic teens also reportedly felt that their churches don't place much importance in youth ministry. I think Catholic youth are one, not aways so engaged in religious activities, and when they are interested, there may not be youth ministers to connect to given the lack of importance the church places of youth ministry.

I agree that the divide between youth and youth ministers is connected to youth's changing and sometimes conflicting interests and the youth ministry's response to their audience. Young adults have many other spheres of influence that involve peers closer to their age so it's harder for them to connect to what they're engaging in when they are not around.

Hi,I was curious as to what religious resources where you referring to?Which resources in specific are provided to these teens that allows them to feel comfortable speaking about such personal issues?

the job as a parent is to train up a child in the way that he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it as it says in Proverbs, however a child may not hold similar interest especially as they grow older and tend to other conventions in their lives. teens understand the idea of what's right and wrong however some may be embarrassed of bullied trying to identify with religious beliefs and traditions.

I believe that the charts do a great job at showing how through religious assimilation, few youth find actual issues with their congregations and or elders. Likewise for parents as they seem more so interested in the resources being provided for youth ministry. I do believe that the tables give an example of people very active in their own socialization.

These two tables examine the way that teenagers viewed the adults that attended the religious spaces that they were members of and the success that these adults had at talking about connecting with and talking to teens about issues that they were facing. The tables seem to indicate that in the aggregate, teens trust the adults around them in their religious spaces though they did seem to find a decent number of adults that they singled out for distrust. This coupled with the relative high number of respondents that felt fulfilled with the way that the religious leaders approached adult issues would seem to indicate that teenagers were for the most part satisfied with the resources that religions provided for them. What I found interesting was the lack of connection many teens reported to youth ministers given the importance and effort that many congregations put into youth programs in order to ensure that teenagers stay engaged in the religious organization. This would seem to indicate a disconnect somewhere with the implementation of such programs as one would figure the youth minister is a vital part of the organization and upkeep of such programs.

I agree with you Turi because besides the parents and other peers teenagers and adolescents had very few alternatives to communicate with when it comes to religion and practices.

Table 22 reveals how US teens are less likely to view adults as hypocrites than viewing other teens. Just a handful believe most adults are. 19% of teen reported that in conversing with a minister on personal questions, has been a rough experience. Data in table 23 presents the percentage of congregation rating in how fair it holds to speak on serious issues. Jewish teens gave poor remarks on this section. NSYR as well asked what has the congregation done to help comprehend teens on their own sexuality and sexual morality. 15% of all teens announce that their congregation has done nothing to advice them on topic of sex.

Table 22 basically shaped the mold for how the teenagers viewed adults in their religious surroundings, and how the parents need their children to be active in church however teenagers do not feel that connection speaking on intimate topics. Table 23 is a report of low numbers and unpleased teenagers because sexuality is a difficult topic for the religious institutions to address and even harder when dealing with teenagers. There was a high number of 70% of teenagers that felt comfortable in their religious organization that spoke on serious matters without feeling ashamed.

Table 22 reveals that most U.S teens showed trust in the adults of their religious spaces.There were a few exceptions,but an overall trend of teens were likely to talk about their personal life issues to religious leaders and in religious environments.Furthermore,when dealing with adult problems most teens are satisfied with their religious resources and feel it is a safe space to talk about these issues.

In my opinion, Table 22 shows that most American teenagers believe the adults in their religious space. In addition, most youth are satisfied with their religious resources when dealing with adults and consider this a safe space for discussing these issues. However, Table 23 reports on the minority and the disgruntled adolescents, because when dealing with adolescents, sexual issues are the subject of difficult to discuses.

Table 22 demonstrates how teens attending religious services critique the adults within congregations. Teens’ were able to conduct evaluations on congregations’ pastorals and how teaching is successful. According to the table 70% of teens say their congregations are a good or fairly decent space to talk about or discuss major issues. Tables 22 and 23 describe that teens feel content with the resources that have been provided to them and their parents by their religious institutions when dealing with adult problems for teens. Most teens are satisfied or either content with their religious resources and feel it is a safe space to talk about these issues.

Table 22 reveals that religion is perceived as being, for the most part, a useful resource in coping with adult problems. While many teens never sought out advice from an adult youth minister, the ones that did had a generally good experience. The parents also perceive religion as being supportive and helpful in raising their teens. Table 23 reveals that there's an adequate amount of trust that is given to religious congregations by teens in various aspects such as sexuality, serious issues and problems, and religion itself.

I guess teens trust their churches with serious things and issues because it is considered a serous place. They know they can rely on the people there because the people who work their are constantly stressing how they work for god, and how they only want the best for everyone. Therefore, when someone promises that they only want to guide you in the right direction, and when they show their selflessness, the teens trust them.

I agree with your point and would like to add on to it by saying that this may not always a good thing because some congregations like the westboro baptist church are not extending love and acceptance to everyone of the same faith but rather influencing them with racist negative ways of interpreting their faith that negativity impacts the rest of society. This is not the case of every congregation of course but just wanted to bring up an alternative point.

I agree. It seems as though teens put a lot of faith and trust into their church. Their comfortably in coming to the congregation to speak about personal issues and problems shows that the Church holds a strong presence in the live of U.S. teens.

Table 22 in my perspective it shows congregations do not provide much help or supports for teens dealing with adult problems. Because when asked for their experiences talking with adult youth minister or religious youth leader about a personal question or problem a majority of the teen respondents in each congregations said they have not talking with a youth minister. Although in table 23, a majority of the teens states congregations are good for talking about serious issues. It contradicts how many of them actually talked to a minister for their problems. I think this has to do with their idea of these congragations are that they are good and your supposed to go to them to talk about your issues as do parents. In table 22 we see that parents gain support from congregations when dealing with teenagers. But in reality, not many of these teens go to these ministers for their problems.

i agree, many teens do not feel spiritually connect with problems they go through in their lives. every congregation is different and the way people preach and teach differs due to interpretation and paraphrasing although they should relate other people may take things the wrong way and become offended by these messages and separate from the congregation.

I agree with everything you stated. The way that congregations teach the word of god and relate it to issues can vary from congregation to other congregations. The type of religion also plays a huge role on how congregation might speak of certain situation. Just as we learn before that some religious are more in support of man being in power and where women are not.

I agree that not every teenager feels they are able to speak to ministers about their problems. This is why I feel like they should include more programs and groups so that an individual can feel like they can express themselves without involving everyone in the church. Perhaps a more one on one in a closed environment.

Table 22 shows how teenagers who attend church and services do not view adults as hypocrites. It shows how teens evaluate and value the adults in their congregation and how parents look at their congregation to learn from them and help them raise their children/teens. Table 23 evaluates effectiveness of pastoral teachings and lectures.
Teens are comfortable at church and religious services and believe it is a good place to bring up serious topics and issues. They use these places when they seek guidance or need help with big decisions.

Both table 22 & 23 shows that adolescents generally trust and feel connected and comfortable around adults. They do not view them as hypocrites and feel comfortable enough to express personal life issues with adults in relgious spaces. Many teens do not talk to minister about their problems.

Adolescence is a tough period of time in a person's life, and having an encouraging and positive institution for youth to go to when they encounter a issues in their lives and need consolation is very important according to Smith. Tables 2 & 3 show that the majority of religious youth do not believe that their parent are hypocrites in the information that they get provided by them. They believe that their congregation is a good center to discuss personal issue and receive help and encouragement from the community, despite a a disconnection between youth minister and the participating youth.

Correction, i meant tables 22 and 23

from my personal experience i believe theres a disconnect between adolescents and and the youth minister because they probably dont believe that they are lving the religious life the way they should. they probably believe that they are hypocrites.

table 22 shows us how adolescents view adults that attend religious congregations, it asks specific questions how an adolescent views adults and how free a teen can connect or cannot connect with an adult to talk about ones experiences. Table 23 shows how effective religious meetings can be for adolescents. While coping with adult world and its problems teens turn to religion because it offers them highest morals and a path free of sin, it shows how the adult world ought to work and leads them a path of salvation.

table 22 and 23 tells us that teens were comfortable with the congregation at church. it showed us that majority of the teens feel as though the adults in their congregation were trust worthy and were not hypocrites. the chart also shows that parents rely on the congregation to help them raise their teens which mean the congregation is more like family. but this also means that adolescents always have someone to talk to even if they dont want to talk their parents.

Table 22 and 23 show how adults use congregations to help guide them with parenting. It also shows how teen interact with the congregations based on talking to someone there and how well they can rely on adults in a congregational place. As for parenting we can see that adults go to congregations so that they can learn ways to help teen or children deal with issues with the word of god.

Table 22 reveals the evaluation in Adults, from teenagers perspective. It tells how teenagers viewed adults in their religious congregations. The table also gives information on parents wanting their teens to be more involved and supportive of the church. Table 23 reveals that most teens feel comfortable with talking to the congregation about serious, issues, problem and troubles. Many teens feel that the congregation has help them better understand their own sexuality and sexual morality.

Table 22 reveals, how teenagers view adults that attend religious settings and how they interact with each other. Parents want their children to participate in church and teens that regularly go to church, are content with doing so. Teens that attend church with their parents are more likely to have a connection with adults and feel safer in discussing issues. Table 23, on the other hand, shows the section of adolescents that do not attend church because they feel like they are not comfortable because they cannot deal with intimacy and sexual issues that come up in teenage years. Both tables, seem like they are satisfied with church settings but would perhaps like more organizations and groups where they can express themselves.