ACU Today - Spring 2000 News

.

Spring enrollment sets mark; Fall 2000 projections also high

Performing Arts Center facilities to honor three couples

2000 Summer Workshops

Parents' Association presents Abilene couple as 2000 Parents of the Year

Generation whY develops individual spiritual style

Generation whY develops individual spiritual style

They've been called "bridgers," "0-0s" and "Generation whY."

They're the generation that spans two millenniums.

Research indicates they're the most technologically savvy generation ever, yet very traditional, and they aren't accepting the norm or the abnormal - they're asking "why" and making decisions for themselves.

ACU's Center for Youth and Family Ministry surveyed 530 of these teens during the past year for the first glimpse inside the minds of a new generation. The resulting data offers an overview of their unique perspective.

Robert Oglesby Jr. ('81), director of the Center for Youth and Family Ministry, and Dr. Carley Dodd ('70), professor of communications at ACU, surveyed Church of Christ teens from the south, west/midwest and east regions of the United States.

These teens (ages 11-19 from 14 states) have changing attitudes about sex, divorce, church and violence.

The survey results were presented at the 16th annual Youth and Family Ministry Conference Feb. 24-25 at ACU.

Results were compared with a similar survey conducted in 1994 with Church of Christ youth - the Generation Xers.

Generation whY youth, who were born between 1980 and 1995, are the largest generation since the post-World War II Baby Boomers.

"This group, more than four billion per year, is a huge group," Dodd said. "Not as big as the Boomers, but very significant. They are an upbeat, can-do, optimistic generation we need to pay attention to."

Interestingly, Oglesby said the survey revealed Generation whY youth are more traditional than the older Generation Xers.

Youth in the previous survey tended to be more cynical and nontraditional than Generation whY students, Oglesby said. "They're excited and optimistic about what's going on today," he said. "They're not down on themselves."

Seventy-eight percent said, "Myself" when asked, "Who would be a good spokesperson for your generation?"

"These kids are different to say the least," Dodd said.

Compared to the previous survey, the rate of Church of Christ youth choosing to protect their virginity is increasing. Of those polled, 85 percent said they are virgins.

"Virginity rates among all demographic groups are going up," Dodd said. "That's a good national trend."

Concerning divorce, 39 percent of those surveyed believe adultery is the only biblical reason for divorce. Only 22 percent said Christians should marry only Christians.

"What you are seeing right here is the beginning of a generational struggle," Oglesby said. The survey participants said the views of Christian teens are not very different from those of non-Christian teens, yet for the most part, they believe in Jesus and are interested in church.

"They're seeing church as relevant, and that's very different from the morose Generation X group," Oglesby said.

Ninety-two percent in this survey said they are interested in church. When the Generation Xers were surveyed, only 71 percent said they were interested in church.

The survey also indicated a strong relationship between youth who drink and those who use pornography, lose their virginity, have less interest in prayer, do not respect authority and do not see the church as relevant.

Eighty-two percent of those polled said they don't drink.

Of those who are alcohol avoiders, 81 percent were virgins. Among alcohol users, 37 percent were virgins.

As a whole, though, spirituality is stronger among this group than the Generation Xers, Dodd said.

"There is a spiritual wave moving across this generation. They are into angels, spiritual movements ... and this is important to them."

Ninety-two percent of those polled believe in Satan; 90 percent believe letting Jesus be Lord and Savior is essential for salvation; and 79 percent believe God will punish the wicked in a literal hell.

"Satan is very real to these kids," Oglesby said.

"But," he said, "65 percent said church membership doesn't matter as long as you love God. Kids are into God, but not church."

Only 10 percent said they thought using musical instruments during church is sinful.

"This is part of our identity as the Church of Christ," Oglesby said. "There's obviously going to be some serious tension over instrumental music."

Oglesby said the survey reported a rise in thoughts about violence, which he attributed to school shootings across the country.

The study found a correlation between students whose parents had an unhappy marital situation and violence at home or school.

Students who believe divorce is OK are twice as likely - 30 percent compared to 15 - to have parents with an unhappy marital situation.

Parental roles, though, seem to be more and more important. When asked, "Who is your hero?" 28 percent said, "My Dad."

"We were amazed," Oglesby said. "We're hoping this signals Dads are coming back to the homes and making a difference as fathers."

- TOM CRAIG

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		. Spring enrollment sets mark; Fall 2000 projections also high Performing Arts Center facilities to honor three couples 2000 Summer Workshops Parents' Association presents Abilene couple as 2000 Parents of the Year Generation whY develops individual spiritual style Generation whY develops individual spiritual style They've been called "bridgers," "0-0s" and "Generation whY." They're the generation that spans two millenniums. Research indicates they're the most technologically savvy generation ever, yet very traditional, and they aren't accepting the norm or the abnormal - they're asking "why" and making decisions for themselves. ACU's Center for Youth and Family Ministry surveyed 530 of these teens during the past year for the first glimpse inside the minds of a new generation. The resulting data offers an overview of their unique perspective. Robert Oglesby Jr. ('81), director of the Center for Youth and Family Ministry, and Dr. Carley Dodd ('70), professor of communications at ACU, surveyed Church of Christ teens from the south, west/midwest and east regions of the United States. These teens (ages 11-19 from 14 states) have changing attitudes about sex, divorce, church and violence. The survey results were presented at the 16th annual Youth and Family Ministry Conference Feb. 24-25 at ACU. Results were compared with a similar survey conducted in 1994 with Church of Christ youth - the Generation Xers. Generation whY youth, who were born between 1980 and 1995, are the largest generation since the post-World War II Baby Boomers. "This group, more than four billion per year, is a huge group," Dodd said. "Not as big as the Boomers, but very significant. They are an upbeat, can-do, optimistic generation we need to pay attention to." Interestingly, Oglesby said the survey revealed Generation whY youth are more traditional than the older Generation Xers. Youth in the previous survey tended to be more cynical and nontraditional than Generation whY students, Oglesby said. "They're excited and optimistic about what's going on today," he said. "They're not down on themselves." Seventy-eight percent said, "Myself" when asked, "Who would be a good spokesperson for your generation?" "These kids are different to say the least," Dodd said. Compared to the previous survey, the rate of Church of Christ youth choosing to protect their virginity is increasing. Of those polled, 85 percent said they are virgins. "Virginity rates among all demographic groups are going up," Dodd said. "That's a good national trend." Concerning divorce, 39 percent of those surveyed believe adultery is the only biblical reason for divorce. Only 22 percent said Christians should marry only Christians. "What you are seeing right here is the beginning of a generational struggle," Oglesby said. The survey participants said the views of Christian teens are not very different from those of non-Christian teens, yet for the most part, they believe in Jesus and are interested in church. "They're seeing church as relevant, and that's very different from the morose Generation X group," Oglesby said. Ninety-two percent in this survey said they are interested in church. When the Generation Xers were surveyed, only 71 percent said they were interested in church. The survey also indicated a strong relationship between youth who drink and those who use pornography, lose their virginity, have less interest in prayer, do not respect authority and do not see the church as relevant. Eighty-two percent of those polled said they don't drink. Of those who are alcohol avoiders, 81 percent were virgins. Among alcohol users, 37 percent were virgins. As a whole, though, spirituality is stronger among this group than the Generation Xers, Dodd said. "There is a spiritual wave moving across this generation. They are into angels, spiritual movements ... and this is important to them." Ninety-two percent of those polled believe in Satan; 90 percent believe letting Jesus be Lord and Savior is essential for salvation; and 79 percent believe God will punish the wicked in a literal hell. "Satan is very real to these kids," Oglesby said. "But," he said, "65 percent said church membership doesn't matter as long as you love God. Kids are into God, but not church." Only 10 percent said they thought using musical instruments during church is sinful. "This is part of our identity as the Church of Christ," Oglesby said. "There's obviously going to be some serious tension over instrumental music." Oglesby said the survey reported a rise in thoughts about violence, which he attributed to school shootings across the country. The study found a correlation between students whose parents had an unhappy marital situation and violence at home or school. Students who believe divorce is OK are twice as likely - 30 percent compared to 15 - to have parents with an unhappy marital situation. Parental roles, though, seem to be more and more important. When asked, "Who is your hero?" 28 percent said, "My Dad." "We were amazed," Oglesby said. "We're hoping this signals Dads are coming back to the homes and making a difference as fathers." - TOM CRAIG Page 1 \| Page 2 \| Page 3

		News 1 - 2 - 3 \| Sports \| Hilltop View \| Second Glance Back Issues \| Feedback \| Alumni Bookcase \| Tipsheet \| Our Staff .
		Last Update: July 3, 2000 Page maintained by Jeremy Parish, parishj@acu.edu Questions to Ron Hadfield, hadfieldr@acu.edu http://www.acu.edu/acu-today/spring2000/news03.html