Majority of teens say they're
Christians, but beliefs diverge
___GLENDALE, Calif. (RNS)--While an overwhelming majority of U.S. teenagers identify themselves as Christians, many of them hold unorthodox--and some say troubling--views on salvation and whether or not Jesus sinned while on Earth, according to a new survey.
___The sampling of 605 teenagers, conducted by evangelical pollster George Barna, found 86 percent were self-identified Christians, with only one-third labeling themselves "born-again." Barna defines "born-again" as a person who has a personal relationship with Jesus and believes that faith in him will result in eternal life in heaven.
___When it comes to traditional Christian teachings, however, U.S. teens share beliefs not traditionally embraced by most churches. More than half--53 percent--said they believed Jesus Christ committed sins while on Earth, and two-thirds said Satan is more a symbol of evil than a real being.
___About 60 percent of teens said a person can gain salvation through good works--a centuries-old theological debate that led to the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century.
___Three out of five teenagers also agreed the Bible is "totally accurate" in all its teaching, with born-again teens twice as likely to believe the Bible is accurate in its entirety.
___Teens also said they were mostly lukewarm in their faith; one-third described themselves as "absolutely committed," while half said they were "moderately committed" and about one-fifth are "less committed."
___Barna said these "well-intentioned but misinformed faith perspectives" raise troubling questions for the church.
___"The bottom line is that today's teens think they have learned and absorbed whatever the Christian faith has to offer and are therefore not questioning their spiritual beliefs and are not open to being challenged in their views," Barna said.

©2000 The Baptist Standard