"There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God." --Psalm 46:4

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Serving God with His people at Faith OPC has been a great joy and blessing. When I grow up, I want to umpire Little League Baseball. I will revel on that day when I can say to a 10-year-old boy after four pitched balls, "Take a walk in the sunshine." My wife of 30+ years, Peggy, consistently demonstrates the love of Christ and remains my very best friend. Our six children, our four lovely, sweetie-pie daughters-in-law, and our four grandchildren serve as resident theologians.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Christian Smith in Soul Searching


A Few Statistical Notes on American Teenagers

I can remember back 2005-06 plowing through about 3/4 of Smith's book on the massive survey of Protestant young people.

With our young people,

23% are NOT sure about the existence of miracles

33% definitely or maybe definitely believe in reincarnation

41% disagree with the statement that people should practice only one faith

Smith concludes: For a tradition that has so strongly emphasized infallibility or inerrancy of the Bible, the exclusive claims of conservative Christianity, and the need for a personal commitment of one's life to God, some of these numbers are astounding. He summarizes that the local church is at fault. Our distinct impression is that very many religious congregations and communities of faith in the United States are failing rather badly in religiously engaging and educating their youth.


See Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers (Oxford Press, 2005).


G. Mark Sumpter
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