If you questioned the 40 years and older population on what morality means to them, you’d most likely receive a response that included the Bible as being their moral compass. Not so, concerning today’s youth. In Britain, BBC (‘commissioned by BBC Religion and Ethics’ with the assistance of TNS BMRB) a poll of almost 600 youth aged 16-24. The results were surprising (that may be because I live in America), please note: italics and bold font were added by MAM for emphasis:
Four per cent listed practising a religion as the most important moral issue, the same percentage as said paying taxes.
When asked for the least important issue, religion came out on top with a third of respondents citing it.
New figures from the British Social Attitudes survey – published alongside the poll – suggest that about half of Britons as a whole have a religious affiliation, sharply down from 20 years ago when it was two-thirds.
Barely a quarter of young people now identify themselves as religious.
Of the eight moral issues, the poll found:
- 59% of those questioned said looking after their family was most important
- 12% said it was putting others first
- 8% cited being faithful to a partner
- 5% listed caring for the environment
- 4% cited having religious faith
- 4% felt paying taxes was most important
- 4% said playing a part in the local community
- 1% listed buying ethical products
Had this poll been conducted in the U.S., I wonder how the results would’ve compared. America is considered one of (if not THE) most religious industrialized country. The christian holy book, the bible, says according to book of Matthew:
Matthew 10:37 “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
Well Jesus, the youth of Britain has said differently and we agree!!
What are your thoughts on this poll?
