Home >  Lifestyle

Students say belief is worth searching for and living by

Wednesday, March 06, 2002

By Ervin Dyer, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

For many American teens, religion matters.

	(Illustrated by Stacy Innerst, Post-Gazette)

A recent survey by Barna, the Christian research group, found that 64 percent say they are religious and have found a way to integrate their beliefs into their lifestyle and thinking.

The survey mirrors the attitudes of four local students who took part in the latest Teen Forum discussion on religion. The panelists were raised in a mix of mainline Protestant traditions. They say they regularly attend Sunday school or youth groups with their friends, which helps to weave their faith life into their social life.

Alexandra Hull, a senior at Peters Township High School, sings in the church choir and participates in a youth group. She said both are a big part of her life. Her religion matters, she said, because she's building a personal relationship with God, and attending church helps to anchor her belief.

"Church for me is about being there to worship God," said the 18-year-old.

Jessica Morriston, 17, a classmate of Alexandra's at Peters, said she's not "terribly religious" and is a little frightened by organized religion. She had an unpleasant experience in middle school when students in a religious group called her Satan because she wore black clothing and belts with studs. The high school junior said she's in the "middle of searching" for a faith she can readily accept.

Penn Hills High School senior Daniel Clark, 18, said he thinks religion offers him a moral guide.

"It definitely makes me think twice about what I do. I always remember something the pastor has said." And, if he's struggling with an issue, he said he'd probably talk to a youth pastor.

It's the same for Alexandra. "Religion gives me something to cling on to," she said.

"If I'm upset, I look to the Bible" or, she said, she turns to a youth pastor for counseling.

	Teen Forum Looking Ahead Look into financial aid early on Teen Forum Panelists Homes editor Kevin Kirkland moderated a discussion on religion. Teen Forum is a monthly platform that allows teen-agers to express their opinions on important issues. Teen Forum welcomes the opinions of teens on any strongly felt issue. Columns for "Talk Back" should not exceed 250 words and should be submitted, along with a professional-quality photo, to LaMont Jones at the Post-Gazette, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh 15222. Columns also can be faxed to Jones at 412-263-1313 or e-mailed to ljones@post-gazette.com. If you're a high school student and want to participate in a future round table, e-mail or phone Jones at 412-263-1469.

As they mature and move past high school, most of the panelists said they planned to continue going to church in college. Three said they would look for a spouse with some measure of spirituality and raise their kids in the church.

Dan, who plays soccer and runs track, would make his kids attend church. He said he believes sayings such as "Treat others as you want to be treated" offer children a good moral compass to start off with.

All of the panelists attend public schools, where religion classes and school-sponsored prayer aren't allowed. Delving into religious issues is further limited because, the students admit, their schools aren't too religiously diverse.

But, they say, the issues of religion occasionally pop up in history classes and in literature studies. After Sept. 11, it came up more often.

"For three or four days after Sept. 11, [religion] came up a lot," said Greg Himmel, 15, a sophomore at Burgettstown Junior-Senior High School.

"It was an eye-opener," Greg said, adding he felt that there was a general sense of anger against Muslims on the part of many of his classmates.

Dan said that in one of his classes, the students watched CNN every day because the teacher, who had minored in Middle Eastern history in college, could offer some perspectives on all they were seeing and hearing.

Jessica found the discussions on Islam helpful because they were breaking down a lot of stereotypes. People "had been saying some really ignorant things," which she felt only added to the confusion.

She said a little more religious diversity in schools "might help people to understand each other."

But others in the forum thought that religious diversity in schools could make socializing more difficult. It's easier, they said, if everybody is on the same page with his or her faith.

Dan said he has a friend who isn't a believer, and he tries to influence him to think otherwise.

By speaking about religion and living right, Dan said, "maybe something I say will rub off on him, as much as it can."