gb, you wound me.
My intention is not to confuse. I'm curious as to the religious thoughts of teens in suburban Alabama. After all, it's where I'm from.
When I was a teen there, it was assumed that I was a Protestant believer. And I was, sorta. But these are different times. Young people all over the country are no longer marching in lockstep with the religions of their parents nearly as often. You see, belief is not something one chooses. It's a matter of experience, education, and cultural influences. It's usually external. One can't choose to believe.
With the internet, kids these days have so much more information at hand. They are in a position to discover what they believe, based on a wide-ranging spectrum of information I did not have. Good on 'em. You should appreciate this, too, as I'm sure you regard the truth above all else.
DF
In no way was I attempting to denigrate your question for I assumed and presume it to be legitimate and without ulterior motive, an assumption I hope is true. The statement I made with regards to maybe it being your point in the beginning was more levity than sincerity. It's a play on a point, I believe, you made, on a previous day, that basically stated that the arguments between many Christians as well as the Judgmental approach that some take being responsible for running people from Religion rather than drawing them into sincere discussion about it.
In other words I meant that if a sincere person was to come in and engage some in sincere dialog, asking a sincere question about some aspect of Religion or Christianity, more specifically, that there would be some, all be it with good intentions, that would potentially answer questions or address the individual as if they were already in error and attempt to correct them in the error of their ways. On the other side (possibly) there would be those that, rather than express their opinions, would denigrate the person asking the question for their beliefs or make a comment about the person's intelligence due to their believing as they do. Both types of people would have a detrimental effect on someone new being willing to join in and ask any form of sincere question from any religious basis or point of view.
I can't speak for others, but for myself only, and my intent in engaging another person in dialog is to attempt to first represent a Christian perspective but do so in such a way that is generic enough that it recognizes that there are many diverse denominational standings regarding many different topics. If I were to answer a question or query in such a way to assume to be dogmatic and answer for all Christians in such a restrictive way to deny or reject all other doctrinal opinions then I would also, by doing so, invite possible contentious responses from other professing Christians of certain denominational positions and end up sponsoring a contentious argument rather than fostering a discussion that sincerely was directed at answering the initial inquiry, from a Christian perspective. Afterwards, after a rapport had been established where mutual respect was achieved and assumed then specific details or doctrinal differences can be examined and expressed if such applied.
If a calculating atheist were to desire to sew confusion and conflict (which I do not feel you are doing) then what better way than to create a dialog in which one Christian contends with and against another and instead of addressing the central question or point ends up more demonstrating confusion and a contentious environment where it seems that no one knows what they are talking about or why. I though do not believe that was your intent so I apologize if it came across that way.
My actual assessment of your basis for the question is to see if young Christians actually have some basis for their belief or if their basis resides more in what mom and pop said or what someone else said and they heard but have no actual reason to base their own understanding upon. Christians should also be just as concerned that those who believe know what they believe and why they believe what they do.
We all (believers and non-believers) have basis or reason to believe as we do but many are not confident enough to express those reasons and others are uncomfortable expressing their basis for their core beliefs. Naturally I assume you wish to have opportunity to express your reasons for your personal choice to those you believe are in like or similar situations. Likewise there are Christians, myself included, that fully believe we also can contribute in positive ways and help elevate potential confusion and misinformation that is often put forth about our respective beliefs and positions and who desire to see new Christians mature in their faith just as I'm sure you feel a reason for your being here is to attempt to persuade people to challenge their beliefs and present your own information which you feel has been beneficial to your own experiences and beliefs. We do definitely disagree with. each other's positions yet we are both passionate about our own beliefs and basis of our beliefs. So hopefully you are not so wounded now that hopefully I have clarified my statement or why I said what I did.