The Religious and Moral Beliefs of Adolescents in St. Petersburg

Abstract

Students aged 15 to 17 years in state secular and non-state Christian schools in St. Petersburg were surveyed as to their opinions of religion. The study showed an extremely small proportion of consistent atheists. On average, less than 10% of the surveyed students in state schools answered with certainty that there is no God while just 4% decisively reject religion as such. 80% proclaimed themselves believers but only 2% visit churches at least weekly and very few know the Christian Gospel. The majority of students thought that religion is a personal matter. There were significant differences between the state secular and non-state Christian schools so the survey supports the view that religious education strongly influences opinions and systems of ethical values.

Keywords

religion morality adolescents St Petersburg

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