Posted on 11/09/2004 4:28:00 AM PST by TaxRelief
UNC-CH survey finds that nonreligious teens more likely to believe in psychics, astrology -
RALEIGH- A national ongoing study on teenagers and their religious practices found that Mormon youths are least likely to believe in psychics and fortune tellers, while Catholic or nonreligious teens are most willing to believe in them.
According to the National Study on Youth and Religion, Catholic and nonreligious teens also show higher rates of belief in astrology and communication with the dead than do other religious denominations.
The data were culled from a survey of 3,000 Americans between ages 13 and 17, and is part of a four-year research project at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, based at the Odum Institute for Research in Social Science.
The report was based on the following questions from a NSYR telephone survey: "Do you believe in astrology, that stars and planets affect people's fates, definitely, maybe, or not at all," "Do you believe in the possibility of communicating with the dead directly or through séances, definitely, maybe, or not at all,"and "Do you believe in the power of psychics and fortunetellers, definitely, maybe, or not at all?"
Overall few teens, regardless of religious background, said they "definitely" believe in the paranormal. Only 9 percent reported that they definitely believe in astrology or communicating with the dead, while 6 percent believed in fortune-tellers. However, 31 percent said astrology was possible, while 30 percent said communication with the dead might be possible. Youths were more skeptical about soothsayers, with only 21 percent of survey respondents believed in fortune-tellers.
"Most American teens are at least somewhat skeptical of paranormal beliefs; very few of them say they definitely believe in these phenomena," said Dr. Phil Schwadel, a postdoctoral researcher with the NSYR. "Despite their skepticism, however, many of them are open to the possibility of paranormal phenomena."
However, when teens' beliefs are compared based on their churchgoing habits, those who regularly attend religious services are less likely to believe in the paranormal.
"For instance, 44 percent of teens who never attend religious services say they maybe or definitely believe in communicating with the dead, compared to 23 percent of teens who attend more than once a week," NYSR reported. "Likewise, 49 percent of teens who never attend religious services report maybe or definitely believing in astrology, while 35 percent of teens who attend weekly and 22 percent of teens who attend more than once a week say the same."
Across religions and Christian denominations, only 12 percent of Mormon youths said they definitely or might believe in psychics and fortune-tellers, least among all groups measured. At the other extreme, 38 percent of nonreligious teens responded similarly. Among Christianity-based religions, 32 percent of Catholic teen-agers said they may or definitely believe in fortune-tellers and psychics; 26 percent of mainline Protestant youths responded similarly, while 21 percent each of conservative Protestant and black Protestant youths believed in seers.
Fortune-telling, divination, and sorcery are found throughout the Bible, but are condemned practices.
Twenty-eight percent of Jewish teens and 33 percent of teens in other religions reported that they at least might believe in psychics and fortune-tellers.
That's so Clinton of you :)
Bleah. A perfectly good rhetorical device was ruined by association with that person.
(1) Let us know if you find out that this was funded by a private company. It would be quite interesting to know.
(2) Students do not come close to paying the costs of their tuition. Taxpayers pick up the bulk of it.
(3) Taxpayers pay the advisors' salaries, provide the facilities, the paper, and the computer processing.
Color could theoretically be physically detectable, if you think about it.
Think of "Light" as a stream of tiny clusters of pulsating, energized photons. Color variations are caused by energy differences, which result in differences in the rate at which those *little* photons pulsate (wavelength).
The question in this case would be: is it possible for a human hand to perceive differences in photon energy?
Fascinating.
(1) Let us know if you find out that this was funded by a private company. It would be quite interesting to know.
(2) Students do not come close to paying the costs of their tuition. Taxpayers pick up the bulk of it.
(3) Taxpayers pay the advisors' salaries, provide the facilities, the paper, and the computer processing.
The major cost of funding a study is in the labor, using undergraduate student labor reduces that cost enormously.
If the tax support of universities is a factor, then we are paying for research not only in sociology but also in physics, archeology, theology, math etc. This could be a worthwhile study – people often complain that our kids are gullible, believing in mysticism, the paranormal, psychics and fortunetellers. With studies like this one at least we have an idea of how big a thing it is. The numbers seem to show it as not much of a big thing for them.
I’m really surprised at some of the numbers. 44% who never attend religious services said communication with the dead might be possible versus 23% of teens who attend more than once a week. I thought the later number would be higher – particularly as the Judeo-Christian tradition states it as a given, as well as fortunate telling.
There is no doubt that many studies, possibly this one as well, result in worthwhile information for someone.
Indeed, most of the "youth and religion" studies are funded in part by neo-con foundations. Many of the researchers involved in groups like the "Ethics and Public Policy Center" end up working as Republican policy analysts.
This is not a question of the value of the information: but rather, does the government belong in the research business at all?
If we were to agree that government has a valid right to sponsor research--with taxpayer dollars--then what should the criteria be for determining studies that benefit the "general welfare"? Should it be limited to protecting life or should it be extended to exploring all the curiosities of the world?
A logical deconstruct of biblical warnings about the "dark arts," would lead to the conclusion that there would be no need for warnings if the paranormal was not possible.
If this is so, what is the Catholic response to a situation like the one that recently occurred in Washington State?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1241572/posts
If we were to agree that government has a valid right to sponsor research--with taxpayer dollars--then what should the criteria be for determining studies that benefit the "general welfare"? Should it be limited to protecting life or should it be extended to exploring all the curiosities of the world?
It should support the views of the Party In Power, like the anti-marijuana research of the ‘60’s? Hardly, but some would support that as long as their party is the one in power.
I think there should be wide latitude of research – and yes, at taxpayer expense. Pure research has led to many worthwhile things.
"Do you believe in the possibility of communicating with the dead directly or through séances, definitely, maybe, or not at all"
The question is worded in such a way that it could be interpreted to mean a variety of things. "Communication" could give the impression of chit-chat. Seances probably scare people off, since it is considered hokey or taboo or both. The problem is we don't know how each subset interpreted the question so we don't know what they were really responding to.
“Do you believe in the possibility of communicating…”
Good point – in the above question “possibility” is a key word. I believe that all things are possible. Some things are improbable.
When I was taking Sociology 320, Methods of Sociological Research, we learned what type of wording will skew the results of a study. The idea was that we would avoid using such wording (or if applying for a grant we could guarantee desired results?). We picked apart a lot of studies that should never have been published.
Looking back at this one, I don’t know if the question really would skew the results. If it was aimed at the average American student they probably don’t know the difference between “possible” and “probable”.
Hahaha! I knew that was wrong when I typed it but....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.