Two-thirds of teenagers don't believe in God... and think reality TV is more important



Nearly two-thirds of teenagers don't believe in God and think that reality television is far more important than religion, new research has revealed.

The survey showed that 66 per cent of teens do not believe a deity exists while 50 per cent have never prayed and 16 per cent have never been to church.

Teenagers rated family, friends, money, music and even reality TV shows above faith.



Children from a London school take part in a service at Westminster Abbey: The numbers of teenagers who believe in God has dwindled

Other statistics which emerged from the report included:



59 per cent of children believed religion has had a negative influence on the world



60 per cent only go to church for a wedding or christening



Only 30 per cent of teenagers think there is an afterlife...

... while 10 per cent believe in reincarnation

47 per cent said organised religion had no place in the world

60 per cent don't believe Religious Studies should be compulsory in schools

However, 91 per cent agreed they should treat others the way they wished to be treated themselves

The study of 1,000 teenagers aged 13 to 18 was carried out by Penguin books.

It also revealed the south-east was the region with the least faith as only 28 per cent of those surveyed believed in God.

A Church of England spokesman said: 'Many teenagers aren't sure what they believe at that stage of their lives, as is clear from the number who said they don't know whether they believe in God.

'On the other hand, many of these results point to the great spirituality of young people today that the Church is seeking to respond to through new forms of worship alongside tradition ones.'

Hanne Stinson, chief executive of The British Humanist Association, said: 'I am not at all surprised by the results.

'Some of the results are very interesting, for example that only four per cent believe God is the biggest influence in their lives.

'That is consistent with Government research which shows that while religion is very important to a small proportion of adults, most people rank religion with very low in importance in their lives.

'Also significant, and reassuring for those who are worried about children's values, is that 91 per cent think they should treat others as they wish to be treated.

Priorities: Teenagers rated reality shows such as Big Brother as more important than religion

'It confirms that young people - like adults - do not need a religion to have positive values.'

The survey was carried out to mark Penguin's publication of controversial novel 'Killing God' by Kevin Brooks.

The book is about a 15-year-old girl who questions and rages at the existence of God.

Mr Brooks, who is a popular teenage author, said: 'I can't say I am surprised by the teenagers' responses.

'Part of the reason that I wrote Killing God was that I wanted to explore the personal attitudes of young people today, especially those with troubled lives, towards organised religion and the traditional concept of God.

'How can the moralities of an ancient religion relate to the tragedies and disorders of today's broken world?



'And why do some people turn to God for help while others take comfort in drugs and alcohol?



'These are just some of the questions I wanted to consider... And I wasn't looking for answers.'