September 2018

TEEN’S VIEW
Teens talk about
by Tamar Lilienthal
Over time, religion has become less
and less important in the lives of the
younger generation. In the 1990s, the
number of children who responded that
religion played an important role in their
lives steadily increased; that trend has
reversed since the year 2000. In a modern
world with so many attention-grabbing
sources of information, how can teens
remain focused on God and on their faith?
According to Meilla O., a student from
Coral Springs, it all boils down to
remembering God’s constant vigilance
over us. “There is a God, and He sent us
to Earth to be tested,” she said.
Meilla belongs to the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints, also known
as the Mormon Church. And while she
is constantly aware of God’s presence in
her life, it isn’t something she views as
scary or worrisome. On the contrary, she
draws strength in knowing that God loves
her and is actively involved in her journey
and that her life has a higher purpose.
“There is life after death,” she said. “And
one day we will be reunited with those
who have passed on. God loves all of us -
He will never forget us.”
For Shaina A., a student from Parkland, it
is her Jewish youth group that helps her
maintain her connection to her faith. “It’s a
great way to meet new people,” she said.
“And it also helps you connect to your
religion and God.”
Though teenagers like Meilla and Shaina
might be strong in their beliefs, that isn’t
to say that religious teens never struggle
with or question their
faith. In fact, scientific
evidence shows that
it’s only natural for
teens to question
what they have
been taught - during
the adolescent years, a
person’s prefrontal cortex
begins to develop. This part of the brain
is responsible for thinking and judgment,
and so during these years, children begin
to form their own ideas and opinions.
They also start to notice the injustices in
the world, and so especially for children
in religious families, this can be quite
troubling. If there is a loving God, a child
may begin to ask, then why is there
suffering in the world?
Both Meilla and Shaina have encountered
struggles before. Shaina lost her brother in
the U.S. Army a number of years ago, and
one of the victims of the MSD shooting
was a member of Meilla’s church. While
they can’t explain why tragedy happens in
the world (can anyone?), they both believe
that everything has a godly purpose
behind it.
“God gives us trials to make us stronger,”
Meilla said. “If you’re ever struggling, pray
and talk to God and ask Him for help. I
promise He is there and listening to you.” P
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SEPTEMBER 2018