By Sam Oliveira
Valuegenesis is a research project that documented the faith and values of young people who are attending Seventh-day Adventist high schools in North America. It focused on three areas: family, school and church. The first survey was conducted in 1990, the second survey in 2000 and the third in 2010.
When the project first began, only 10 questions were about doctrine. For the most recent survey that was conducted, another 15 questions were added so that all doctrines could be explored.
According to the book, Valuegenesis: Ten Years Later, it is crucial to track what kind of commitment young people have regarding their own theological system.
In summarizing the additional 15 questions on doctrine, the average “definitely believe” score in the 2010 survey was 71%. The range of score was between 39% and 91% in most doctrines.
Valuegenesis indicates strong adherence to the core of Adventist beliefs. It seemed clear that as students aged, the more they were able to understand some of the more complex doctrinal statements of the church. For example, the question that explores the Millennium, which is when Satan and his angels will occupy the desolate earth and a time when the wicked will be judged, moves from 40% “definitely believe” among sixth-graders to 64% among twelfth-grade students.
From the study, it’s clear that youth develop their ideology and theology as they grow. As their identity becomes more stable and their lives reflect their goals and vision, Adventist young people tend to have a clearer view of what they believe. Since building a Christian ideology is an important identity issue for growing teens, you can easily see the church’s role in that development.
The importance of the Valuegenesis research project is very significant for being able to see how young people are understanding, not only the doctrines of the Seventh-day Adventist Church but other aspects of their faith as well.
*All information was taken from the book Valuegenesis: Ten Years Later on pages 66-71.