Study of Youth and Religion Tools Name:  How important or unimportant is religious faith in shaping how you live your daily life? Extremely Important Very Somewhat Not Very Not Important at All How important or unimportant is religious faith in shaping your major life decisions? Extremely Important Very Somewhat Not Very Not Important at All About how often do you attend Mass? Never A few times a year Many times a year Once a month 2-3 times a month Once a week More than once a week Have you ever had an experience of spiritual worship that was very moving and powerful? Yes No Do you attend religious services at any OTHER religious congregation (other than Catholic)? Yes No Are you a cradle Catholic (meaning have you been Catholic since you were born)? Yes No In the last year, about how often did you attend religious education classes? Never A few times a year Many times a year Once a month 2-3 times a month Once a week More than once a week In the last year, how much, if at all, have you had doubts about whether your religious beliefs are ture? Many Doubts Some Doubts A Few Doubts No Doubts How much, if at all, have you been pressured or made fun of because of your religious beliefs? A Lot Some A Little None If it was totally up to you, how often would you attend Mass, or any religious services? Never A Few times a year Many times a year Once a month 2-3 times a month Once a week More than once a week Does your church community feel like a warm and welcoming place for you? Yes No Do you feel there is a place for you in your church community? Yes No How much, if at all, do you openly express your religious beliefs at school? A lot Some A Little None Do other students at your school generally look down on teens who are openly religious? Yes No In the past year, have you had to work hard to fix a broken friendship or other relationship, or not? Yes No How often, if at all, do you think about the meaning of life? Very often Fairly often Sometimes Rarely Never If you were unsure of what was right or wrong in a particular situation, how would you decide what to do? Do what would make you feel happy Do what would help you to get ahead Follow the advice of a parent or teacher, or other adult you respect Do what you think God or the scriptures tell you is right Something else Unsure Do YOU YOURSELF sometimes feel confused about what is right and wrong, or do you usually have a good idea of what is right and wrong in most situations? Feel confused Somthing in the middle Have a good idea Unsure Do you think that people should wait to have sex until they are married, or not necessarily? Yes, they should wait No, Not necessarily wait Some people say that morals are relative, that there are no definite rights and wrongs for everybody. Do you agree or disagree? Agree Disagree Some people say that morals about what is right and wrong should be based on a fixed and unchanging standard. Do you agree or disagree? Agree Disagree About how many times, on average, a month do you do volunteer work or community service work? Never A few times Occasionally Regularly In the past year, how much, if at all, did you help homeless people, needy neighbors, family friends, or other people in need, directly, not through an organization? A lot Some A little None Do you believe that there is life after death? Definitely Maybe Not at all Unsure Do you believe in the existence of angels? Definitely Maybe Not at all Unsure Do you believe in the existence of demons or evil spirits? Definitely Maybe Not at all Unsure Do you believe in astrology, that stars and planets affect people's fates? Definitely Maybe Not at all Unsure Do you believe in the possibility of divine miracles from God Definitely Maybe Not at all Unsure Have you ever witnessed or experienced what you believe was a miracle from God? Yes No Do you believe in the possibility of communicating with the dead directly or through seances or mediums? Definitely Maybe Not at all Unsure Do you believe in the power of psychics and fortuntellers? Definitely Maybe Not at all Unsure Do you believe in God Definitely Maybe Not at all Unsure How distant or close do you feel to God most of the time? Extremely Distant Very Distant Somewhat Distant Somewhat Close Very Close Extremely Close Unsure Have you ever experienced a definite answer to prayer or specific guidance from God? Yes No Do you believe that there will come a judgement day when God will reward some and punish others, or not? Yes No Unsure Which of the following views comes closest to your own view of God? God is a personal being involved in the lives of people today, or God created the world, but is NOT involved in the world now, or God is not personal, but something like a cosmic life force. None of these views Unsure Some teenagers say that they "are spiritual but not religious". How true or not would you say that is of you? Very true Somewhat true Not true at all Unsure Have you ever made a personal commitment to live your life for God? Yes No In the last year, did you pray the rosary, pray novenas, or offer prayers to a special saint? Yes No Compared to those of your mother, how would you say that your own religious beliefs and practices are? Very similar to your mothers Somewhat similar Somewhat different Very different from your mothers Unsure Compared to those of your father, how would you say that your own religious beliefs and practices are? Very similar to your fathers Somewhat similar Somewhat different Very different from your fathers Unsure Do you have any sacred images or religious articles in your room? Yes No Do you have any sacred images or religious articles in your home? Yes No Is it okay for religious people to try and convert other people to their faith, or should everyone leave everyone else alone? Okay to convert Leave others alone Unsure Do you think that it is okay for someone of one religion to also practice other religions, or should people only practice one religion? Okay to practice other religions Should only practice one faith Unsure Which of the following statements comes closest to your own views about religion? Only one religion is true, or Many religions may be true, or There is very little truth in any religion Unsure Some people say that in order for Catholics to be truly religious AND spiritual, they need to be involved in a church community. Do you agree or disagree? Agree Disagree Unsure Some people think that it is okay to pick and choose their religious beliefs without having to accept the teachings of their own religious faith as a whole. DO you agree or disagree? Agree Disagree Unsure In general, how comfortable or uncomfortable are you talking to adults other than your parents or relatives? Very comfortable Somewhat comfortable Somewhat uncomfortable Very uncomfortable Roughly how many TOTAL ADULTS, if any, do you have in your life that you can turn to when you need support, advice, or help-not including your parents? Many Some A few One or two None at all In the last year, how often, if ever, have you found yourself feeling GUILTY about things in your life? Very often Fairly often Sometimes Occasionally Rarely Never In the past year, have you been to confession or to a reconciliation liturgy? Yes No How much, if at all, would you say that religion has helped to relieve your feelings of guilt by providing you love, mercy, grace, or forgiveness? A lot Some A little None How much, if any, of those feelings of guilt do you think were caused by RELIGIOUS influences? A lot Some A little None How often, if ever, do you pray by yourself, alone, to God? Never Less than once a month One to two times a month About once a week A few times a week About once a day Many times a day In the past year have you participated in any religious pilgrimages, processions, way of the cross, or other similar religious practice? Yes No How often, if ever, do you ever read from spiritual books, such as the Bible, or other devotional book? Never Less than once a month One to two times a month About once a week A few times a week About once a day Many times a day How often, if ever, does your family talk together about God, the Scriptures, prayer, or other religious or spiritual things? Everyday A few times a week About once a week A few times a month A few times a year Never Does your family regularly pray to give thanks before or after meals? Yes No How interested are you in learning more about your religion and growing in your faith? Very interested Somewhat Not very Not at all interested Are there any regular opportunities in your church to be involved with religious services? Yes there are things I could be doing No there is nothing for me to do I dont really know if I can or cannot do anything How good or not good a place is your church to go, to find someone, if you wanted to talk about serious issues like family problems, alcohol, or troubles at school? A very good place A fairly good place An okay place Not a good place A bad place to go for help about serious issues Never thought about going to the chruch for this How good or not good a job would you say your church has done in helping you better understand your own sexuality and sexual morality? An excellent job a farily good job An okay job Not a good job or has your church done nothing to help you better understand sexuality? When you are 25 years old do you think that you will be attending a Catholic church? Definitely Maybe Not at all Unsure When you are 25 years old do you think that you will be attending the same church that you are now? Definitely Maybe Not at all Unsure When you are 25 years old do you think that you will be attending any religious services? Definitely Maybe Not at all Unsure Generally, how positive or negative do you feel about religion in this country? Very positive Somewhat positive Neither Somewhat negative Very Negative Do you think that, if you have children, when they reach the age that you are now, this country will be in a worse condition than it is now the same condition, or a better condition than it is now Survey created by: Geraldine Cyr