Swaziland may not be quite the haven of Christianity that many people like to think.
A report just published shows that Swazi school students say they believe in Christ but don’t actually have a strong commitment and don’t regularly practice Christianity.
The report written by an evangelical Christian group found that although young people ‘believe the stories of the Bible, scripture reading is not a regular or formative practice’. It also found moral decisions ‘appear to be formed pragmatically and without religious formation. Forty percent regard the idea of sin as outdated.’
Many are not engaged in regular religious practice and religious study groups are small.
The report from One Hope / Spiritual State of the World’s Children is bound to shock leaders in Swaziland who constantly claim Swaziland as a Christian kingdom. It paints a bleak picture of life for young Swazis. Only half are ‘positive about their family experience’; many are ‘learning about sexuality primarily from media and pornographic magazines’ and a high number report contemplating or attempting suicide.
The report gives details of how school students see Christianity, but at times responses seem to me a bit contradictory. For example, 70 percent indicate that the Bible is accurate and provides moral truths yet 40 percent regard truth as relative; 28 percent feel that following the Bible for moral guidance is foolish. About 40 percent feel having morals as right ‘if it works,’ but they see ‘lying as a necessity’.
You figure it out.
One Hope describes itself as having ‘a mission to affect destiny by providing God’s eternal Word to all the children and youth of the world’. To read its full report click here.
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