What Are Young Persons Thinking?

OVER half of the earth’s population is under twenty years of age. What generally are the views that young persons hold?

You yourself may be a young person and so feel that you have a good idea regarding the thinking of others who are twenty or younger. Or, you may be older but believe that from your own experience and contacts you know the thinking of the young. But what do you imagine you would find if, in a survey of persons aged eighteen to twenty-four, you asked questions such as: Do you agree or disagree with premarital sex? Is the person on whom you basically must rely, you yourself? Do you think that in thirty years the world will be a better place in which to live?

Just such a survey in various lands was undertaken by the Adolescence Policy Headquarters of the Office of the Prime Minister of Japan. The accompanying five graphs present some of the results. Why not look them over, comparing the results from the different lands, and checking one chart against another.

Some of the results of the survey are of particular interest in view of Bible prophecy. For many years Jehovah’s Witnesses have been calling attention to the fact that the fulfillment of Bible prophecy proves that we are living in the “last days” of this system of things. The Scriptures show that soon Jehovah God will replace the imperfect human system we suffer under with a new order directed by the Creator himself. One Bible passage that outlines some of the evidence of our living in the “last days” is 2 Timothy 3:1-5. But what does that Bible passage have to do with the accompanying charts?

Well, consider the results of this survey in the light of what the Bible foretold would prevail in the “last days.”

Chart 1, for example, may simply confirm your impression that “free sex” is well entrenched in the thinking of this generation. However, there is this conflicting point to consider: In discussing the results of the Japanese survey, Professor Sanshiro Shirakashi says that it was found that “in general, young people throughout the world believe in some type of religion.” (Journal of Church and State, Autumn 1976, p. 523) Interestingly, the largest percentage of those surveyed claimed to believe in the “Christian” religion of the churches of Christendom. Yet the Bible plainly condemns fornication and adultery. So we must conclude that these churches are not leading the young people to uphold Biblical morality.

This leads us back to the prophecy that we mentioned. It foretold that in the “last days” people would be “lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power.” Is that not what the survey confirms?

There can be little doubt that the current laxness about sex does not reflect any overwhelming concern about others. Note Chart 2. Would you have imagined that so many young persons would reach the conclusion that the person you basically can rely on in life is just yourself? Does that not suggest a widespread lack of trust?

But how do the young view the future? The survey demonstrated that today’s young are searching for something. For example, observe from Chart 3 how many indicated that what they desire out of life is sincerity and love. That might at first suggest that the young are idealistic and optimistic. However, after considering all the information gained in the survey Professor Shirakashi concluded that “the world’s youth have a pessimistic attitude” about the future. Charts 4 and 5 reflect that.

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Chart 1​—What about premarital sex relations?

No, should Yes, if Yes, even if

be avoided in love not in love

Brazil 39.7 48.3 11.9

France 10.4 65.4 21.5

Japan 26.6 68.3 4.0

Philippines 36.7 55.3 6.6

Sweden 4.1 56.5 37.7

Switzerland 8.3 68.3 22.9

United Kingdom 14.4 67.5 15.3

U.S.A. 23.2 57.0 18.6

West Germany 5.5 64.8 23.4

Yugoslavia 18.0 74.6 7.4

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Chart 2​—Basically the person on whom you can rely in life is yourself

Agree Disagree

Brazil 56.4 43.0

France 51.4 46.0

Japan 73.8 25.9

Philippines 80.4 18.3

Sweden 43.7 54.4

Switzerland 44.9 54.3

United Kingdom 34.3 65.6

U.S.A. 68.4 31.1

West Germany 73.1 24.3

Yugoslavia 63.6 36.3

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Chart 3​—What is the purpose of life?

Brazil Sincerity and love between

yourself and others 44.2

Money and position 12.7

A job that is worth doing 7.2

France Sincerity and love between

yourself and others 56.4

Money and position 18.2

A job that is worth doing 8.8

Japan Sincerity and love between

yourself and others 35.8

Money and position 7.8

A job that is worth doing 28.0

Philippines Sincerity and love between

yourself and others 35.1

Money and position 6.8

A job that is worth doing 23.5

Sweden Sincerity and love between

yourself and others 59.8

Money and position 3.5

A job that is worth doing 20.7

Switzerland Sincerity and love between

yourself and others 52.9

Money and position 9.0

A job that is worth doing 17.9

United Kingdom Sincerity and love between

yourself and others 48.3

Money and position 15.0

A job that is worth doing 13.3

U.S.A. Sincerity and love between

yourself and others 63.5

Money and position 6.1

A job that is worth doing 8.9

West Germanya Sincerity and love between

yourself and others 42.2

Money and position 34.8

A job that is worth doing 31.2

Yugoslavia Sincerity and love between

yourself and others 58.4

Money and position 5.6

A job that is worth doing 7.5

[Footnote]

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Chart 4​—Human wisdom will avoid another world war

Yes No Not Sure

Brazil 78.9 20.3 0.8

France 51.7 31.0 17.3

Japan 63.6 34.3 2.1

Philippines 57.9 39.9 2.2

Sweden 56.1 40.7 3.2

Switzerland 37.1 62.0 0.9

United Kingdom 48.1 48.8 3.1

U.S.A. 53.0 45.6 1.4

West Germany 52.5 43.4 4.1

Yugoslavia 79.9 20.1 %

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Chart 5​—Believe that thirty years from now mankind will have better society in which to live

Yes

Brazil 50.0%

France 19.6%

Japan 28.5%

Philippines 62.5%

Sweden 23.3%

Switzerland 19.0%

United Kingdom 32.1%

U.S.A. 40.4%

West Germany 33.1%

Yugoslavia 82.7%